The English language is full of commonly confused words that look or sound similar but have different meanings. These words are easy to misspell, and often, spell check doesn’t catch these kinds of errors.
In this brief article, I’ll help you differentiate between some of the most commonly confused word pairs by explaining what each word means and sharing examples.
Effect vs. Affect
Effect is a noun and means a result, while affect is a verb and refers to an action.
- The climate initiative positively affected the environment.
- The effect of the climate initiative was positive.
Imminent vs. Eminent
If something is imminent, it is about to happen, but if someone is eminent, they are important or distinguished.
- The hurricane’s arrival was imminent.
- The graduation speaker is an eminent professor from Yale.
Discreet vs. Discrete
Being discreet means being careful not to draw too much attention, while discrete means separate or detached.
- Please be discreet while you work with our high-profile client.
- The beads were sorted into discrete colors.
Insure vs. Ensure
Insure refers to insurance. Ensure means to guarantee.
- You should insure your business to protect its assets.
- The castaways worked together to ensure their survival.
Compliment vs. Complement
A compliment is praise or flattery; if something is complementary, it pairs well with something.
- I complimented Alice on her blue sweater.
- It was complemented nicely by her teal shoes.
Fewer vs. Less
“Fewer” should be used for things you can count and “less” for things you cannot count.
- I have fewer books than my sister.
- There is less available space in Amina’s office than mine.
Perspective vs. Prospective
Perspective is a noun meaning a point of view or way of considering something. Prospective is an adjective that describes something expected in the future.
- My perspective on the situation is different than yours.
- The prospective customers browsed the items on the shelves.
Stationary vs. Stationery
Stationary means not moving, while stationery refers to materials used for writing.
- The vehicle was stationary for a long while.
- I have a matching set of stationery, complete with paper, pens, and stamps.
Check out some of our other grammar mini lessons!
Still having trouble with commonly confused words? Consider hiring an editor to help you with your writing project.
Owner of Aha! Editorial
Let’s talk about your writing project: https://calendly.com/ashlyn-ahaeditorial
