CONFUSING
WORDS - 1
- BY SUMAN SHARMA
Practice & Practise
Both refer to a habitual way of doing something or a
repeated exercise of an activity or skill.
In British English, practise is a used as a verb and practice
is a used as a noun.
In American English, the word 'practice' refers to both the
verb as well as noun form.
Usage Example:
It must have taken a lot of practice to become an
expert.
2
Gesture & Jester
Gesture means a Jester means a person
movement or position of who is given to witticisms,
the hand, arm, body, jokes, and pranks.
head, or face that is
expressive of an idea,
opinion, emotion, etc.
Usage Example:
She raised her head high in The life of a jester is very
a gesture of disdain. lonely and solitary.
3
Gild & Guild
1. to coat with gold, gold Guild is an organization
leaf, or a gold-colored of persons with related
substance. interests, goals, etc.,
2. Wealthy and privileged especially one formed for
mutual aid or protection.
Usage Example:
1. The domes of the Protection was given only
temple were gilded with a after ten years of joining
thin plate of gold. the gild to its members.
2. The gilded fools who
surrounded the Prince.
4
Gilt & Guilt
Gilt means to coat with Guilt means the fact or
gold, gold leaf, or a gold- state of having done
colored substance. wrong or committed an
offence.
Usage Example:
There was a huge gilt He remembered with
framed oil painting above sudden guilt that he had
the mantelpiece. not called his mother
5
Fail & Flail
1. To fall short of success or Flail means
achievement in something expected, to move like a
attempted, desired, or approved flail; thresh about.
2. To receive less than the passing
grade or mark in an examination, class,
or course of study.
3. To dwindle, pass, or die away.
Usage Example:
1. He failed to reach airport in time for Stranded on the
the flight. highway, he
2. He failed in two subjects. flailed his arms
around to stop a
3. The crop failed due to lack of rain.
vehicle.
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Gist, Grist & Jest
Gist means the Grist means Jest means a
main or essential grain intended to joke or witty
part of a matter. be or that has remark;
been ground. witticism.
Usage Example:
The personal They had a grist It was difficult to
assistant gave mill which was judge whether
the gist of the run by the her remarks were
topics discussed electricity made in jest or in
at the meeting. produced with earnest.
water.
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Glance & Glimpse
1. To look quickly or Glimpse is a very brief,
briefly. passing look, sight, or
2. To allude briefly to a view.
topic or subject in passing.
Usage Example:
1. She quickly glanced through The glimpse of the
the company reports. ocean from the
2. At a glance he could make window was
out that the atmosphere was breathtaking.
not congenial.
8
Gored & Gourd
Gored means to pierce Gourds are the fruit of
with or as if with a horn or any of various
tusk. cucurbitaceous or
similar plants, especially
the bottle gourd and
some squashes.
Usage Example:
The bull gored the horse Wild gourds can at times
and it died immediately. be poisonous.
9
Elemental & Elementary
Elemental means starkly Elementary means
simple, primitive, or basic. pertaining to or dealing
with elements, rudiments,
or first principles.
Usage Example:
They follow only the He found it difficult to go
elemental rules of worship. beyond the elementary
rules of grammar.
10
Ghastly & Ghostly
Ghastly means shockingly Ghostly means
frightful or dreadful; characteristic of, or
horrible. resembling a ghost.
Usage Example:
It was a ghastly sight to At night the dark room in
see the drought hit people the hills looked ghostly
crying out for water. and full of shadows.
11
Emulate & Imitate
Emulate means to Imitate means to follow
attempt to equal or or endeavor to follow as a
surpass, especially by model or example.
imitation.
Usage Example:
The youth are in dire need Their dance step is
to emulate the great men intended to imitate the
of this country. dance of a peacock in the
rain.
12
Facet & Faucet
Facet means a distinct Faucet means a
feature or element in a regulator for controlling
problem. the flow of a liquid from
a reservoir.
Usage Example:
The perfectly cut facets of As soon as she turned the
the diamond shone in the faucet on, the hot water
sunlight. scalded her hands.
13
Gibe, Jibe & Jive
Gibe means to Jibe means to be Jive is a style of
utter mocking or in harmony or lively and jerky
scoffing words; accord; agree. dance performed
jeer. to jazz and, later,
to rock and roll.
Usage Example:
He wanted to The report did It was difficult to
gibe at the, but not jibe with the judge whether
not finding the observations of her remarks were
appropriate the managing made in jest or in
words made him director. earnest.
keep quirt.
14
Glut, Gluten & Glutton
Glut means to Gluten is a protein Glutton means
flood (the market) consisting of a a person who
with a particular mixture of glutelin eats and
item or service so and gliadin, present drinks
that the supply
in cereal grains, excessively or
greatly exceeds
the demand.
especially wheat. voraciously.
