COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS-2

COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS-2

1.      FLOUNDER, FOUNDER:

'Flounder' generally means 'have trouble doing or understanding something, be confused'. Also, when something 'thrashes about to struggles', it 'flounders'.

'Founder' means 'fail or come to nothing'.

2.      FOREGO, FORGO:

Forego means 'precede'.

'Forgo' means 'go without'.

3.      FORTUNATE, FORTUITOUS:

If something 'fortunate' happens, we got lucky.

If it happened by chance or unexpectedly, it is 'fortuitous'

Example: It was fortunate (lucky) for us that we fortuitously (unexpectedly) stumbled across a cabin in the woods.

4.      FULL, FULSOME:

When things are 'full' they contain abundant supplies of something. Example: The class was full of information.

When things are 'fulsome' they are 'fat', 'excessive' or 'offensive to good taste' Example: His fulsome compliment made me cringe.

5.      GAMUT, GANTLET, GAUNTLET:

Though they sound alike, these words refer to different things.

A 'Gamut' is a 'full range or scope' of things. Example: His book covered the full gamut of emotional situations.

A 'gantlet' is a form of punishment in which people run between rows of people who attempt to beat them.

A 'gauntlet' is a glove thrown down when a person is challenged to a duel.

6.      GENDER, SEX:

There is nothing salacious about the word 'sex'. Do not substitute the word 'gender' to avoid embarrassment.

People and animals differ by 'sex'. Words differ by 'gender'.

Thus, unless a study involves gender classifications of words, it is a study of sex differences.

7.      GRISLY, GRIZZLY:

'Grisly' means 'causing horror or revulsion'

'Grizzly' (as in grizzly bear) is form the same root as 'grizzled' and refers to the bear's white-tipped fur.

8.      HANGED, HUNG:

When people are executed they may be 'hanged'. Example: In the olden days horse thieves were hanged by the neck until dead.

Otherwise, things are generally 'hung' as in 'suspended' or 'dangled'. Example: On Christmas eve, stocking are hung by the chimney by children.

9.      HOARD, HORDE:

'Hoard' is a store of something valuable

'Horde' is a disparaging term for a large group of people

10.  ILLUSION, DELUSION:

'Illusions' are images of nonexistent things.

'Delusions' are misguided beliefs people hold despite evidence to the contrary.

Example: Daydreams can be enjoyable illusions, but delusions of grandeur come from self deceit or mental imbalance

11.  IMPLY, INFER:

We 'imply' things when we suggest them without actually saying so.

We 'infer' conclusions from evidence by reasoning form data to claims.

12.  IT'S, ITS:

'It's' is the short form of 'it is'. Example: it's in the dog house.

'Its' is a pronoun that shows ownership or possession. Example: The dog has its own house.

13.  LAUDABLE, LAUDATORY:

'Laudable' means 'praise worthy' or 'admirable'.

'Laudatory' activity is the expression of such praise.

Example: The student's academic achievements were laudable and his school gave him a laudatory letter of recommendation to support his college application.

14.  LAY, LIE:

'Lie' means 'recline'. For reclining, the past tense is 'lay' and the past participle is 'lain'.

'Lay' means 'arrange, place or put down'. The past tense is 'laid' and the past participle is 'laid'.

Thus, you may say 'I have lain on my bed for half an hour', but you cannot write 'I have laid on the lounge chair for half an hour'.

You may 'lay the plate on the table'.

By the way, once you 'lay' the plate on the table, it 'lies' there until moved.

15.  LEND, LOAN:

'Lend' is a verb. The past tense is 'lent' and the past participle too is 'lent'.

'Loan' is a noun.

Do not substitute 'loan' for 'lend'.

Example: 'The loan company lent (not loaned) me money.

16.  LIKE, AS:

'Like' means that one is drawing a similarity from dissimilar groups, Example: Her voice was like parrot's squawk

The error is created when one uses 'like' as a conjunction. Writing 'I am lucky to have a good friend like Sue' means that one has a good friend similar to Sue, but excluding Sue

The person should substitute 'as' for 'like' as in 'I am lucky to have such a good friend as Sue'

17.  LITERALLY, FIGURATIVELY:

'Literally' means that one's words describe what actually occurred.

The word 'Figuratively' means that one is using language metaphorically.

18.  LOATH, LOATHE:

'Loath' is an adjective meaning 'reluctant; unwilling'. Example: I was loath to get up early in the morning and got for a swim.

'Loathe' is a verb meaning 'dislike greatly'. Example: I loathe swimming.

19.  LOOSE, LOSE:

'Loose' means 'not right'. Example: My pants are loose.

'Lose' means 'to be defeated or no longer have'. Example: I do not want to lose the game.

20.  LUXURIOUS, LUXURIANT:

'Luxuriant' means 'rich and profuse in growth'. Example: He has a luxuriant beard.

'Luxurious' means 'characterized by luxury; very comfortable and extravagant'. Example: He has a luxurious duplex apartment.

21.  MADDING, MADDENING:

'Madding' means 'that which can drive you insane'. Hardy's novel was 'Far from the madding crowd'.

'Maddening' means 'frustrating, infuriating or exasperating. Example: The peak-time city traffic is maddening.

22.  MARITAL, MARTIAL:

'Marital' means 'of marriage'.

'Martial' means 'of war'.

23.  MEDIA, MEDIUM:

'Medium, is a singular word while 'Media' is a plural word.

A single mass media form is a medium.

Thus, one should not state 'the mass media reports news inaccurately'. Instead one should say, 'the mass media report news inaccurately'.

24.  MILITATE, MITIGATE:

Militate, which is used in the form militates against, means 'counter or oppose'.

Mitigate, which means 'alleviate', 'take the edge of' or 'make something bad less severe'.

25.  MINER, MINOR:

A miner is a person who works in a mine. Example: My uncle is a miner.

Minor is an adjective that means 'unimportant'. Example: This is a minor problem.

A minor also refers to a person who is not yet an adult. Example: It is illegal for a minor to drink alcohol.