Confusing Words

The two words procrastinate and prevaricate might seem like synonyms, but they have quite different meanings. To procrastinate means to delay or postpone an action or to put off doing something. To prevaricate means to speak or act in an evasive way. However, they share a slightly similar sense in that both can involve delaying an…

It is rare for an uncountable noun to have a plural form, but fish and fishes is one of the exceptions to the general rule. While fish is the most common form of the noun, fishes can be correct in specific contexts. Broadly speaking, the uncountable form refers to fish as food or a catch.…

The adverbs, usually and normally, have similar meanings and are often interchangeable. They both indicate a degree of frequency. But these two words have a subtle difference that can influence their use in different contexts. Normally refers to an action that is standard or normal or conforms to a set of rules. However, the adverb usually…

I read a newspaper article that described someone as a card sharp and immediately wondered if a card shark was also correct. My first assumption was that it might be a difference between US and British usage. But after a bit of research, it didn’t seem to be as simple as that. Both expressions are…

Biweekly and bimonthly are two of the most confusing and ambiguous words you can use in writing. Recently, I received a business email informing me that one of my new payments would be bimonthly. So how often would that be? Every two months or twice a month? I was unsure. Naturally, I had to write a…

A morning suit or mourning suit can both be correct, depending on the context. For fiction writers, in particular, it’s essential to use these two attire descriptions correctly. The words morning and mourning are homophones but with obvious differences in meaning. But how do they apply to men’s dress for formal occasions or ceremonies? Origins…

When should you use login, log in, or log-in? It’s very common now to refer to technical issues and advice in writing, especially in articles and blog posts. The first step in many help topics is using a username and password to access a site or service. But is login one or two words, and…

Obliged and obligated are similar in meaning. However, there is a slight difference because one implies a sense of legal responsibility. When someone is obligated, they are often bound by a duty, rule, or law to perform a specific action. But obliged is more about being personally grateful, thankful, or in someone’s debt. It conveys…

When you see unkept and unkempt, you might think they are the same word with alternative spelling. The only difference is that one has an M. Perhaps one is an archaic version and the other the modern equivalent. But no, these two words are different, with separate meanings. Researching and extending your vocabulary English is…

Is it wreaked havoc or wrought havoc? At first glance, I thought both were correct, but that wrought sounded much better. Like you, perhaps, I thought wrought was the simple past verb for wreak, as with bring and brought or teach and taught. But after hitting the dictionaries, I discovered I was wrong as there…