List of Commonly Misused Words in English and How to Avoid Them

Language is one the most beautiful tools for communication yet the most complex due to a lot of misinterpretation and confusion. Among the most common pitfalls are words that are commonly misused. 

In this article, we have catered to the commonly misused words in English and how to avoid them.

Commonly Misused Words with Subtle Meaning Differences

Here are the commonly misused words with their subtle meaning difference: 

1. Accept and Except 

Meaning Difference: Except is a preposition that means "apart from", while accept is a verb that means "agree with", "take in", or "receive" 

2. Born and Borne 

Meaning Difference: Born is when a living being enters the world through the birthing process. Borne means to carry, realize, or bear something.

3. Can't and Cant 

Meaning Difference: Can't is a contraction of cannot. Cant has several different meanings, including a slope or slant, or a kind of slang or jargon spoken by a particular group of people.  

4. Desert and Dessert

Meaning Difference:  As a verb, desert means to abandon. As a noun, the desert is a barren or uninhabited place; an older meaning of the word is "what one deserves",

5. Elicit and Illicit 

Meaning Difference:  Elicit is a verb that means to draw out, evoke, or obtain. Illicit is an adjective that refers to something illegal or improper. 

6. Flack and flak 

Meaning Difference: Flak is adverse criticism or anti-aircraft fire (all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action"). A flack is a publicity agent or press relations person.  

7. Guarantee and Guaranty 

Meaning Difference:  A guaranty is a binding assurance of the performance of a product or service. While a guarantee is a person who benefits from a guaranty (provided by a guarantor)

8. Hear and here 

Meaning Difference: Hearing is to detect a sound with one's ears. Here refers to one's immediate location.  

9. Loose and lose

Meaning Difference:  Loose, as an adjective, can mean the opposite of "tight". Lose can mean "fail to win".   

10. Overestimate and underestimate 

Meaning Difference: overestimated means that there is no estimate of a certain thing. However, the literal meaning of underestimate is minimal.  

11. Past and passed 

Meaning Difference: Past refers to events that have previously occurred, while passed is the past tense of "to pass". 

12. Perspective and prospective 

Meaning Difference: Perspective is a view and prospective is a future possibility. 

13. Rain, reign, and rein 

Meaning Difference:  Rain is liquid precipitation. A reign is the rule of a monarch. Reins are the straps used to control the movements of an animal.  

14. Sensual and sensuous 

Meaning Difference: Sensua is more often applied to a pleasure or experience. Sensuous to someone or something of enticing appearance

15. Temblor and trembler 

Meaning Difference: Set means "to place" or "to adjust to a value", whereas to sit means "to be seated".

16. Waive and wave 

Meaning Difference: Waive is a rule that needs to be obeyed. While Wave is 

17. Warranty and warranty

Meaning Difference: A warranty is a legal assurance that some object can perform some specified task or meet certain quality standards.  A warrantee is a person who benefits from a warranty, provided by a warrantor. 

How to Avoid Misusing Words

Here are some tips to avoid misusing words. 

• Use Grammar Guides or Vocabulary Websites

Use good grammar guides or vocabulary websites that have valuable information for understanding the correct usage of words. Websites like Grammarly, Merriam-Webster, and Purdue OWL offer insights into grammar rules and commonly confused words, making them excellent tools for writers at any level. 

• Create a List of Commonly Misused Words. 

Make a list of commonly misused words that work as a quick reference while writing. Include pairs like "affect/effect," "compliment/complement," and "principle/principal." 

• Read Extensively

Read a wide range of materials such as books, articles, and essays. That introduces you to a diverse vocabulary and proper word usage.

• Read Aloud

Read Aloud! It is a very popular technique for catching misused words and bad phrasing. Hearing your writing can help you identify errors that you might ignore anyway.  

• Use a Dictionary 

Always keep a dictionary handy. Whenever you're unsure about a word's meaning or correct usage, consult a dictionary.

Also Read: English Tips for Professionals: Top Phrases for Meetings and Emails

How to Identify Commonly Misused Words in Your Writing

• Identifying Homophones

Homophones that sound similar but have different meanings and spellings. To avoid confusion, understand these pairs and their meanings. 

• Learn How to Use Context Clues

Proofreading is essential for catching mistakes and misused words. Implement a systematic approach to proofreading. 

• Regular Proofreading

Incorporate regular proofreading. Create a checklist of common mistakes and refer to that checklist in your proofreading session.  

Also Read: How Proficiency in English Opens the Ability to Work Internationally 

Why Do People Misuse Words in English?

Here are some common reasons why people misuse words in English:  

• Cultural and Social Influence

Your language evolves through cultural or social influences due to which we adapt phrases we have never heard before. For example, the word literally is often used wrongly. 

• Overgeneralization  

Sometimes rules are used vaguely without even understanding the meaning of it. For example, using "you and I" in all contexts instead of recognizing when "you and me" is appropriate can result in grammatical mistakes.  

• Influence of Technology

The influence of technology like texting and social media has ruined formal language. This can lead to adapting incorrect forms.  

This was our article on commonly misused words in English and how to avoid them. Understanding these mistakes and implementing the suggested strategies like proofreading, using a dictionary, and more will improve your language skills and avoid common pitfalls.  

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