Similar Words

Let’s have a look at a confusing pair of words: cavalry vs. calvary. First the quick answer: Cavalry refers to horseback mounted troops Calvary describes the place surrounding Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was famously crucified Now let’s look under the hood. You may have seen… continue reading

As with most words pronounced the same, “drier” and “dryer” are two homophones that cause much confusion for English writers. A “homophone” is a term that refers to words that have the same pronunciation yet different spellings. These words are especially tricky to use in English writing,… continue reading

Have you ever seen an eagle “sore?” Or should it be “soar?” You see, this is the issue that many writers face when trying to use these two words. They sound similar, have the same pronunciation, but have different meanings (also known as homophones), making them difficult… continue reading

Will you speak afterward or afterwards? Or is it later?  Let’s shed some light: “Afterward” and “afterwards” can be used interchangeably, although the former is considered standard in American English. An “afterword” is a section of a book that comes after the main body, intended to… continue reading

In this article, we take a close look at advice vs. advise. These similar words can confuse readers and writers due to their proximity in spelling and pronunciation. Let’s define both and learn how you can use them in your writing!  Here is the short answer: “advise” is… continue reading

Homophones such as “capitol” and “capital” can be tricky as they have similar spelling, pronunciation, yet different meanings. They can leave writers scratching their heads, trying to figure out which of these variations to use.  Let’s have a closer look at the “capitol or capital conundrum.  What Does “Capital” Mean? … continue reading

Let’s have a look at astrology vs astronomy – is there a difference? You may have heard both terms used in everyday speech to describe things that relate to outer space and the stars. Even though these words sound very similar and relate to the same… continue reading

Let’s discuss “amid” vs “amidst.” In the English language, people use many pairings of words interchangeably. In some cases, these interchangeable pairs are useful and correct; in others, they can be confusing and misleading. This idea of pairings applies to the words “amid” and “amidst,” which are commonly… continue reading