Commonly Confused Words: English Notes

English language proficiency is a vital component of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and plays a significant role in determining success in the examination. Among the challenges faced by CLAT aspirants, one common hurdle is the correct usage of words that sound similar but have distinct meanings.

These commonly confused words can be a source of confusion and lead to errors in comprehension, writing, and overall language skills. The ability to discern the nuances between such words is crucial for CLAT aspirants to effectively communicate ideas, comprehend legal texts, and construct precise arguments.

Misusing or misunderstanding these words can result in misinterpretations, convey unintended messages, and ultimately impact performance in the exam.

This resource aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate through these linguistic challenges and strengthen their grasp of the English language.

Accept vs. Except:

• Accept: to receive willingly.
• Except: to exclude or leave out.

Affect vs. Effect:

• Affect: to influence or produce a change in something.
• Effect: a result or consequence.

Allusion vs. Illusion:

• Allusion: an indirect reference.
• Illusion: a false perception or belief.

Among vs. Between:

• Among: used when referring to three or more people or things.
• Between: used when referring to two people or things.

Amount vs. Number:

• Amount: used with uncountable nouns.
• Number: used with countable nouns.

Bad vs. Badly:

• Bad: an adjective used to describe a noun.
• Badly: an adverb used to describe how an action is done.

Breath vs. Breathe:

• Breath: the air is taken in and expelled during breathing.
• Breathe: the act of inhaling and exhaling.

Capital vs. Capitol:

• Capital: a city where the central government is located or the primary letter in a sentence.
• Capitol: a building where a legislative body meets.

Choose vs. Chose:

• Choose: the present tense form of the verb.
• Chose: the past tense form of the verb.

Complement vs. Compliment:

• Complement: something that completes or goes well with something else.
• Compliment: a polite expression of praise or admiration.

Desert vs. Dessert:

• Desert: a barren or dry sandy area.
• Dessert: a sweet course served at the end of a meal.

Device vs. Devise:

• Device: a tool or instrument.
• Devise: to invent or create.

Disinterested vs. Uninterested:

• Disinterested: impartial or unbiased.
• Uninterested: lacking interest or concern.

Elicit vs. Illicit:

• Elicit: to draw out or evoke a response.
• Illicit: illegal or forbidden.

Everyday vs. Every day:

• Everyday: common or ordinary.
• Every day: each day.

Farther vs. Further:

• Farther: refers to physical distance.
• Further: refers to figurative distance or advancement.

Fewer vs. Less:

• Fewer: used with countable nouns.
• Less: used with uncountable nouns.

Forward vs. Foreword:

• Forward: in the front direction or ahead.
• Foreword: an introductory section of a book.

Hear vs. Here:

• Hear: to perceive sound with your ears.
• Here: in or at this place.

Its vs. It’s:

• Its: possessive form of “it.”
• It’s: contraction of “it is” or “it has.”

Lay vs. Lie:

• Lay: to put or place something down.
• Lie: to recline or rest in a horizontal position.

Lose vs. Loose:

• Lose: to misplace or fail to find.
• Loose: not tight or firmly fixed.

Moral vs. Morale:

• Moral: related to principles of right and wrong.
• Morale: the emotional or mental state of a person or group.

Personal vs. Personnel:

• Personal: relating to individual or private matters.
• Personnel: employees or staff members.

Principal vs. Principle:

• Principal: a person who has controlling authority or the main sum of money.
• Principle: a fundamental truth or a basic belief.

Quiet vs. Quite:

• Quiet: absence of noise or sound.
• Quite: to a considerable extent or completely.

Raise vs. Rise:

• Raise: to lift or elevate something.
• Rise: to move upward or increase.

Stationary vs. Stationery:

• Stationary: not moving or fixed in one place.
• Stationery: writing materials such as paper, pens, and envelopes.

Their vs. There vs. They’re:

• Their: belonging to or associated with them.
• There: indicating a place or position.
• They’re: contraction of “they are.”

Than vs. Then:

• Than: used for making comparisons.
• Then: indicate a particular time or sequence.

To vs. Too vs. Two:

• To: expressing direction or intention.
• Too: in addition or also.
• Two: the number 2.

Weather vs. Whether:

• Weather: the state of the atmosphere.
• Whether: introducing a choice or possibility.

Your vs. You’re:

• Your: belonging to or associated with you.
• You’re: contraction of “you are.”

