Commonly Misused Words & Confusingly Related Words

1. Confused Word

a.Accede
Exceed
Accede means to “Agree or Allow”.
Exp : Oji cheaply finally acceded to accepting the presidency of the company.

Exceed means “to go beyond”.
Exp : The amount of alcohol in his blood exceeded the previous record.

b.Advice
Advise
Advice is a noun meaning “an opinion given with the intention of helping”.
Exp : My father still gives me advice even though I’m 39 years old.


Advise is a verb meaning “to give counsel or advise”.
Exp : The meteorologist advised listeners to stay indoors because of the extremely cold temperatures.

c.Baited
Bated
Baited usually refers to traps.
Exp : Baiting deer in order to hunt them is illegal in most states.


Bated is seldom used but means “reduced, abated”.
Exp : Chandra waited with bated breath for news of her success.

d.Coarse
Course
Coarse is an adjective meaning “rough big grained, not fine”.
Exp : We need to use coarse sandpaper to remove the paint from this wood.


Course is a noun reffering to a direction (the course of a ship) or a series of lectures on one subject (a history course in college).
Exp : The poetry course Stu deBaker took in college changed the course of his life.

e.Conform
Confirm
Conform means “to be similar to”.
Exp : In some schools, students must conform by wearing uniforms.


Confirm is to make sure or double check.
Exp : To confirm a flight reservation.

f.Credible
Creditable
Credible means “believable or reliable”.
Exp : There is no credible evidence that it was I who broke the lamp.


Creditable means “worthy of praise or respect”.
Exp : Altough Carlos Book’s new novel is not an outstanding piece of literature, it is a creditable one.

g.Discreet
Discrete
Discreet means “modest and prudent”.
Exp : Please be discreet about the surprise party, we don’t want her to find out.


Discrete means “separate and distinct”.
Exp : Even though they were married, they kept their money in two discrete accounts.

h.Disinterested
Uninterested
Disinterested is an adjective that means “unbiased or impartial”.
Exp : Since she had nothing at stake, she was a disinterested party in the matter.


Uninterested means “not interested”.
Exp : Anita job was just uninterested in the offer.

2. Commonly Misused Word
a.Accept
Except
Accept means to receive
Exp : Please accept my apology


Except means to exclude
Exp : He used to eat everything except meat.

b.Capital
Capitol
Capital refers to a city, capital also refers to wealth or resources.
Exp : The residents of the state capital protested the development plans.


Capitol to a building where lawmakers meet.
Exp : The capitol has undergone extensive renovations.