Similar Words

Is it “proof” or “prove?” English often seems to be the mixing pot of languages. In many cases, English words can have shared origins or similarities that we may not even know. This is true for the words “proof” and “prove.” Interestingly, these words share the same… continue reading

Let’s take a look at “Sarcastic” vs. “Sardonic.” These two English words have similar spelling and similar pronunciations. Even though they have these similarities, they have different origins, unique meanings, and particular usages that separate them.  What Does “Sarcastic” Mean?  “Sarcastic” is a word that refers to comments that… continue reading

Once again, we will discuss the common case of English homophones confusing writers. The words “breach” and “breech” are on today’s list of some of the most confusing homophones. These words are so often confused that many people may even accidentally switch up their definitions with each… continue reading

There are many cases in English where words have a similar meaning or related origins, but what about a similar pronunciation? “Deprecate” and “depreciate” are common English words with Latin origins, which often cause writers and readers to mix them up!  What Does “Depreciate” Mean?  “Depreciate” is a word… continue reading

What Do “Bail” And “Bale” Mean?  “Bail” and “bale” are two words that commonly confuse English speakers. This is because they are homophones. In other words, they sound the same when spoken. However, they have different meanings.  “Bail” can be a noun to refer to the money required to… continue reading

Peak, Peek, and Pique: What is the Difference? Years ago, there was an account on Twitter that automatically responded when people spelled ‘sneak peek’ as ‘sneak peak’. I’m kind of disappointed that it no longer exists (changing the world, one spelling tweet at a time… continue reading