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Confusing pairs of words...

  • 25-05-2016 6:52pm
    #1
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,777 ✭✭✭✭


    Would you accept this clause in the terms and conditions?
    Would you except this clause in the terms and conditions?

    Two very similar words in reasonably correct sentences, but they have opposite, or at least different, meanings. There are many similar sounding words that can cause confusion if they are transposed - affect and effect are two of the commonest.

    Homonyms, homographs and homophones can be included, but contribute your favourites / most irritating / most frequently incorrect, and if you want to offer a sentence to show the difference, please do.


«1

Comments

  • #2
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,489 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    flammable/inflammable


  • #3
    ezra_pound
    Registered Users Posts: 2,497 ✭✭✭ezra_pound


    pickarooney wrote: »
    flammable/inflammable

    Only these words mean the same thing.


  • #4
    tina1040
    Registered Users Posts: 478 ✭✭tina1040


    What's the difference between assume and presume?


  • #5
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,489 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    ezra_pound wrote: »
    Only these words mean the same thing.

    That's what's confusing!


  • #6
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,489 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    tina1040 wrote: »
    What's the difference between assume and presume?

    In some contexts non, but each has uses the other one doesn't.

    You can't "assume to know" something or "presume the position" for example.


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  • #7
    Speedwell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭Speedwell


    Include/comprise. Jesus, I see these used interchangeably all the time, but they are not interchangeable.

    Nauseous/nauseated is another good one. "I'm nauseous," she said. "Oh, you don't look that bad to me," I said. :D


  • #8
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,353 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Less/fewer


  • #9
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,353 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Random/arbitrary*

    *this one is more of a teenager thing.


  • #10
    loremolis
    Registered Users Posts: 944 ✭✭✭loremolis


    ezra_pound wrote: »
    Only these words mean the same thing.

    No they don't.

    Petrol is inflammable
    Diesel is flammable

    The first will ignite when a flame is applied
    The second will not ignite when a flame is applied but will burn when thrown on a fire.


  • #11
    Second Toughest in_the Freshers
    Site Banned Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭Second Toughest in_the Freshers


    TheSimpsons1218-1.jpg


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  • #12
    Into The Blue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,358 ✭✭✭Into The Blue


    Practical practicable


  • #13
    Second Toughest in_the Freshers
    Site Banned Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭Second Toughest in_the Freshers


    enormity (a shocking, evil, or immoral act) vs immensity / enormousness


    Picture shows the enormity of this storm.


  • #14
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,353 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Telpis.

    :D


  • #15
    AMKC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,297 ✭✭✭✭AMKC
    Ms


    to/too
    Through/true

    Live long and Prosper

    Peace and long life.



  • #16
    alias no.9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,339 ✭✭✭alias no.9


    Khaki and Khaki.

    One is a yellow/brown colour, the name for which originates from India where it translates as 'soil' and was the colour that white linen army uniforms turned in dusty environments.

    The other is a vaguely military green colour for which the word has been incorrectly applied so often that it's almost become an accepted use.


  • #17
    ezra_pound
    Registered Users Posts: 2,497 ✭✭✭ezra_pound


    loremolis wrote: »
    No they don't.

    Petrol is inflammable
    Diesel is flammable

    The first will ignite when a flame is applied
    The second will not ignite when a flame is applied but will burn when thrown on a fire.

    This is completely wrong. There is no difference between the words.

    Google it.


  • #18
    tac foley
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,500 ✭✭✭tac foley


    AMKC wrote: »
    to/too
    Through/true

    Your second example is only valid if you accept the often-heard Irish person's pronunciation the th- sound.

    As in three/tree, thought/taught/taut/tort, thanks/tanks et al.

    See THIS thread - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=280097

    tac


  • #19
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,353 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Presently/currently.


  • #20
    Second Toughest in_the Freshers
    Site Banned Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭Second Toughest in_the Freshers


    tac foley wrote: »
    Your second example is only valid if you accept the often-heard Irish person's pronunciation the th- sound.

    As in three/tree, thought/taught/taut/tort, thanks/tanks et al.

    See THIS thread - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=280097

    tac

    to through


  • #21
    Mearings
    Registered Users Posts: 559 ✭✭✭Mearings


    Into The Blue wrote: »
    Practical practicable

    Anything that can be done and is worth doing is practical. Anything that can be done, whether or not it is worth doing, is practicable.

    [The Penguin Dictionary of Troublesome Words. Bill Bryson 1984]


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  • #22
    the_pen_turner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,523 ✭✭✭the_pen_turner


    legal / illegal always annoys me when talking to someone.


  • #23
    Speedwell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭Speedwell


    the_pen_turner wrote: »
    legal / illegal always annoys me when talking to someone.

    Holy hell, what is it you're asking them to do? ;):D


  • #24
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    affect effect

    As in, how do you affect the effect?

    Not to be confused with the Irish ahhh-feck.


  • #25
    Yakuza
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,141 ✭✭✭Yakuza


    Some people confuse "a lot" with "allot" or even invent their own "alot".


  • #26
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,190 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    In a similar vein/vain, no one and noone. See what I did there?


  • #27
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,190 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    I heard a govt minister talking about incidences.

    When did incidences become the plural of incident?

