Confusing Words

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…

The words person, people or persons, and peoples are all correct but have different meanings in specific contexts. Person means an individual. We use it when focusing on a specific individual or addressing one person. In most situations, people is the accepted plural form of person. However, persons is correct when referring to a specific…

Which spelling is correct? Is it backward or backwards? The good news is that both of them are perfectly correct for the adverb form. But it depends on whether you write in US or British English. For US writers, there is usually no S. But for the UK and some other national varieties of English,…

You’re waiting impatiently for news, but nothing arrives. Are you on tenterhooks or on tender hooks? Yes, the suspense is agonizing and unbearable. Each passing moment seems like forever as you constantly check your phone, email, or glance at the clock. But in the meantime, it might help to know that the correct answer is…

Yes, the correct answer is in regard to. It is incorrect to use in regards to. It’s so easy to make this mistake when writing, and it’s an error you can miss when proofreading. However, the grammar for regard and regards can be a little confusing because it is also correct to use as regards.…

Continuously and continually are two very similar adverbs. However, there is a subtle difference between the meanings of the two words. Continuously means without interruption, whereas continually indicates repeatedly or at regular intervals. In many situations, you could use either one. It would make little difference to your readers. It’s not a classic grammar mistake.…

When you mince your words, you are not getting to the point, or you are speaking indirectly or vaguely. We use the expression mostly in the negative form. For example, you might tell someone to stop mincing words because you want them to get to the point or speak more directly. But we generally associate…