Word pairs that sound alike or look alike and get swapped by mistake. Each page gives the answer first, then the test that tells them apart.
English · 116 guides
Word pairs that sound alike or look alike and get swapped by mistake. Each page gives the answer first, then the test that tells them apart.
You raise something else. Things rise by themselves. Raise your hand. The sun rises. The test that settles it Ask what is being lifted. If there is an object after the verb, use raise. If not, use rise. Try it “prices ___ sharply” → no object, so rose. “they ___ prices” → an object, so…
Rational means reasonable. A rationale is the reasoning behind something. A rational decision. The rationale for it. The test that settles it The one with the final e is a thing. If you can put a or the in front, it is rationale. Try it “a ___ explanation” → describing it, so rational. “the ___…
Perspective is a point of view. Prospective means expected or potential. From her perspective. A prospective buyer. The test that settles it Only one is a noun. If you can put a in front and it stands alone, it is perspective. Try it “a fresh ___” → a thing, so perspective. “a ___ candidate” →…
Plain means simple or clear, and it also names flat open land. A plane is an aircraft, a flat surface, or a woodworking tool. Plain English. The plane landed. The test that settles it If the word describes something as simple or unadorned, it is plain. If it is a thing with a technical sense,…
A pole is a long rod, or the end of the earth or a magnet. A poll is a vote or a survey. A tent pole. The latest poll. The test that settles it Two l for the vote. If people are being counted or asked, it is poll. Try it “opinion ___” → a…
In British English, practice is the noun and practise the verb. American English uses practice for both. Piano practice. I need to practise. The test that settles it Same pattern as advice / advise. The c word is a thing; the s word is an action. Try it “an hour of ___” → a thing,…
A pedal is worked with the foot. To peddle is to sell. The brake pedal. He peddled fake watches. The test that settles it Pedal shares its root with pedestrian and pedicure — all about feet. Try it “___ harder up the hill” → feet, so pedal. “___ conspiracy theories” → selling them, so peddle….
To persecute is to harass unjustly. To prosecute is to bring a legal case. A minority persecuted for its beliefs. He was prosecuted for fraud. The test that settles it Ask whether a court is involved. Courts prosecute; oppressors persecute. Try it “___ under the Act” → a legal case, so prosecuted. “___ for their…
Personal means private or individual. Personnel means the staff of an organisation. A personal matter. Military personnel. The test that settles it The double n word is about people in the plural. If you mean one person’s own, it is personal. Try it “a ___ question” → private, so personal. “trained ___” → staff, so…
Loath means reluctant. Loathe means to hate. I am loath to interrupt. I loathe waiting. The test that settles it The silent e makes the verb, exactly as in breath / breathe. And it changes the sound: loath ends softly, loathe with a buzz. Try it “I am ___ to ask” → reluctant, so loath….
Both express possibility. Might suggests it is less likely, and it is the one to use about things that did not happen. It may rain later. It might have rained, but it did not. The test that settles it Ask whether the possibility is still open. If it has already closed, use might. Try it…
Moral is about right and wrong. Morale is how confident a group feels. A moral question. Team morale is low. The test that settles it The final e changes the stress: MOR-al is the ethics word, mor-AL is the mood word. Try it “a ___ dilemma” → right and wrong, so moral. “___ improved after…
Traditionally, nauseated is how you feel and nauseous is what causes it. In practice nauseous now means both. I feel nauseated. A nauseous smell. The test that settles it If you want to be beyond criticism, use nauseated for the feeling. If you want to sound like everyone else, nauseous is fine. Try it “the…
Passed is the past tense of the verb pass. Past is everything else. She passed the exam. In the past. The test that settles it Ask whether the word is doing something. If it is a verb, it is passed. If it is a noun, adjective or preposition, it is past. Try it “he ___…
Peace is calm or the absence of war. A piece is a part of something. Peace and quiet. A piece of cake. The test that settles it A piece is a portion — and it starts with pie, which comes in slices. Try it “a ___ of paper” → a portion, so piece. “world ___”…