Common Confused Words

Most Commonly Confused Words

access vs. excess

• Access is used as a noun referring to the ability to enter, as in "access to the building," and as a verb meaning "to enter," as in "access the stage from the rear."

• Excess functions as a noun or adjective that typically has to do with an amount that is more than usual or necessary, as in "an excess of salt" and "excess baggage."

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​ We gave him ​ ​

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to the library

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access

excess

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There is an ​

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of canned foods which we will donate.

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excess

access

addition vs. edition

• Addition is used as a noun that refers to something added, as in "new additions to the museum's collection" and "an addition to the house."

• Edition functions as a noun that refers to a particular version of a book, product, newspaper, etc., as in "an illustrated edition," or to something presented as one of a series, as in "tonight's edition of the show."

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He bought a car in ​

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to the truck he got last week.

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addition

edition

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The new ​

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of the book will be published next month.

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edition

addition

base vs. bass

• Base is used as a noun, verb, and adjective. The noun has a variety of meanings, several of which refer to a literal or figurative foundation or bottom, as in "the lamp's base," "the base of a mountain," "the company's customer base," and "base of operations.

• The verb base means "to have a particular place as the main place where a person works or lives or where a business operates," as in "a company based in Iowa."

  The adjective base means "not honest or good," as in "base motives."

• Bass functions as a noun that refers to a low or deep sound or voice, or to a musical instrument.

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The ​

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of the table can break anytime. ​ ​

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base

bass

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I play the ​

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guitar in our band.​ ​

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bass

base

currant vs. current

• Currant is a noun that refers to a small raisin or berry.

• Current is a noun that refers to a continuous movement of water or air in the same direction, as in "ocean currents,"

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The ​

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is one of the oldest known raisins. ​ ​

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currant

current

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Give me an update on the ​

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situation​ ​

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current

currant

desert vs. dessert

• Desert functions as a noun referring to an area of very dry land that is usually covered with sand and is very hot. Desert is also a verb that means "to leave a place," as in "residents deserted the town."

• Dessert is sweet food that is eaten after a meal: "ice cream for dessert."

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The waiters cleared the table before serving ​

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. ​ ​

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dessert

desert

envelop vs. envelope

• Envelop is a verb that means "to completely enclose or surround someone or something," as in "she enveloped the baby in the blanket"

• Envelope is a noun that refers to an enclosing cover for a letter, card, etc. The word is also used in the phrase "push the envelope," which means "to go beyond the usual or normal limits by doing something new, dangerous, etc.," as in "a writer whose new novel pushes the envelope."

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The lions tried to ​

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the boar.

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envelop

envelope

formally vs. formerly

• Formally used as an adverb. Formally describes things done in a serious and proper or official way, as in "guests were dressed formally."

• Formerly used as an adverb it means "at an earlier time," as in "a car formerly owned by my neighbor."

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We wanted to ​

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introduce the new CEO of the company.

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formally

formerly