by Jodie Renner, editor & author
The list, with deliberately simplified definitions for quick and easy reference, is in alphabetical order and includes some easier words you may know well and other combos you may not be 100% sure of, such as rein/reign, illusion/allusion, oral/aural, cord/chord, pour/pore, it’s/its compliment/complement, aisle/isle, peddle/pedal, gorilla/guerrilla, exercise/exorcise, discreet/discrete, who’s/whose, peek/peak, council/counsel, and lightning/lightening.
accept – to take, receive
except – all but this or that one
advice (noun) – you give advice
advise (verb) – you advise someone
affect (verb) – to cause change
effect (noun) – the result of change
aisle – corridor in a store or church
isle – island
I’ll – I will
allot – to assign, to distribute
a lot – many, a bunch, numerous
alot – not a word
allowed – permitted
aloud – out loud (not silent)
allusion – an indirect reference to something (you allude to
something)
illusion – false impression, misconception
altar – a table or place that serves as a center of worship or ritual
aw (or aww) – to express a soft, warm feeling (Aw, that's cute.)
awe – expressing wonder, reverence, or admiration (in awe of
something)
bare – unclothed; unprotected; plain; unadorned
bear – wild animal; to hold up or support
bazaar – open-air market
bizarre – strange, weird
beat – win, overcome; or hit, strike
beet – red root vegetable
bolder – braver
boulder – a large rock
boarder – room renter who gets meals as well
border – edge, boundary
break – shatter, fracture
buy – to purchase
by – go past; near; doer, creator
bye – goodbye
capital – city, wealth, uppercase letter
capitol – legislative building
chord – musical, strike a chord
cord – string, rope; vocal cords
coma – lengthy unconsciousness
comma – , (punctuation mark)
complement – goes well with
compliment – say something nice
complementary – free
complimentary – giving compliments, praise
council – a group of people in charge
counsel – to give advice or instruction
coarse – rough, harsh, crude
course – route, direction, program, class
desert – dry, arid area
dessert – sweet treat after meal
But "He got his just deserts" = "He got what was deserved."
discreet – unobtrusive, modest, prudent
discrete – distinct, individual, finite
doe – female deer
dough – unbaked cookies, bread, etc.
do – to act
dew – moisture, condensation
due – owed, need to pay
dual – double, two
duel – combat, conflict, or contest between two opponents
exercise – exertion, action, practice
exorcise – to expel, to get rid of (evil spirits)
fair – not dark; unbiased; exhibition
fare – price, fee; food, diet
faze – to disturb, disconcert, daunt, bother, worry
phase – a stage of change
farther – physical distance
further – additional
feet – plural of foot
feat – significant, difficult act or accomplishment
flair – talent or ability
flea – bug
flee – run away
formally – in a formal manner
gorilla – ape
guerrilla or guerilla – type of fighter
grate – to cut up; to irritate
great – wonderful; very large
grisly – gruesome
grizzly – bear
heal – to make well
heel – back of foot
hear – sound
here – place
heroin – drug
heroine – female hero
higher – farther up
hire – to employ someone
hoard – to accumulate a lot (too much)
horde – a large group or gathering
hoarse – condition of throat/voice
horse – large animal
humerus – bone
humorous – funny
incite – stir up, spur on, urge on
insure – to get insurance
ensure – to make sure
it’s – it is or it has
its – belongs to it
jeans – denim casual pants
lightening – making lighter or paler
lightning – flashes in a storm
loan – something someone lends
lone – alone, solitary
loose – not tight
lose – misplace, opposite of find
main – principal, most important
mane – hair on a horse or lion
no – negative; opposite of yes
oral – related to speaking
aural – related to hearing
our – belongs to us
are – to be: we are, they are
pail – bucket
pale – light-colored
pain – hurt
pane – window
pair – two together
pare – to peel, cut
pear – a fruit
passed - went by, past tense of pass
past - before now, earlier on, ago, bygone, elapsed, beyond (went past)
patience – the ability to wait
patients – people under medical care
peal – ringing of bells
peel – to remove outer layer
peace – not war
piece – part, portion, fragment
peak – highest point
peek – glimpse
pique – excite, arouse (curiosity, etc.)
pedal – part of bicycle, make bike move
peddle – sell
perspective – a mental view; a visible scene; a point of view or opinion
plain – not fancy
plane – flies in the sky
pore over – study carefully
pour over – dispense liquid
principal – main, head of school
principle – basic truth or law
quiet – opposite of loud or noisy
quite – sort of
raze – to tear down
rays – beams of radiant energy – the sun's rays
rain – water falling
reign – monarch’s rule
rein – strap for a horse; to curb or restrain - rein in
review – look over, go over
revue – theatrical production
rite – a ceremonial practice ("rite of passage")
sail – part of a boat
sale – discounted prices
site – location, area
cite – to quote something
sole – one; fish; bottom of foot or shoe
soul – spirit, spiritual part of person
stare – to look intently at
stake – pointed piece of wood; prize; share
steak – cut of meat
stationary – not moving
stationery – writing materials
steal – take without permission
steel – metal
tail – part of animal
tale – story
than – compared to
then – what comes after
their – belongs to them
they’re – they are
threw – tossed
through – pass in and out
to – where you’re going
too – also; excessive
two – 2
vain – conceited; unsuccessful
vane – weather vane
vein – blood vessel; narrow channel; lode (minerals)
wait – don’t go yet
weight – measure mass
wander – to go aimlessly
wonder – to think about something (verb); awe (noun)
weather – atmospheric conditions – rain, snow, etc.
whether – choosing or comparing alternatives
were – past tense of "are" - they were
we’re – we are
wet – not dry
whet – excite, stimulate; sharpen
which – which one?
witch – woman who practices sorcery
whine – complain
wine – alcoholic beverage from grapes
who’s – who is
whose – belongs to whom
whoa – stop, cease
woe – sadness
wrapped – covered, past tense of wrap
rapt – enthralled, captivated, engrossed in
write – create note, message, story with words
right – correct; opposite of left
you’re – you are
your – belongs to you
Do you have any others you'd like me to add? Please mention them in the comments below.
See also "Just the Right Word is Only a Click Away".
Have trouble remembering whether to hyphenate a word or not? Check out "It's All About Those Hyphens!"
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