Words easily confused in English

CONFUSABLE CONFUSABLE WORDSWORDS

CONSIDERABLE vs. CONSIDERATE


• The number of voters who changed their minds at the last minute was considerable.



• Sugar is added in considerable quantities to most soft drinks.




• It was so icy that Marcus had considerable difficulty in reaching the top of the hill.





• After applying for a visa there is always a considerable delay before you receive it.





• After applying for a visa there is always a considerable delay before you receive it.

• CONSIDERABLE + noun

CONSIDERABLE vs. CONSIDERATE• The number of voters who changed their minds at the

last minute was considerable. • Sugar is added in considerable quantities to most soft

drinks. • It was so icy that Marcus had considerable difficulty in

reaching the top of the hill.• After applying for a visa there is always a considerable

delay before you receive it.

• CONSIDERABLE + noun• meaning: LARGE enough to have an effect

and make a difference


• Diane is a considerate boss who is always willing to listen.



• Please be considerate towards other hotel guests. Do not use the TV after midnight.




• I married John because he was kind and considerate and I wanted to be looked after.





• Used for describing PEOPLE





• used for describing PEOPLE • meaning: always thinking of what other

people may need/want and taking care not to

upset them

CREDIBLE vs. CREDULOUS


• It seems hardly credible that the government should suddenly have started caring about the environment.



• Make it sound more credible. Tell her you were at my house.




• Her story is completely credible. She doesn’t usually exaggerate.





• credible ≠





• credible ≠ incredible

CREDIBLE vs. CREDULOUS• It seems hardly credible that the government should

suddenly have started caring about the environment. • Make it sound more credible. Tell her you were at

my house.• Her story is completely credible. She doesn’t usually

exaggerate.

• credible ≠ incredible• meaning: something that can be believed

because it seems likely or because you trust

the person who is saying it


• Had he forgotten that Arnold Jackson had a tongue of silver, a tongue by which he had charmed vast sums of money out of the credulous public, a tongue which very nearly enabled him to escape the penalty of his crimes?



• You may be able to persuade a more credulous audience, but these people are pretty sophisticated.



• You may be able to persuade a more credulous audience, but these people are pretty sophisticated.

• meaning: too ready to believe what other

people tell you

INDUSTRIAL vs. INDUSTRIOUS


• That area of the country is industrial rather than agricultural.



• The Industrial Revolution was the transition from to new manufacturing processes that occurred in the period from about 1760 to some time between 1820 and 1840.




• Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow were once Britain’s leading industrial cities.




• Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow were once Britain’s leading industrial cities.

• meaning: relating to or characterized by

industry


• The people of this town have always been law-abiding and industrious.



• Most of the students I knew at college were serious and industrious.




• Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters; one of them was beautiful and industrious, the other ugly and lazy.




• Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters; one of them was beautiful and industrious, the other ugly and lazy.

• meaning: working hard/energetically and devotedly

DIARY vs. DAIRY

DIARY vs. DAIRY

• The explorer kept a diary of his adventures.

DIARY vs. DAIRY

• The explorer kept a diary of his adventures.• The author of the diary and the diary itself are,

of course, imaginary.

DIARY vs. DAIRY


of course, imaginary. • We bought milk at the dairy.

DIARY vs. DAIRY


of course, imaginary. • We bought milk at the dairy. • Dairy products commonly include milk, yoghurt,

cheese and butter, as well as ice-cream.

DIARY vs. DAIRY


of course, imaginary. • We bought milk at the dairy. • Dairy products commonly include milk, yoghurt,


• diary ꞊ a daily record of events, experiences

or observations

DIARY vs. DAIRY

• The explorer kept a diary of his adventures.• The author of the diary and the diary itself are, of

course, imaginary. • We bought milk at the dairy. • Dairy products commonly include milk, yoghurt,


• diary ꞊ a daily record of events, experiences

or observations• dairy ꞊ a place where milk is processed and

stored, or sold

TOLERABLE vs. TOLERANT


• They wanted a tolerable existence – more food, better shelter, and peace.



• An active social life can make the boredom of work more tolerable.




• I don’t really like this apartment, but it’s tolerable for the time being.





• tolerable ≠





• tolerable ≠ intolerable





• tolerable ≠ intolerable• meaning: something bad that you can accept

and deal with it


• In the past, I’ve tried to adopt a tolerant attitude towards his behavior.



• A less tolerant manager would have stopped our Friday afternoon parties.




• As with a human baby, you must be patient, tolerant, and understanding of your pet’s mistakes.





• tolerant ≠





• tolerant ≠ intolerant

TOLERABLE vs. TOLERANT• In the past, I’ve tried to adopt a tolerant attitude

towards his behavior.• A less tolerant manager would have stopped our

Friday afternoon parties. • As with a human baby, you must be patient,

tolerant, and understanding of your pet’s mistakes.

• tolerant ≠ intolerant• meaning: allowing people to do, say, or

believe what they like without fear

of punishment or criticism

IMAGINATIVE vs. IMAGINARY


• Barbara is a talented and imaginative person.


• Barbara is a talented and imaginative person. • If you find that the normal method isn’t working,

you’ll just have to be a bit more imaginative.



you’ll just have to be a bit more imaginative. • He held up an imaginary gun and pretended to

shoot me.




shoot me. • When Linda was a child she had an imaginary

friend called Booboo.






• imaginative ꞊ good at thinking of new ideas






• imaginative ꞊ good at thinking of new ideas• imaginary ꞊ something that you imagine but

which does not really exist

MORAL vs. MORALE

MORAL vs. MORALE

• We follow the moral laws laid down by our religion.

MORAL vs. MORALE


• They live according to a deeply held moral code.

