commonly confused words

study for reading and english on the ACT

access vs. excess

• the right or oppurtunity to use or see something

• extra; something more than needed

addition vs edition

• adding something to something else

• like a new version

advice vs. advise

• help, guidance, or recommendations

• offer suggestions about the best action to someone

adverse vs. averse

• harmful, negative, unfavorable

• strong dislike or opposition of something

afflict vs. inflict

• cause pain, suffering, or distress to someone

• cause something unpleasant or harmful towards someone — ex. a punishment

aisle vs. isle

• a passage between rows of seats or shelves in a store or something

• a small island

allude vs. elude

• suggest or hint at something (indirectly) without mentioning it

• escape or avoid something, in a skillful or cunning way

allusion vs. illusion

• indirect reference

• false/misleading reality (a trick)

already vs. all ready

• before or by now

• completely prepared/ready/all good to go

altar vs. alter

• religious thing

• change or modify something

altogether vs. all together

• completely/entirely/as a whole

• simultaneously/all at the same time

a lot vs. allot

• a large number/amount

• to distribute or assign something

ambivalent vs. ambiguous

• mixed feelings about someone or something

• unclear or more than one interpretation

anecdote vs antidote

• short, amusing, or interesting story about a real incident or person

• a substance that counteracts the effects of poison or relieves or counteracts an unpleasant situation

appraise vs. apprise

• judge something with respects to its worth or significance

• inform or notify someone of something

accent vs. ascent vs. assent

• distinctive way or pronouncing something, a mark, emphasis, or to emphasize something

• rise to a higher rank or climb up something

• expression of approval or agreement

assistance vs. assistants

• help or support given to someone

• people who provide help and support

attribute vs. contribute

• a feature or quality as a characteristic of someone or something

• give something to help achieve a goal or cause

auditory vs. audible

• related to the sense of hearing

• able to be heard

aural vs. oral

• relating to the ear or the sense or hearing — ex. aural test

• relating to the mouth or spoken rather than written

balmy vs. barmy

• pleasantly warm

• crazy or foolish (british slang)

bated vs. baited

• in great suspense or anticipation

• past tense or bait meaning to lure or trap something

bazaar vs. bizarre

• a market in a middle eastern country or a fundraising sale of goods

• very strange or unusual

berth vs. birth

• a bunk on a ship, train, or transport OR a designated location in a port

• the beginning of life

beside vs. besides

• at the side of/next to

• in addition to/apart from or moreover/furthermore

boar vs. bore

• a wild pig

• make someone or something dull or uninterested OR someone or something that is dull or uninterested OR to drill a hole or tunnel

born vs. borne

• brought into existence by birth

• past participle or “bear,” meaning to carry, endure, or support

bough vs. bow

• large branch of a tree

• blah

canvas vs. canvass

• thing used for paintings

• discuss or examine thoroughly OR to ask for or obtain votes/opinions/orders

censure vs. censor

• strong criticism or disapproval OR to criticize someone severely

• someone to examines something and removes parts that are inappropriate

capital vs. capitol

• most important city or town of a country OR wealth as in money or assets OR being a seat of government OR punishable by death

• building where state legislature meets

climactic vs. climatic

• relating to the highest point or climax or something

• relating to climate

coarse vs. course

• rough or harsh in texture

• route or direction in which something moves OR series of lessons OR set of dishes OR where a race is played at

collaborate vs. corroborate

• work together with someone

• confirm or support a statement or theory

command vs. commend

• to give an authoritative order, an order given with authority, control or mastery over something

• to formally praise someone or something

complacent vs. complaisant

• showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself’s or others achievements

• willing to please others; obliging and agreeable

complement vs. compliment

• something that completes, enhances, or companions something OR to add something that enhances something

• polite expression out of praise or admiration

comprehensive vs. comprehensible

• including or covering all elements of something; complete

• able to be understood; intelligible

contemptuous vs. comtemptible

• showing contempt (anger or disgust towards someone); scornful

• deserving contempt; despicable (deserving hatred or contempt)

council vs. counsel

• a group of people elected or appointed to make decisions or give advice

• to give advice or guidance, give advice formally, or a lawyer or a group of lawyers

descent vs. dissent

• action of moving down or the origin or background of someone

• the expression of such opinions/ to hold or express opinions that aren’t common

desirous vs. desirable

• having or expressing desire for something

• attractive, useful, or necessary course of action — ex. the job offers many desirable benefits

good vs. well

• good is an adjective (describing word)

• well is an adverb (describes/helps a verb, adjective, or another adverb)