Updated on May 30, 2024
The 15 most commonly confused English words
Picture it: You’re having a conversation in English when, all of a sudden, you hesitate. You begin to question if the word you’re about to use is the right one.
Does that sound like you? No worries; this is super common for people learning English as a second language and also for native-level speakers.
Whether they’re spelled similarly or they’re homophones, English has lots of confusing words that are ready to trip you up.
But what are the most commonly confused words?
Below, we uncover the difference between 15 sets of easily confused words with examples, so you never have to wonder again.
“Advise” and “advice” are frequently confused because their spelling is so similar—after all, “s” and “c” can often make the same sound. However, these words are actually pronounced differently and one can’t be used in the place of the other.
Meaning: To give a suggestion
Pronunciation: ad-VIZE
Example: “I feel like I’m always making bad decisions. I’d love to speak to someone who could advise me on how to live my life!”
Meaning: An opinion or suggestion
Pronunciation: ad-VICE
Example: “I took your advice and asked my boss for a raise. She agreed!”
These words are very commonly mixed up; sometimes they’re even pronounced the same way. But they’re not interchangeable, so make sure you know which is which.
Meaning: To cause something to change
Pronunciation: uh-FEKT
Example: “If you work all the time and never take time to relax, it will affect your mental health.”
Meaning: The change that happens to something as the result of an action
Pronunciation: ee-FEKT/uh-FEKT
Example: “Inflation has had a major effect on the price of everything from gas to groceries.”
With the addition of just one letter, the pronunciation of “breathe” becomes quite different from “breath.”
Meaning: The air that you inhale and exhale through your mouth or nose
Pronunciation: “Breth”
Example: “Whenever you start to feel upset or stressed, just take a few deep breaths and you’ll calm down.”
Meaning: To inhale and exhale air through your nose or mouth
Pronunciation: “Breethe”
Example: “When the air is too hot and humid, I find it hard to breathe.”
“Complement” and “compliment” are a couple of the most confusing words in English. As homophones, they share the same pronunciation; their spellings also differ by only one letter. Who can blame you if you get them mixed up once in a while?
Here is more on look-alike words in English.
Meaning:
1. To make something complete or better (verb)
2. Something that makes something else complete or better (noun)
Pronunciation: COM-pluh-ment
Example: “I think tomatoes are the perfect complement to cheese—they just taste so good together!”
Meaning:
1. To say something nice about someone or something (verb)
2. An expression of praise for someone or something (noun)
Pronunciation: COM-pluh-ment
Example: “My neighbor is so sweet. Every time I see her, she compliments my hair or clothes.”
It’s pretty common for people to use “immigrate” when they actually mean “emigrate.” To “immigrate” means to enter another country and live there. While these two words refer to a similar context, they have really specific uses.
Meaning: To leave your country to live somewhere else (usually used with “from”)
Pronunciation: EM-i-grate
Example: “When my grandpa was five, his family emigrated from Italy.”
Meaning: To move to a new country to live (typically used with “to”)
Pronunciation: IM-i-grate
Example: “I’m a second-generation American. My parents immigrated to the United States in their 20s.”
The pronunciation difference between “ensure” and “insure” is so slight that you might not even notice it. What you should take note of, however, are their very different meanings.
Meaning: To make certain
Pronunciation: en-SHUR
Example: “To ensure we send your delivery to the correct building, can you please confirm your address?”
Meaning: To protect something against damage or risk by purchasing insurance
Pronunciation: in-SHUR
Example: “That’s a really expensive bike. I recommend insuring it in case it gets damaged or stolen.”
“Lay” vs. “lie”: The confusion is real. Here’s the thing about these two similar words: “Lay” is a transitive verb, meaning the action needs to be done to direct object in order to make sense. “Lie,” however, is intransitive, which means it makes sense without an object.
Meaning: To gently put someone or something down in a flat position (used with an object)
Pronunciation: lei
Example: “The baby fell asleep in her stroller. I’m going to lay her down in her crib.”
Meaning: To be in a flat position on a surface (used without an object)
Pronunciation: lai
Example: “I love Saturday mornings because I get to lie in bed as long as I want.”
You’re probably wondering why there are three words here. Bear with us:
First of all, we have the noun “lead,” which is a type of metal. Then, we have the present and past tense of the verb “to lead.”
Because the metal “lead” has the same pronunciation as “led”—which is the past tense of “to lead”—it’s common for people to mistakenly write “lead” when they’re referring to the past tense verb.
For example, “Yesterday, the tour guide lead us to the historical site” (it should be “led”).
It would kind of make sense if the present and past tenses were both spelled “lead”; just take the present verb “read” (pronounced “reed”) and the past verb “read” (pronounced “red”)!
Here is more on words with several meanings in English.
Meaning: A heavy, soft metal (noun)
Pronunciation: led
Example: “People think pencils contain lead, but they’re actually made of graphite and clay.”