MORAL vs. MORALE



• You have a moral obligation to help your sister’s children.

MORAL vs. MORALE




• The moral of the story is that a man should never lie.

MORAL vs. MORALE





• adjective or a noun

MORAL vs. MORALE





• adjective or a noun• adj meaning: relating to the principles of

right/wrong behavior

MORAL vs. MORALE


• They live according to a deeply held moral code. • You have a moral obligation to help your

sister’s children. • The moral of the story is that a man should

never lie. • adjective or a noun• adj meaning: relating to the principles of

right/wrong behavior• n meaning: a lesson derived from a story

MORAL vs. MORALE

• Because of pay and funding cuts, morale among teachers is now very low.

MORAL vs. MORALE


• Despite heavy fighting, the troops’ morale is still high.

MORAL vs. MORALE



• Letters from home are essential in keeping up hostages’ morale.

MORAL vs. MORALE




• A visit from the Princess raises/boosts morale tremendously.

MORAL vs. MORALE




• A visit from the Princess raises/boosts morale tremendously.

• low/ high morale

MORAL vs. MORALE• Because of pay and funding cuts, morale among

teachers is now very low. • Despite heavy fighting, the troops’ morale is still

high. • Letters from home are essential in keeping up

hostages’ morale. • A visit from the Princess raises/boosts morale

tremendously.

• low/ high morale• meaning: the level of confidence and cheerfulness

among a group of people

COMPREHENSIBLE vs. COMPREHENSIVE


• Each entry in the new opera guide is a brief, immediately comprehensible paragraph.



• Visual aids can make lessons much more interesting and comprehensible.




• Dictionary definitions should not contain complex vocabulary because they must be comprehensible to users.





• comprehensible ≠





• comprehensible ≠ incomprehensible





• comprehensible ≠ incomprehensible• meaning: easy to understand


• This is the largest and most comprehensive study ever made of the city’s social problems.



• We offer our customers a comprehensive service to meet all their needs when travelling abroad.




• The nuclear plant was given a comprehensive inspection before being declared safe.




• The nuclear plant was given a comprehensive inspection before being declared safe.

• meaning: very thorough

HUMAN vs. HUMANE

HUMAN vs. HUMANE

• The producers admitted that the contamination of their mineral water was due to human error.

HUMAN vs. HUMANE


• Most forms of bacteria cannot be seen with the human eye.

HUMAN vs. HUMANE



• Isn’t there a more humane way of killing cows?

HUMAN vs. HUMANE



• Isn’t there a more humane way of killing cows?• Imprisonment is not a humane form of

punishment.

HUMAN vs. HUMANE




punishment.

• human ꞊ typical of or done by humans

HUMAN vs. HUMANE




punishment.

• human ꞊ typical of or done by humans• humane ꞊ showing compassion, not cruel

SENSITIVE vs. SENSIBLE


• He’s sensitive about his bad teeth, so try not to look at them.



• If you’re a politician, you can’t afford to be too sensitive to criticism.




• She’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings.




• She’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings. • Sensitive teeth/skin/eyes




• She’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings. • Sensitive teeth/skin/eyes• sensitive ≠




• She’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings. • Sensitive teeth/skin/eyes• sensitive ≠ insensitive




• She’s very sensitive to other people’s feelings. • Sensitive teeth/skin/eyes• sensitive ≠ insensitive• meaning: easily offended/upset, aware of and

able to understand other people and their feelings, reacting strongly to cold/pain/smoke…


• Laura is a sensible girl. She wouldn’t talk to strangers.



• Be sensible – you can’t wear high heels to a garden party.




• He gave me some very sensible advice.




• He gave me some very sensible advice. • It is sensible to avoid rich foods if you are

feeling ill.




• He gave me some very sensible advice. • It is sensible to avoid rich foods if you are

feeling ill. • meaning: behaving reasonably, unlikely to do

anything stupid

describing plans/suggestions/decisions based on good practical reasons and judgments

EXHAUSTED vs. EXHAUSTIVE


• You walked all the way from the station? You must be absolutely exhausted!



• I was exhausted every day when I first started teaching, but I’m used to it now.




• As a result of exhaustive enquiries the police are at last able to issue a description of the murderer.





• The list shown here is by no means

exhaustive.





• The list shown here is by no means exhaustive.

meaning: exhausted ꞊ extremely tired





• The list shown here is by no means exhaustive.

meaning: exhausted ꞊ extremely tired

exhaustive ꞊ complete, thorough, detailed

RESPECTABLE vs. RESPECTIVE vs. RESPECTFUL


• Tony was always in trouble with the police when he was young, but he’s now a respectable married man.



• Jane and Patrick chatted about their respective childhoods.




• They waited in respectful silence as the funeral procession went past.




• They waited in respectful silence as the funeral procession went past.

• meaning: respectable ꞊ obeying moral/social standards accepted by most people

respective ꞊ belonging separately to each of

the two people/things previously mentioned

respectful ꞊ feeling or showing respect

ELIGIBLE vs. LEGIBLE


• If you are eligible for financial help, we will tell you how to claim.



• Fifty-one percent of eligible voters voted in favor.




• It is good to hand in neat, legible, and carefully presented work in school or college.





• The poster was written in letters big enough

to be legible across the room.







eligible ≠

legible ≠







eligible ≠ ineligible

legible ≠ illegible



• Fifty-one percent of eligible voters voted in favor. • It is good to hand in neat, legible, and carefully

presented work in school or college. • The poster was written in letters big enough


meaning: eligible ꞊ allowed by rules/laws to do something

legible ꞊ easy to read because it’s clearly written or printed

Education

Words easily confused in English