Advice vs. Advise:

• Advice: a suggestion or recommendation.
• Advise: to give counsel or offer guidance.

Aisle vs. Isle:

• Aisle: a passageway between rows or sections.
• Isle: a small island.

All ready vs. Already:

• All ready: fully prepared or completely ready.
• Already: by this time or before now.

Altar vs. Alter:

• Altar: a raised structure used in religious ceremonies.
• Alter: to change or modify.

Bare vs. Bear:

• Bare: uncovered or naked.
• Bear: an animal or to carry a load.

Brake vs. Break:

• Brake: a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle.
• Break: to separate into pieces or take a pause.

Cite vs. Site vs. Sight:

• Cite: to quote or refer to a source.
• Site: a location or place.
• Sight: the ability to see or something seen.

Complement vs. Supplement:

• Complement: something that completes or enhances something else.
• Supplement: an addition or extra component to complete something.

Conscious vs. Conscience:

• Conscious: aware or intentional.
• Conscience: the inner sense of what is right or wrong.

Creak vs. Creek:

• Creak: a high-pitched sound made by a door, floorboard, etc.
• Creek: a small stream or brook.

Discreet vs. Discrete:

• Discreet: careful or cautious in one’s speech or actions.
• Discrete: separate or distinct from others.

Dual vs. Duel:

• Dual: consisting of two parts or elements.
• Duel: a formal combat between two people.

Emigrate vs. Immigrate:

• Emigrate: to leave one’s own country to settle in another.
• Immigrate: to come to a new country to settle there.

Faze vs. Phase:

• Faze: to disturb or disconcert someone.
• Phase: a distinct stage or step in a process.

Grisly vs. Grizzly:

• Grisly: causing horror or disgust.
• Grizzly: a type of bear.

Heroin vs. Heroine:

• Heroin: a highly addictive illegal drug.
• Heroine: a female hero or main character.

Hoard vs. Horde:

• Hoard: to accumulate or gather and store a large quantity of something.
• Horde: a large group or crowd of people or animals.

Idle vs. Idol:

• Idle: inactive or not working.
• Idol: an object of worship or a greatly admired person.

Incite vs. Insight:

• Incite: to encourage or provoke into action.
• Insight: deep understanding or perception of a situation.

Latter vs. Former:

• Latter: referring to the second of two things mentioned.
• Former: referring to the first of two things mentioned.

Lead vs. Led:

• Lead: to guide or show the way.
• Led: past tense of the verb “lead.”

Loath vs. Loathe:

• Loath: reluctant or unwilling.
• Loathe: to feel intense disgust or hatred.

Navel vs. Naval:

• Navel: the small hollow or scar on the abdomen, marking the site of the umbilical cord.
• Naval: relating to the navy or naval forces.

Palate vs. Palette:

• Palate: the roof of the mouth or the sense of taste.
• Palette: a thin board or slab used by artists to mix and hold colors.

Peak vs. Peek vs. Pique:

• Peak: the pointed top of a mountain or the highest point.
• Peek: to glance quickly or take a quick look.
• Pique: to arouse or stimulate interest or curiosity.

Pedal vs. Peddle:

• Pedal: a lever operated by foot to control a machine or instrument.
• Peddle: to sell or promote goods by going from place to place.

Persecute vs. Prosecute:

• Persecute: to harass or oppress someone, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs.
• Prosecute: to institute legal proceedings against someone in a court of law.

Precede vs. Proceed:

• Precede: to come before something in time, order, or rank.
• Proceed: to move forward or continue with a course of action.

Pray vs. Prey:

• Pray: to offer prayers or make a request to a higher power.
• Prey: an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.

Principal vs. Principle:

• Principal: a person who holds a high position or has controlling authority.
• Principle: a fundamental truth or a rule or belief guiding behavior.

Rain vs. Rein vs. Reign:

• Rain: water falling from the atmosphere in droplets.
• Rein: a strap or rope used to guide or control an animal.
• Reign: the period during which a sovereign rules.

Sight vs. Site vs. Cite:

• Sight: the ability to see or the act of seeing.
• Site: a location or place.
• Cite: to quote or refer to a source.

Sow vs. Sew:

• Sow: to plant seeds in the ground.
• Sew: to join or attach fabric using a needle and thread.

Straight vs. Strait:

• Straight: not curved or bent; in a direct line.
• Strait: a narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water.

