Similar Words

There are three English phrases that are often confused: bad wrap, bad rap, and bad rep. How can you tell them apart? It is very important to understand how a bad rap and a bad rep are different. This will make your writing more easily… continue reading

Complacent vs. complicit are easily confused words. Most spell-check programs probably wouldn’t catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check looks for words that aren’t in its dictionary or words that resemble words in its dictionary but might be spelled wrong but spell-check isn’t perfect.… continue reading

Have you ever wondered whether an old house shudders or shutters in the wind? Well, you aren’t alone. Shudder and shutter are homophones, and it isn’t always easy to tell them apart. Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings. Depending on the… continue reading

Border and boarder are homophones (words that sound alike but are spelled differently) and easily confused words. Boarder Boarder is a noun which means someone living in a house and consuming meals in exchange for rent. It is synonymous with a roomer or tenant. Taking… continue reading

A fellow student in my high school English class who grew up in the UK hearing the word adaption used when referring to radio and television programs based on books asked a question in class one day that stuck with me. Where did the word… continue reading

Formerly and formally are two easily confused words. Spell-check applications of most word processing programs would not find a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check looks for words that aren’t in its dictionary or words that resemble words in its dictionary but are likely spelled… continue reading