Commonly Misused Words

Words are slippery and tricky creatures; they are difficult to hold as they are smooth, wet or polished. The finest writers and speakers too, sometimes, fail to understand and likely to misuse or confuse certain words. And once used or spoken, you are only the slave of your words as they belong to others, i.e. listeners or readers. A stitch in time saves nine.

Fully grasped words will always help you craft your message effectively. At the same time, you can skilfully play with the two or more similar sounding words to impress your audience. This list of commonly confused or misused words will help you discriminate between two entries that look similar but have different meanings and pronunciation. Read carefully and add these words to your vocabulary.

Commonly Misused Words by Writers and Speakers

Alternately (adverb)

Meaning: If two things happen alternately, they follow each other in a regular way, one after the other.

Example: He felt alternately hot and cold.

Alternatively (adverb)

Meaning: Used to introduce suggestion that is a second choice or possibility.

Example: The school will provide transport facility for students. Alternatively, parents can organise their own transport.

Amiable (adjective)

Meaning: Pleasant; friendly and easy to like.

Example: Narendra finds Smriti’s husband amiable.

Amicable (adjective)

Meaning: Done or achieved in a polite or friendly way and without arguing.

Example: The government and the business lobby managed to reach an amicable settlement of the dispute.

Ascend (verb)

Meaning: to rise; to go up; to climb.

Example: The road ascends steeply from the harbour.

Assent (verb)

Meaning: to agree to a request, an idea, or a suggestion.

Example: Current government doesn’t assent to the proposal of petrol price cut.

Complaisant (adjective)

Meaning: ready to accept other people’s actions and opinions and do what other people want.

Example: Our Prime Minister wants to have a complaisant opposition that readily accepts government’s disastrous policies and draconian laws.

Complacent (adjective)

Meaning: too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not feel that any change is necessary; showing or feeling complacency.

Example: The government displays dangerously complacent attitude to the rise in inflation and unemployment.

Complement (verb)

Meaning: to add to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive.

Example: India’s cricket team needs players who can complement each other.

Compliment (verb)

Meaning: to tell somebody that you like or admire something they have done, their appearance, etc.

Example: Dr Amrut Bhogayta complimented his students on their excellent performance in Sanskrit drama.

Desert (noun)

Meaning: a large area of land that has very little water and very few plants growing on it. Many deserts are covered by sand.

Example: Camels can walk miles across the burning desert sands.

Dessert (noun)

Meaning: sweet food eaten at the end of a meal.

Example: At a Bengali restaurant, Tanmoy Biswas stops the trolley to pick Ras Gulla, his favourite dessert.

Disassemble (verb)

Meaning: to take apart a machine or structure so that it is in separate pieces.

Example: Mechanics tend to disassemble engines to find problems.

Dissemble (verb)

Meaning: to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different ones.

Example: Cops dissemble their real motives while interrogating criminals.

Historic (adjective)

Meaning: important in history; likely to be thought of as important at some time in the future.

Example: Nisit loves to visit historic monuments and sites in cities he visits.

Historical (adjective)

Meaning: connected with the past or the study of history.

Example: Ashoka, the Great, is one of the greatest historical figures of all time.

Imminent (adjective)

Meaning: likely to happen very soon.

Example: Frequent terrorist attacks from Pakistan portend imminent danger of a full-scale war.

Immanent (adjective)

Meaning: present as a natural part of something; present everywhere

Example: God is immanent in the world.

Eminent (adjective)

Meaning: famous and respected, especially in a particular profession (used for people)

Example: Eminent scholars of archaeology are examining the parts of buildings and objects found in the ground.

Intense (adjective)

Meaning: very great and strong; extreme

Example: As a team leader, Apurva Shah was under intense pressure to achieve yearly targets.

Intention (noun)

Meaning: what you intend or plan to do; your aim

Example: Sachin Tendulkar hit a six at the first ball and made his intention of scoring high very clear.

Loose (adjective)

Meaning: not firmly fixed where it should be; able to become separated from something

Example: Chirag saw that the plug has come loose and his mobile was not fully charged even after two hours.

Lose (verb)

Meaning: to be unable to find something/somebody

Example: Viral lost her husband in the carnival crowd.

Regretful (adjective)

Meaning: feeling or showing sadness or disappointment because of sth that has happened or sth that you have done or not done

Example: He sounded regretful but pointed out that he had committed himself.

Regrettable (adjective)

Meaning: that you are sorry about and wished had not happened

Example: It is regrettable that government failed to supply oxygen during the second wave of Corona in Gujarat.

Respectable (adjective)

Meaning: considered by society to be acceptable, good or correct

Example: Jitendra and his family have recently shifted to a highly respectable neighbourhood.

Respectful (adjective)

Meaning: showing or feeling respect

Example: As a citizen, we are expected to be respectful of authority.

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Which pair of words confuses you most? Do you want to add a few more entries to this list? Share your feedback in the ‘Comments’ section below. And if you find this information useful, share the link with others.