Similar Words Archives

A purple and white background with the words Amid vs. Amidst?

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“Amid” vs. “Amidst”: Difference And Examples

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

A green and white background with the words Oriented or Orientated

Should You Say “Oriented” Or “Orientated?”

Is one “oriented” or “orientated?” It is common in English to hear people say both “orient” and “orientate” in everyday speech. Both verbs mean “to align or position yourself in a literal or theoretical environment.” Additionally, both words originated from the Latin root “oriens,” which means “rising/east.” Additionally, when… continue reading

A graphic showing a first aid kit and the caption - aid vs. aide

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Aid vs. Aide: Definition and Examples

Let’s take a look at Aid vs. Aide. The two words are very similar in spelling and meaning and are even identical in pronunciation. That makes these words easy to mix, but one isn’t equal to the other. “Aid” can be a verb meaning “to… continue reading

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Accepted vs. Excepted

Let’s have a look at accepted vs. excepted: Accept is used to show agreement or receipt of something being offered. Except is used to exclude (i.e., not offered or not included). A handy trick is to look at the “ex” in “except” to know that… continue reading

A picture showing support beams of a metal bridge with the caption "Bear The Weight"

Bears The Weight (And Other “Bear” Expressions)

Homophones are some of the toughest words to sort through, regardless of whether you are a native or non-native English speaker. Although they are spelled differently, homophones sound exactly the same when spoken out loud – so if you aren’t a terrific speller, you’re likely… continue reading

A picture of an antique bathtub on a wooden floor with a blue wall and a caption: "bathe or bath"

Knowing When to Use Bath vs. Bathe

“Bath” and “bathe” are similar in spelling and meaning, but there are critical differences in how they are used. “Bath” will always be used as a noun. If you are taking a bath, you are washing yourself with water, typically in a tub (although avid… continue reading

Is it Benefitted or Benefited?

There’s no doubt that spelling can be tricky in the English language, especially when more than one option is considered correct. In the case of “benefited” or “benefitted,” how do you know which version is correct? Why do some people use one T and others… continue reading

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Chorus vs. Choir: Difference and Meaning

Chorus vs. Choir Let’s have a look at chorus vs. choir. A chorus and a choir have similar meanings, but that doesn’t mean they refer to the same thing. If we’re talking about people, a choir is always a part of a chorus, but a… continue reading

Man standing in front of a sign pointing both right and left, pondering. Text reads "all together or altogether?

What Is The Difference Between “All Together” And “Altogether?”

To answer the question quickly, altogether is a term that usually means “as a whole” or “completely.” In contrast, all together usually means “everyone/everything together at once.” These terms don’t necessarily equate to “the sum of its parts.” In other words, these two phrases aren’t mutually exclusive and should… continue reading

A yellow and white background with the words advisor vs adviser

What Do “Adviser” And “Advisor” Mean?

Homophones are very tricky in English. One of the more difficult homophone pairs to remember is “adviser” and “advisor.” This is true because both words have very similar spelling and pronunciation and usually mean the same thing. Luckily, if you get these two mixed up, it will… continue reading