Usage Example:
During the rainy Doctors these days He gorges on
season there was a are advising a lot food like a
glut of fish in the of patients to have glutton.
market but no a gluten free diet.
demand.
15
Fair & Fare
Fair means free from bias, Fare means the price of
dishonesty, or injustice. conveyance or passage in
a bus, train, airplane, or
other vehicle.
Usage Example:
The decision of the judge Recently the train fares
was very fair. have been hiked by twenty
per cent.
16
Fain & Feign
Fain means gladly; Feign means make
willingly. believe with the intent to
deceive.
Usage Example:
He would fain stay at He could not feign
home with the kids than ignorance on being
go shopping. confronted with the truth.
17
Fable & Foible
Fable is a story about Foible means a
mythical or supernatural behavioural attribute that
beings or events. is distinctive and peculiar
to an individual.
Usage Example:
The fable emphasizes that Dishonesty is a foible that
the level of water in the she detests in others.
pitcher was too low for the
crow to have a drink.
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Facetious & Fictitious
Facetious means cleverly Fictitious means Formed
amusing in tone. or conceived by the
imagination.
Usage Example:
His facetious remarks in Many authors prefer to
front of the police officer write under a fictitious
landed him in trouble. name.
19
Fate & Fete
Fate means something Fete means a festive
that unavoidably befalls a celebration or
person; fortune; lot. entertainment.
Usage Example:
The fate of the doctors is A gala fete was held in the
to be on service all twenty public grounds.
four hours.
20
Facilitate & Felicitate
Facilitate means make Felicitate means express
easier. congratulations.
Usage Example:
The teacher facilitated the The newly wedded couple
work of the students by received felicitations from
providing extra notes. all their friends and family.
21
Fairy & Ferry
Fairy is an imaginary Ferry means a commercial
supernatural being, usually service with terminals and
represented in diminutive boats for transporting
human form and persons, automobiles, etc.,
characterized as clever, across a river or other
playful, and having magical comparatively small body
powers. of water.
Usage Example:
It seemed as if the fairies The ferry was decorated
had helped the small with buntings and balloons
children in the woods. for the festive occasion.
22
Farther & Further
Farther means to or at a Further is used in
greater distance in time or referring to a degree, a
space but it should be quantity, or time in quality
used only in connection or degree; to a greater
with a physical or a linear extent.
distance.
Usage Example:
They moved farther north He was not prepared to
in search of a livelihood. discuss the case further.
23
Faun & Fawn
Faun is one of a class of 1. a young deer, especially
rural deities represented an unweaned one.
as men with the ears, 2. a form a behaviour
horns, tail, and later also where one seeks to notice
the hind legs of a goat. or favor by servile
demeanor.
Usage Example:
Fauns are capable of 1. She was as light footed
guiding humans in need, as a fawn.
as is explained in the fable 2. The old matriarch was
of The Satyr and the beaming at the young
Traveller. people fawning over her.
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Ferrule & Ferule
Ferrule is a ring or cap, Ferule means a rod, cane,
usually of metal, put or flat piece of wood for
around the end of a post, punishing children,
cane, or the like, to especially by striking
prevent splitting. them on the hand.
Usage Example:
The tap of his ferrule on The bang of the ferule
the cobblestones could be hitting the desk could be
heard long after he had heard outside the
left the house. classroom.
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Feral & Ferial
Feral means existing in a Ferial is a weekday, other
natural state, as animals or than Saturday, on which
plants; not domesticated no feast occurs. Ferial as a
or cultivated; wild. word originated in late
14c, from Old French.
Usage Example:
In Argentina and some
West Indian islands the
house - sparrow is known
to be feral.
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Federation & Confederation
Federation is a federated Confederation means the
body formed by a number act of forming an alliance
of nations, states, or confederation.
societies, unions, etc.,
each retaining control of
its own internal affairs.
Usage Example:
The Federation's laws were The articles of the
very stringent. confederation have been
ratified many times.
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Ferment & Foment
1.Any agent or substance, such 1. To instigate or foster
as a bacterium, mould, yeast, or (discord, rebellion, etc.);
enzyme, that causes promote the growth or
fermentation. development of.
2. Agitation; unrest; 2. To apply warm water or
excitement; commotion; medicated liquid, ointments,
tumult. etc., to (the surface of the
body).
Usage Example:
1. Let the yeast ferment for 1. Lack of basic amenities was
three days to add to the dough enough to foment discontent
for the bread. amongst the drought ridden
2. The political ferment in the people.
capital was apparent. 2. If the joints get stiff, foment
with warm saline water.