Tail vs. Tale:

• Tail: the hindmost part of an animal’s body, extending beyond the torso.
• Tale: a fictional or imaginative story or narrative.

Threw vs. Through:

• Threw: past tense of the verb “throw.”
• Through: moving in one side and out of the other side of an object or place.

Throes vs. Throws:

• Throes: violent pangs of pain or struggle.
• Throws: the act of hurling or tossing something.

Vain vs. Vein:

• Vain: having an excessively high opinion of oneself; conceited.
• Vein: a blood vessel or a streak or layer of a different mineral in rock.

Vial vs. Viol:

• Vial: a small container, typically made of glass, used to hold liquid.
• Viol: a musical instrument of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Waive vs. Wave:

• Waive: to relinquish or give up a right, claim, or privilege voluntarily.
• Wave: to move one’s hand or an object to and fro in a repeated motion.

Waist vs. Waste:

• Waist: the part of the body between the ribs and hips; the narrowest part of the torso.
• Waste: to use or expend carelessly or without reason; to fail to make use of something valuable.

Weak vs. Week:

• Weak: lacking strength or power; not strong or robust.
• Week: a period of seven days.

Wear vs. Where:

• Wear: to have or carry on one’s body as clothing, decoration, or protection.
• Where: asking about or indicating a location or position.

Weather vs. Whether:

• Weather: the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.
• Whether: expressing a doubt or choice between two alternatives.

Whose vs. Who’s:

• Whose: possessive form of “who”; indicating ownership or relationship.
• Who’s: contraction of “who is” or “who has”.

Your vs. You’re:

• Your: belonging to or associated with you.
• You’re: contraction of “you are”.

Brake vs. Break:

• Brake: a device used to slow or stop a vehicle or machine.
• Break: to separate into pieces or parts; to interrupt or pause an activity.

Desert vs. Dessert:

• Desert: a barren or arid land with little or no vegetation.
• Dessert: a sweet dish served at the end of a meal.

Die vs. Dye:

• Die: to cease living; to pass away.
• Dye: a substance used to color or stain something.

Exceed vs. Succeed:

• Exceed: to go beyond or surpass a certain limit or expectation.
• Succeed: to achieve success or accomplish a desired outcome.

Explicit vs. Implicit:

• Explicit: clearly stated or expressed; leaving no room for confusion.
• Implicit: implied or understood without being directly expressed.

Forward vs. Foreword:

• Forward: in the direction of the front or ahead.
• Foreword: an introductory section at the beginning of a book, typically written by someone other than the author.

Hear vs. Here:

• Hear: to perceive sound with the ears.
• Here: in or at this place.

Its vs. It’s:

• Its: possessive form of “it”; indicating ownership or association.
• It’s: contraction of “it is” or “it has”.

Lose vs. Loose:

• Lose: to misplace or be deprived of something.
• Loose: not firmly fixed or tightly bound.

Passed vs. Past:

• Passed: past tense of the verb “pass”; to move in a particular direction.
• Past: a time before the present; no longer current or existing.

Peace vs. Piece:

• Peace: a state of tranquility or freedom from conflict.
• Piece: a portion or part of a whole.

Principal vs. Principle:

• Principal: a person who holds a position of high authority or importance; the head of a school.
• Principle: a fundamental truth or law; a guiding belief or value.

Quite vs. Quiet:

• Quite: to a certain or significant extent; completely.
• Quiet: absence of noise or sound; peaceful or calm.

Than vs. Then:

• Than: used for making comparisons between two things.
• Then: indicating a specific time or sequence of events.

Their vs. There vs. They’re:

• Their: belonging to or associated with them.
• There: indicating a location or position.
• They’re: contraction of “they are”.

To vs. Too vs. Two:

• To: expressing direction or indicating a destination.
• Too: also; more than what is necessary or appropriate.
• Two: the number 2.

Weigh vs. Weight:

• Weigh: to measure the heaviness of something using a scale.
• Weight: the measure of how heavy something is.

Who vs. Whom:

• Who: used as the subject of a sentence or clause; referring to the person performing an action.
• Whom: used as the object of a verb or preposition; referring to the person receiving an action.

Your vs. You’re:

• Your: belonging to or associated with you.
• You’re: contraction of “you are”.

Lay vs. Lie:

• Lay: to place something down in a horizontal position.
• Lie: to recline or rest in a horizontal position.

Effect vs. Affect:

• Effect: a result or consequence of something.
• Affect: to have an influence on or produce a change in something.