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)
- all together (together in a group)
- ascent (climb)
- bloc (group of persons, companies or nations)
- block (group of things; obstruct; solid piece, etc.)
- born (of birth)
- breach (gap; violation)
- broach (pointed tool or rod; begin to talk about)
- brooch (type of jewellery)
- canvas (cloth)
- 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)
- complement (complete; that which completes)
- councillor (member of a council)
- counsellor (adviser; lawyer)
- dependant (noun)
- discreet (prudent, tactful)
- discrete (distinct, separate)
- dyeing (colouring)
- dying (approaching death)
- elicit (draw forth)
- envelop (verb)
- faze (disturb)
- flair (talent)
- forbear (hold back)
- foreword (preface)
- hoard (save up)
- immanent (inherent)
- imminent (about to occur)
- inequity (unfairness)
- its (belonging to it)
- loath (adjective)
- loose (set free; untight, etc.)
- mantel (shelf above fireplace)
- mucous (adjective)
- ordinance (law)
- ordnance (military weapons)
- pedal (operate levers with feet; activation device)
- personal (individual; private)
- phosphorous (adjective)
- principal (chief, main, leading; school administrator)
- prophecy (noun)
- 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
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