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Faker & Fakir
1. Faker means a person who Fakir means a
fakes. Muslim or Hindu
2. It also means to conceal the mendicant monk
defects of or make appear who is regarded as
more attractive, interesting, a holy man.
valuable, etc., usually in order
to deceive.
Usage Example:
1. He faked illness to go on a holiday. Guru Nanak Dev
2. It was difficult to believe that the led the life of a
holy man was a faker. fakir.
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Feasible & Plausible
Feasible means capable of Plausible means having an
being done, effected, or appearance of truth or
accomplished. reason; seemingly worthy
of approval or acceptance;
credible; believable.
Usage Example:
It was not feasible to stop This accident would be a
the construction work mid- plausible excuse for being
way. late to work
30
Genius & Genus
Genius means a person Genus means any of the
with exceptional ability, taxonomic groups into
esp. of a highly original which a family is divided
kind. and which contains one or
more species.
Usage Example:
Mozart was a prolific Felidae (cats, leopard,
genius composed many cheetah, and lion) is a
symphonies and genus of the cat family.
concertos.
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Gap & Gape
1. A break or opening, as in a fence, Gape means to
wall, or military line; breach. stare with open
2. A wide divergence or difference; mouth, as in
disparity. wonder.
3. A difference or disparity in attitudes,
perceptions, character, or development.
Usage Example:
1. cold air is seeping through the gap in the Don't gape, pay
door and its frame. the bill!
2. There is a large gap between the rich and
the poor which is unlikely to be filled.
3. These days the generation gap is getting
less due to fast moving technology.
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Faint & Feint
Faint means lacking Feint means deceive by
brightness, vividness, a mock action, a
clearness, loudness, movement made in
strength. order to deceive an
adversary.
Usage Example:
A faint light was visible in It was difficult to cut
the horizon. across the feints of the
fencer.
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Gamble & Gambol
1. To play at any game of Gambol means to skip
chance for money or other about, as in dancing or
stakes. playing; frolic.
2. To take a chance on;
venture; risk.
Usage Example:
1. He likes to gamble be it It is such fun to watch the
for high or low stakes. young lambs gambol in the
2. It is not advisable to green grass.
gamble one's future on a
whim.
34
Galleon, Gallon & Galloon
Galleon is a large Gallon is a Galloon means a
sailing ship unit of braid or trimming of
having three or capacity worsted, silk or
more masts. equal to 231 rayon tinsel, gold or
cubic inches. silver, etc.
Usage Example:
They were To make orange The galloon was
ordered to board juice add 3 executed in a
the fifth galleon pounds of sugar lighter tone than
on the right side to every gallon of the fabric.
of the dock. juice.
35
Gain & Gainly
1. To get (something desired), especially Gainly means
as a result of one's efforts. graceful; comely;
2. To acquire as an increase or addition. handsome.
3. To win (someone) to one's own side or
point of view; persuade.
Usage Example:
1. She had to gain permission of the A gainly young man
principal to sit in the exam. came to receive us
2. It is very easy to gain weight , but very at the station.
difficult to lose it.
3. He made a tremendous amount of effort
to gain the support of his colleagues.
36
Gait & Gate
Gait means a manner of Gate means an opening
walking, stepping, or to allow passage into or
running. out of an enclosed
place.
Usage Example:
The old man carrying the There was fencing all
elegant walking stick had around the house and a
an impressive gait. huge iron gate.
37
Gambit & Gamut
Gambit means any Gamut means the entire
maneuver by which one scale or range.
seeks to gain an
advantage.
Usage Example:
After having settled down Due to anger his face ran
he decided to venture into the gamut from pink to
a conversational gambit. ashen white and vice
versa.
38
Generic & Genetic
Generic means applicable Genetic means of or
or referring to a whole relating to genetics,
class or group; general. genes, or the origin of
something.
Usage Example:
Normally people would Cultural evolution is better
buy generic cereals as they and faster than genetic
cost less. evolution.
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Gaff & Gaffe
1. An iron hook with a handle for Gaffe is a
landing large fish. social blunder;
2. Harsh treatment or criticism. faux pas.
Usage Example:
1. Although he had the gaff lying next to Her gaffe was
him, he did not even try to lift it up. unforgivable by all
2. The workers could bear the gaff of the present at the
management if they had a wage hike. gathering.
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Genteel & Gentle
Genteel means well- Gentle means kindly;
bred or refined; polite; amiable/ moderate.
elegant; stylish.
Usage Example:
The city was apparently Her voice was gentle and
full of rich and genteel kind.
people.
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KEEP LEARNING, KEEP GROWING…
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