English is a funny language, and at the same time, it is a mystery to all of us whether the language has been spoken since the beginning or we have just learnt it. The English language is also confusing at times; we might spell the correct word, but the meaning changes. Therefore, English is a funny and confusing language but enjoyable.
Spell-Check in the English Language
We are all aware of the spell-check problems in English. Spell-check is a problem that arises while writing when the word may sound correct but may be wrong in the sentence. The English language is full of confusing words with different spellings. For fluent speaking and writing, it is essential to know the various spellings of the words and their proper meanings.
English grammar is the basic structure of the language. Unless you live in some mountains without any communication or some tribes living in dense forests, you will definitely come across english grammar usage in your everyday life. English is the most widely learnt language in the world, which helps connect with people from all over the world. To understand the language for strong communication, whether to write or speak, we need to have a thorough knowledge of the usage of the English words along with the spellings. A few commonly confusing words have been mentioned below to understand their use and differences better.
Examples of Commonly Confused Words
Effect vs Affect
The difference between affect and effect is their usage. Affect is usually the verb, and effect is the noun form.
Example:
- The pandemic has left adverse effects on the environment.
- The animals in the African forests have been affected badly due to the forest fire.
Among vs Amongst
Among is the most preferred word in American English whereas the Amongst version is mostly preferred in British English. Both the forms are correct and can be used.
Advise vs Advice
The term advise is the verb form, whereas the term advice is used as a noun form. Advice can be used when someone has suggested or recommended something, but the term advise can be used when suggesting or giving an opinion to someone. The difference between advice and advise is always subject to confusion among all the confusing words.
Example:
- I bought the red dress as per my cousin’s advice.
- I have advised her not to visit her uncle’s place again.
Breath vs Breathe
Similar to other confusing words, breath is the noun form which means the air that goes in and out of our body but breathe is the verb form which is the process of inhaling or exhaling.
Apart from these, there are other words that may sound similar but have different spellings, and their meanings also differ as per the spellings. Some other examples are, gray/grey, flaunt/flount, lie/lay, lead/led, loose/lose, learned/learnt, principal/principle, there/their, etc. These words may sound a little confusing but are easy to use if you know the exact meaning and proper use of them. In today’s world, the English language is spreading like wildfire, and it has become essential for all individuals to learn English speaking and write for a standardised living.
