Commonly
Confused Words
Here are some pairs of frequently misused words:
accept – except
detract – distract
adapt – adopt
formally – formerly
allusion – illusion
human – humane
cite – site
persecute – prosecute
censor – censure
precede – proceed
complement – compliment
principal – principle
conscientious – conscious
respectful – respective
credible – creditable – credulous
stationary – stationery
Below are a few sample sentences in which the above
words are used correctly.
1.
Adapt: To
change or change something to suit different conditions.
Jimbo
was paid a lot of money to adapt the play.
Adopt:
To take up something, such as a plan or cause, and use or follow it.
I think it’s a good
idea to adopt.
2.
Allusion: The act of making an indirect reference to someone or
something.
The allusion
to Hemingway in your paper is unclear.
Illusion: Something that deceives the senses of the mind by appearing
to exist when it does not.
David
Copperfield does not create illusions; he does magic tricks
3.
Cite: To mention something or somebody to support an argument.
It’s
easy to cite a book!
Site:
An area where something was, is, or will be located.
That
web site may be cool, but it’s nothing compared to this one.
4.
Censor: Somebody or something that exercises suppressive control.
The censor
told the actors that nudity would not be allowed.
Censure:
Severe criticism or official expression of disapproval.
You
can’t censure me like that! I
can do whatever I want!
5.
Complement: Something that completes or perfects something else.
The
wine was a fine complement to the fish.
Compliment:
Something said to express praise or approval.
She
gave me a nice compliment about my new socks.
6. Conscientious:
Governed by or done according to somebody’s sense of right and wrong.
The crossing guard was a little too conscientious in
his duties.
Conscious: Aware of something and attaching importance to it.
Responsive.
He was conscious of the fact that he had cheated.
Conscience: The faculty of knowing the difference between right
and wrong.
I
wanted to steal the magazine, but my conscience wouldn’t let me.
7.
Credible: Easy to believe, trustworthy.
I’m
not sure if that source is credible.
Creditable:
Bringing credit or worthy of praise.
Bob has
proven himself creditable. Loan
him the money.
Credulous: Too easily convinced something is true.
Jane is pretty credulous; you could sell her the Brooklyn Bridge.
8.
Detract: To reduce the quality of something by taking something
else away.
Don’t
you think all the profanity detracts from your argument?
Distract:
To take somebody’s attention away from what he or she is doing.
That
loud music distracts me terribly. I
can’t concentrate.
9.
Formally: Done or carried out in accordance with established or
prescribed rules.
Formally,
Skippy’s name is really long, but we only use it at dog shows.
Formerly:
During or at an earlier period, but no longer.
Formerly
the head of security, Adam now works on the snack machines.
10.
Human: Relating to or typical of human beings.
She’s
still human as far as I’m concerned.
I don’t care what she did!
Humane:
11.
Persecute: To make somebody the victim of continual pestering or
harassment.
He’s
not trying to persecute you; he just wants your phone number.
Prosecute:
To have somebody tried in a court of law for an offense.
That
lawyer likes to prosecute a little too much.
12. Precede: To come, go, or
happen before somebody or something else in time, position, or importance.
The introduction should always precede the conclusion.
Proceed: To go on to do something.
To progress in a steady or particular manner.
Don’t you love it when the judge says, “you may proceed?”
13.
Principal: First in importance or rank, or somebody who is in
charge.
The
principal looks like a hunter when he prowls the halls during class.
Principle: A standard of moral or ethical decision-making.
We all
must live by certain principles, Jerry!
14.
Respectful: Showing appropriate deference and respect.
Are
you being respectful to the doctor when you make that noise? .
Respective:
Varying according to each of the people or things concerned.
My respective
feelings on the subject have nothing to do with you.
15.
Stationary: Not moving
or changing. Fixed in position.
Sure,
it’s a stationary bike, but you still have to move when you sit on it!
Stationery:
Paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, and other things used in writing.
The
truck driver used the stationery to write to his mom, but he didn’t
like the hearts and butterflies that were on it.
(All definitions are taken from http://dictionary.msn.com)
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This page last updated on 2/11/03