    Incidence/incidents/incidences


  • #28
    tac foley
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,500 ✭✭✭tac foley


    board/bored

    then/than

    compliment/complement

    tac


  • #29
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    No ones mentioned there, their or they're yet. I wouldn't call them confusing but plenty of times in other forums here you'll see there used to mean any one of the three


  • #30
    Speedwell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭Speedwell


    my3cents wrote: »
    No ones mentioned there, their or they're yet. I wouldn't call them confusing but plenty of times in other forums here you'll see there used to mean any one of the three

    Good point. I don't think many people are confused about what they mean when they use or hear them, though.

    Who/whom is confusing though (and I fly the flag of using the conjunctive sparingly).


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  • #31
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,489 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    alias no.9 wrote: »
    Khaki and Khaki.

    One is a yellow/brown colour, the name for which originates from India where it translates as 'soil' and was the colour that white linen army uniforms turned in dusty environments.

    The other is a vaguely military green colour for which the word has been incorrectly applied so often that it's almost become an accepted use.

    Isn't the first one what you turn in the ignition in Boston?
    Pherekydes wrote: »
    I heard a govt minister talking about incidences.

    When did incidences become the plural of incident?

    Incidence/incidents/incidences

    When they happen at the same time, coincidences. :)


  • #32
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,251 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    Frequently misused on these forums:
    Taught when they meant thought
    Breaks when they meant brakes


  • #33
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    bonzodog2 wrote: »
    Frequently misused on these forums:
    Taught when they meant thought
    Breaks when they meant brakes

    No problem with the first pair but always have to think twice about the second. I know they can both be verbs or nouns but I want to break (verb) when I use the brakes (noun) when in fact thats wrong unless I was damaging the brakes by breaking them.


  • #34
    SmartinMartin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,937 ✭✭✭SmartinMartin


    Lose/loose
    plurals/plural's


  • #35
    Speedwell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭Speedwell


    Ooh, I like "incident/incidence". "Incidences" is an actual legit word, but it probably wasn't being used correctly. As far as I know:

    "We had an incident in the school in which a child got food poisoning from the school lunch, although we have had fewer such incidents this school year than last year. The overall incidence of food poisoning at our school has declined. However, the incidences of food poisoning at the other five district schools have increased."

    http://www.gingersoftware.com/english-online/spelling-book/confusing-words/incidence-incidents


  • #36
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,251 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    Principal/Principle


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  • #37
    Roselm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 753 ✭✭✭Roselm


    bonzodog2 wrote: »
    Frequently misused on these forums:
    Taught when they meant thought
    Breaks when they meant brakes

    ...and worn "threads" on tyres rather than "treads" :(


  • #38
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Knew and new, I doubt there is much confusion but if other peoples errors are made for the same reasons mine are made then the problem is in the brain thinking faster then the fingers can type. Only fix is a read through before posting.


  • #39
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,777 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    bonzodog2 wrote: »
    Principal/Principle

    Easy reminder for this - the Principal may be your pal.


  • #40
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    looksee wrote: »
    Easy reminder for this - the Principal may be your pal.

    But on principle I have to point out that it could be the principal on which interest is paid.


  • #41
    Alun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,487 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    One that always makes me laugh is huge / hugh. Also (rather ironically) college / collage.


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  • #42
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,777 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    my3cents wrote: »
    But on principle I have to point out that it could be the principal on which interest is paid.

    Um, yes, didn't think of that!


  • #43
    Bob24
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,905 ✭✭✭✭Bob24


    Won't confuse native speakers but lots of potential to confuse non-natives and get them to say something which makes everyone uncomfortable: rapist / rapper.


  • #44
    miamee
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 12,328 Mod ✭✭✭✭miamee


    reign / rein

    I still have to stop and think about which is which so I'm not including a sentence :D


  • #45
    thejaguar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 739 ✭✭✭thejaguar


    SmartinMartin wrote: »
    Lose/loose

    This drives me nuts

    ...and 'would of/should of/could of' instead of 'would have/could have/should have'....


  • #46
    PaddyWilliams
    Registered Users Posts: 1,121 ✭✭✭PaddyWilliams


    No/Know.. How many times have I seen people typing back an answer to a question as 'I no'.


  • #47
    PaddyWilliams
    Registered Users Posts: 1,121 ✭✭✭PaddyWilliams


    thejaguar wrote: »
    This drives me nuts

    ...and 'would of/should of/could of' instead of 'would have/could have/should have'....

    Woulda / Coulda / Shoulda ?


  • #48
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Alun wrote: »
    One that always makes me laugh is huge / hugh. Also (rather ironically) college / collage.

    It would be interesting to know how some of these creep in and how they relate to the users schooling? In the case of huge and hugh (brings to mind hue and hew) you can see that in the context of posting online that the user can't be using a spell checker because hugh would be flagged as needing a capitol H (unless it was at the start of a sentence).

    College and collage wouldn't show up as a spelling error but for someone who was taught to spell phonically can't really be mistaken. Phonetic spelling has its downside as if I didn't know better I'd be spelling college colledge :rolleyes:

    Going back to hue and hew you can also add in Hue and Hugh which all sound the same; I know of at least one person that spells Hugh Hue.


  • #49
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Then there are some triplets, like by, buy and bye. Not forgetting a bye in cricket.

    You could buy a ticket so see a bye at cricket :o


  • #50
    Mearings
    Registered Users Posts: 559 ✭✭✭Mearings


    my3cents wrote: »
    Then there are some triplets, like by, buy and bye. Not forgetting a bye in cricket.

    You could buy a ticket so see a bye at cricket :o
    Btw.


  • #51
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,251 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    Spotted in the wild just recently on boards:
    Viscous/vicious
    Defiantly/definitely


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