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