Then Avoid Mixing Up the 8 Common Confusing English Words
In the relentless pursuit of success in today’s cutthroat world, mastering the art of speaking English is indispensable. Yet, it’s not merely about fluency; one must also tread carefully through the lexical minefield to avoid catastrophic misunderstandings. Your choice of words can make or break a business deal or job interview. To avoid such situations, Cafe Converse, Delhi’s leading spoken English Institute shares a few commonly confusing English words that you must know.
1. Advice Vs Advise – “Advice” and “advise” differ in grammatical roles.
“Advice” is a noun, offering suggestions or opinions, as in “Tina received valuable advice from her father.” It is a form of guidance or information provided to help someone make decisions or solve problems.
“Advise” is a verb, representing the action of giving guidance, as in “The teacher advised Tom to study.” Pronunciation varies, with “advice” ending in an “s” sound and “advise” in a “z” sound.
2. Affect Vs Effect
“Accept” is a verb, representing agreement to receive or take something. For instance, “I accept your apology.”
Conversely, “effect” functions as a noun, denoting the outcome or impact of an action, as in “The medicine produced its desired effects.” It signifies the change resulting from a specific cause.
3. Aid vs Aide
“Aid can function as a verb or noun, denoting assistance or relief. It applies to both people and objects, as seen in ‘hearing aid.’ Aide, exclusively a noun, refers to an assistant. For instance, she stayed at the hospital to aid her ailing mother, while a medical aide provided additional support to the caregiving team.”
4. Lose Vs Loose
“Lose” is a verb, signifying the absence or failure to win. For instance, “India didn’t expect to lose the World Cup.” On the other hand, “loose” functions as an adjective or verb, denoting something not tight or being set free, like a loose knot in a rope.
5. Flaunt Vs Flout
Flaunt means proudly displaying something to show off, while flout involves openly disregarding rules or standards. Flaunting a new necklace, she paraded it at work. Flouting traffic rules during festivals, people mock conventions. Flaunting is showcasing with pride, not violating standards, whereas flouting involves contemptuously disobeying laws or rules.
6. Flair Vs Flare
Flair and flare are homophones, having similar pronunciations but different meanings. Flair, a noun, denotes a unique talent or style. Flare, used as both a noun and a verb, refers to a burst of light or fire. The candle flared in the wind, showcasing its erratic flame, while her artistic flair brought a vibrant touch to the project.
7. Break Vs Brake
These two homonyms may sound similar but have different meanings. “Break” is an irregular verb denoting tearing into pieces, as in breaking a lock. Conversely, “brake” serves as a regular verb for stopping motion, like when a car meets an accident due to brake failure.
Example sentences: The car crashed due to brake failure. She had to break the lock when the key was lost.
8. Principle Vs Principal
These homophones may sound the same, but they hold different meanings.
“Principle” is a noun which means a rule or idea. On the other hand, “principal” functions as both a noun and an adjective. As an adjective, it denotes importance or primary status, and as a noun, it refers to a person in charge or a sum of money. For example, our company’s principal upholds the principle of transparency in all transactions.
Takeaway
Now that you know the nuances between these commonly confused English words, mastering them will undoubtedly enhance your language proficiency. Clear communication relies on precision, and recognizing the distinctions in words like “advice” and “advise,” “affect” and “effect,” or “flair” and “flare” ensures effective expression.
Ms Sonu Goel is a professionally acclaimed certified ESL trainer from the British Council having 15 years of strong background for teaching the English language in both online and physical classes. She is dedicated to teaching of English in an interactive and practical way, whereby learners feel enriched with knowledge and experience the language hands-on. She uses creative ideas and aids to let the learning happen as organically and efficiently as possible. Ms Goel has travelled to various European countries and experienced an array of cultures and linguistic skills for the English language.
To learn more about Sonu Goel please visit : https://cafeconverse.com/best-english-tutor-coach-teacher-sonu-goel.html
