3.05 Homonyms and similar-sounding words

Many words are misspelled because they are confused with similar-sounding and similarly spelled words which, in fact, have a different meaning. In the following list of word pairs (and one group of three), information is given in parentheses to indicate which spelling should be used in a particular context:

• affect (influence)
  • effect (verb: bring about, result in; noun: consequence, impact)
• allusion (reference)
  • illusion (misleading appearance)
• all ready (prepared)
  • already (previously)
• all together (together in a group)
  • altogether (entirely)
• ascent (climb)
  • assent (agreement)
• bloc (group of persons, companies or nations)
  • block (group of things; obstruct; solid piece, etc.)
• born (of birth)
  • borne (carried)
• breach (gap; violation)
  • breech (lower part)
• broach (pointed tool or rod; begin to talk about)
  • brooch (type of jewellery)
• canvas (cloth)
  • canvass (solicit)
• capital (city; very significant)
  • capitol (government building in U.S.A.)
• carat (unit of mass for precious stones)
  • caret (proofreader’s mark)
  • karat (unit used to specify proportion of gold in alloy)
• cast (actors; verb meanings)
  • caste (exclusive social class)
• censor (check the morality or acceptability of; person who does this)
  • censure (criticize, blame; criticism)
• chord (music; geometry; engineering)
  • cord (other uses)
• complement (complete; that which completes)
  • compliment (praise)
• councillor (member of a council)
  • counsellor (adviser; lawyer)
• dependant (noun)
  • dependent (adjective)
• discreet (prudent, tactful)
  • discrete (distinct, separate)
• dyeing (colouring)
  • dying (approaching death)
• elicit (draw forth)
  • illicit (unlawful)
• envelop (verb)
  • envelope (noun)
• faze (disturb)
  • phase (stage, period)
• flair (talent)
  • flare (flame, light)
• forbear (hold back)
  • forebear (ancestor)
• foreword (preface)
  • forward (ahead)
• hoard (save up)
  • horde (crowd)
• immanent (inherent)
  • imminent (about to occur)
• inequity (unfairness)
  • iniquity (sin)
• its (belonging to it)
  • it’s (it is)
• loath (adjective)
  • loathe (verb)
• loose (set free; untight, etc.)
  • lose (mislay; forfeit)
• mantel (shelf above fireplace)
  • mantle (cloak, etc.)
• mucous (adjective)
  • mucus (noun)
• ordinance (law)
  • ordnance (military weapons)
• pedal (operate levers with feet; activation device)
  • peddle (sell, hawk)
• personal (individual; private)
  • personnel (staff)
• phosphorous (adjective)
  • phosphorus (noun)
• principal (chief, main, leading; school administrator)
  • principle (rule)
• prophecy (noun)
  • prophesy (verb)
• sceptic (one who doubts)
  • septic (involving putrefaction, sepsis)
• stationary (fixed, motionless)
  • stationery (writing materials)
• therefor (for this purpose or thing)
  • therefore (for that reason, consequently)
• troop (soldiers)
  • troupe (actors, performers)
• waive (give up, forego)
  • wave (move up and down, etc.)

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TERMIUM Plus^®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
Writing tools – The Canadian Style
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