English Exam

averse vs. adverse

• Averse - Strong disliking 

• Adverse - preventing success or development 

between vs. among

• Between - used when you refer to two people 

• Among - used for three or more 

site vs. cite

• Site - area of ground or space used for something 

• Cite - using a source to prove a point or argument 

elicit vs. illicit

• Elicit - drawing out/provoking a reaction from someone 

• Illicit  - not legal 

emigrate vs. immigrate

• Emigrate - permanently moving to a new country (leave)

• Immigrate - living in a foreign country (come to)

explicit vs. implicit

• Explicit - stated clearly 

• Implicit - mot very specific 

eminent vs. imminent

• Eminent - famous or expected a profession 

• Imminent - something that is about to happen

farther vs. further

• Farther - at, to, by a great distance

• Further - means a metaphorical distance

fewer vs. less

• Fewer - small number of something 

• Less - smaller amount of something 

amoral vs. immoral

• Amoral - lacking a moral sense

• Immoral - not comforting to accept moral standards

amount vs. number

• Amount - uncountable measure as whole

• Number - countable amount 

principal, principle

• Principle - rules or guidelines to follow

• Principal - someone who runs a school 

allusion vs. illusion

• Allusion  - Implied or indirect mention of something

• Ilusion - likely to be wrongly perceived 

imply vs. infer

• Imply - suggest  the truth or existence of something

• Infer - conclude from evidence and reasoning

quote vs. quotation

• Quote - a copy of words from another source

• Quotation -  words taken from a text/speech used by someone else 

likely vs. liable

• Likely - it probably will happen

• Liable - they have an obligation

practise vs. practice

• Practice - American english 

• Practice - British English

proceed vs. precede

• Proceed - To move forward

• Precede - To come before

lie vs. lay

• Lie - To recline or rest

• Lay - To place something down

media vs. medium

• Media - Plural, refers to communication channels

• Medium - Singular, refers to a means of communication or artistic material

presently vs. at present

• Presently - Soon

• At present - Right now

discrete vs. discreet

• Discrete - Separate, distinct

• Discreet - Careful, tactful

hanged vs. hung

• Hanged - Refers to the act of killing someone 

• Hung - Past tense of "hang" for objects

dissent, descent

• Dissent - disagreeing opinion 

• Descent - Refers to a fall or 

complement, compliment

• Complement - refers to things like go well together 

• Complement - refers to someone saying something nice 

irritate vs. aggravate

• Irritate- To annoy

• Aggravate - To worsen

eager vs. anxious

• Eager - Excited, looking forward

• Anxious - Nervous or worried

continual vs. continuous

• Continual - Repeated but with breaks

• Continuous - Without interruption

former vs. latter

• Former - The first of two

• Latter - The second of two

mad vs. angry

• Mad - Can mean insane or angry

• Angry - Upset

alter, altar

• Alter- To change

• Alter -  A sacred place

breach, breech

• Breach - A violation or gap

• Breech - Refers to the rear or a type of birth

cue, queue

• Cue - A signal or prompt

• Queue - A line

palette, palate’

• Palette - A board for mixing colors

• Palate’ - The roof of the mouth or taste preference

stationary, stationery

• Stationary - Not moving

• Stationery - Writing materials

yoke, yolk

• Yoke - A wooden frame for animals or a burden

• Yolk - The yellow part of an egg

weary vs. wary

• Weary - Tired 

• Wary - Cautious