Meaning: To go in a particular direction and have others follow you
Pronunciation: leed
Example: “I know where the restaurant is. Follow me—I’ll lead the way.”
Meaning: The past tense of the verb “to lead”
Pronunciation: led
Example: “It was really dark when we got lost, but the forest ranger found us and led us to safety.”
“Loose” and “lose” have different pronunciations and super different meanings. However, as you can see, these two words have very similar spellings. It’s easy to mix up these two.
Meaning: Not tight or secure
Pronunciation: loos
Example: “I don’t think you know how to tie your shoes properly. The laces are always coming loose.”
Meaning:
1. To fail at winning a game or competition
2. To be unable to find something that has been misplaced
Pronunciation: looz
Example: “Whenever I lose my glasses, it takes me forever to find them because I can’t see!”
Have you ever heard the saying that you can remember the spelling of “principal” because it has the word “pal” in it, and the principal is your friend (pal)? It’s pretty ridiculous, but it does clear things up a bit.
However, that doesn’t cover everything, as “principal” has more than one meaning—and, to add another layer of confusion, it’s also pronounced the same way as “principle.”
Meaning: Something you believe that helps you decide what is right and wrong
Pronunciation: PRIN-ci-puhl
Example: “I would never eat meat. It’s against my principles.”
Meaning:
1. The person in charge of a school (noun)
2. Main; most important (adjective)
Pronunciation: PRIN-ci-puhl
Example: “My principal reason for getting a new job was to make more money.”
“Desert” and “dessert” are a classic example of easily confused words due to their similar spellings and pronunciation.
Meaning: A hot, sandy, and dry land, often with sparse vegetation and little to no precipitation
Pronunciation: dih-ZURT
Example: “The Sahara Desert is one of the largest deserts in the world.”
Meaning: A sweet course typically eaten at the end of a meal
Pronunciation: dih-ZURT
Example: “I can’t wait to try the chocolate cake for dessert after dinner.”
“Imply” and “infer” are frequently mixed up because they involve understanding indirect communication, but they actually refer to different aspects of communication.
Meaning: “Imply” means to suggest or indicate something indirectly
Pronunciation: im-PLAI
Example: “She didn’t say it directly, but her tone implied that she was unhappy with the decision.”
Meaning: “Infer” means to deduce or draw a conclusion about something from evidence or information presented
Pronunciation: in-FUR
Example: “Based on the evidence, we can infer that the suspect was at the scene of the crime.”
“Capital” and “capitol” are similar words often confused due to similar spelling and pronunciation, but they have distinct meanings related to governance and finance.
Meaning:
Pronunciation: KAP-i-tuhl
Example: “The company’s logo is designed with a capital ‘A’.” “Venture capitalists provided the necessary capital for the startup.”
“Chester visited Brasίlia, the capital of Brazil.”
Meaning: Capitol is a noun referring to the building where a legislature meets, often the seat of government at the state or national level
Pronunciation: KAP-i-tuhl
Example: “Paul visited the cafe in the basement of the capitol after watching a bill become a law.”
“Good” and “well” are frequently misused because they can both be positive descriptors, but they function differently in a sentence.
Meaning: Describing the quality or nature of something
Pronunciation: gud
Example: “She hasn’t felt good about playing since her injury last season.”
Meaning: Describing how something is done, indicating proficiency or manner
Pronunciation: wel
Example: “She played well throughout the concert, impressing the audience with her skills.”
“Fewer” and “less” are adjectives called quantifiers and are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings based on countability.
Meaning: Referring to a smaller number of items that can be counted individually
Pronunciation: FYOO-er
Example: “The census determined that fewer people live in the city now than last year.”
Meaning: Referring to a smaller amount or quantity of something that cannot be counted individually
Pronunciation: LES
Example: “For better health, people should use less salt in their diet.”
We’ve thrown a lot of information at you, so don’t be discouraged if you need a little more practice. Just take our advice:
Reviewing this confusing vocabulary regularly will ensure that you know it inside and out!
In this section, let’s look at the most common questions people ask about confusing words in English
Confusing words are sometimes called homophones or commonly confused words.
Commonly confused or misused words refer to words with similar spelling, pronunciation, or similar meanings.
Some examples of words that are often confused and misused are “effect”/”affect”, ”accept/ except”, and a possessive pronoun that sounds like other structures like “its/it’s” and ”your/ you’re”.
The most confusing word in the English language varies, but “effect” and “affect” are frequently cited due to their similar spelling and meanings.
Mastering the distinctions between commonly confused words is essential for effective writing and speaking. With certain words possessing several meanings or sharing similarities, choosing the correct word can significantly impact clarity and precision in communication.
Embracing this linguistic journey not only enhances one’s writing skills but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of language.
So, let’s continue our language quest and learn how to convey our thoughts with clarity and conviction.
