Confusing Words Pairs in Business Writing

Writers and proofreaders consistently have problems with 25 confusing word pairs. The pairs are words that sound similar, but have very different meanings. Review the meanings of the confusing word pairs that follow. A quiz testing your knowledge of the correct use of the word pairs follows this explanation:

1. accept – receive something, recognize a truth, or approve of something
   except – to leave out or exclude
2. accessible – easily approached or attained
   assessable – capable of being evaluated
3. adverse – harmful or unfavorable
   averse – opposed to, reluctant, distasteful
4. affect – bring about a change
   effect – a result Note, “effect” can be used to mean “create a change.” “This new rule is intended to effect a change.”
5. among – in the midst of several things
   between – comparison of two things; area separating two things Note, “amongst” is not acceptable in American writing, although it is acceptable in other varieties of English.
6. appraise – determine the value of something
   apprise – inform
7. assure – inform to remove doubt or concern
   ensure – guarantee
   insure – take out insurance or act as insurance (Use “ensure” unless you are describing an insurance arrangement.)
8. bimonthly, biannually – every two months or years
   semimonthly, semiannually – twice a month or twice a year
9. censor – review something and remove the objectionable parts
   censure – find fault with or blame
10. common – shared equally by members of a group of people; emphasizes an entire group
    mutual – shared by two or three people or parties; emphasizes individual entities
11. compliment – express praise or admiration
    complement – complete, make a whole, make perfect
12. compose – create or form something
    comprise – consist of or made up of
13. consecutive – following one after another without interruption
    successive – following one another in order, but not necessarily without interruption
14. continual – happening often, usually in rapid succession
    continuous – occurring without stopping
15. discreet – using good judgment in terms of conduct
    discrete – separate and distinct, or individual
16. distinct – clearly notable, individual, discrete
    distinctive – distinguishing, unique
17. eminent – prominent, distinguished in reputation
    imminent – about to occur, threatening, impending
18. exceedingly – extremely, extraordinarily
    excessively – beyond what is reasonable
19. fewer – used with countable items
    less – used with quantities
20. forward – at, near, or toward the front
    foreword – the beginning of a book or report
21. impediment – hindrance, slowing progress toward a goal
    obstacle – something that completely stands in the way of the goal
22. imply – express indirectly or hint
    infer – conclude or deduce
23. indexes – alphabetical listings of subjects
    indices – a scientific or technical listing, or statistics
24. precede – come before in time, place, or rank
    proceed – advance or continue
25. principal – foremost in importance, head of a school
    principle – standard, rule, or ethical code

Quiz on the confusing word pairs.