Common Mistakes and Confusing Words in English - Learn English Mistakes

Let's face it, English can be confusing. A lot of words are similar but have different meanings, as a result it is almost impossible to avoid making mistakes in English, but if you can get your head around these explanations, you might be able to avoid making these ones or at least recognise them when you see them. Words marked with an asterisk * have confusing pronunciation too, just to make it more fun. accept vs except \| accessary vs accessory \| advice vs advise affect vs effect \| a lot/alot/allot all ready vs already \| all right vs alright \| allude vs elude \| alone vs lonely altogether vs all together \| ambivalent vs indifferent any vs some \| any one vs anyone apart vs a part \| around vs round \| assume vs know vs think astrology vs astronomy \| at vs in bald vs bold \| been vs gone \| beside vs besides bold vs bald \| bored vs boring \| borrow vs lend bought vs brought \| by vs until capital vs capitol \| captivate vs capture career vs carrier vs courier \| certain vs curtain check vs control \| close vs closed \| close vs shut collage vs college \| come over vs overcome compare vs compere \| complement vs compliment concentrate vs concentrated \| confuse vs confess \| confused vs confusing \| content \| council vs counsel councillor vs counsellor \| curious vs interesting \| curtain vs certain data vs datum \| decent vs descent \| decision vs division defrost vs melt \| desperate vs disparate \| destroy vs destruct discreet vs discrete \| division vs decision \| do or make don't have to vs mustn't \| dose vs doze \| downside vs underside draught vs drought \| dress up vs get dressed \| driving test vs test drive drought vs draught effect vs affect \| e.g. or i.e. \| -er vs -re \| either or vs neither nor either vs as well / too \| employer vs employee enquire vs inquire \| enquiry vs inquiry \| every day vs everyday except vs accept \| except vs expect \| excited vs exciting \| excite vs exit \| execute vs executive expand vs expend \| expect vs except* \| experience vs experience(s) \| extra vs surplus fewer vs less \| for vs since (time) \| full stop vs period \| get dressed vs dress up good vs well \| going out vs outgoing \| gone vs been hard vs hardly \| hear vs listen \| heroin vs heroine \| he's vs his holiday vs the weekend \| holy vs holly \| homework vs housework hope vs wish \| "How do you do?" vs "How are you?" I vs me \| immunity vs impunity \| improve vs improvise \| impunity vs immunity inquire vs enquire \| inquiry vs enquiry interested vs interesting \| interesting vs curious know vs assume vs think \| know vs now later vs latter \| lay vs lie \| lay down vs lie down \| leaped vs leapt learn vs teach \| less vs fewer \| live vs stay look after vs look for \| look at vs watch look forward(s) vs look forward to look over vs overlook \| loose vs lose massage vs message \| me vs I \| me vs my \| moan vs mourn moral vs morale \| most vs the most \| most vs mostly \| mourn vs moan \| my vs me neither \| nor vs or \| now vs know ointment \| ornament \| or vs nor outgoing vs going out \| outgoings vs outgoing overlook vs look over \| overrun vs run over \| overtake vs takeover / take over / of vs off of course vs off course \| pass away vs pass out \| period vs full stop personal vs personnel \| practice vs practise precede vs proceed \| principal vs principle proceed vs precede \| probably vs properly q uiet vs quite raise/rise \| -re vs -er \| regard vs regardless vs regards \| remainder vs reminder remember vs remind \| replay vs reply \| round vs around \| run over vs overrun said vs told \| say vs talk \| say vs tell \| scared vs scary see vs watch \| shortage vs shortness \| shut vs close so vs such \| some vs any \| some time vs sometime vs sometimes sooth vs soothe \| stationary vs stationery \| stay vs live \| stick vs sticker \| strange vs stranger stuff vs things \| such vs so \| surplus vs extra take care vs take care of \| takeover / take over vs overtake talk vs say \| teach vs learn tell vs say \| than vs then \| that / which / who then vs than \| think vs assume vs know told vs said \| to/too/two \| there/their/they're \| things vs stuff trainer vs trainee \| travel/trip/voyage/journey us vs we \| used to vs used to do wander vs wonder \| warn vs worn \| watch vs look at watch vs see \| we vs us \| what vs which wish vs hope \| who vs which vs that who vs whom \| wrong vs wrongly you're vs your

Tests and Quizzes
Test yourself to see if you understand the correct use of some of the more confusing words and terms.
Any vs Some
Been vs Gone
Borrow vs Lend
By vs Until
Check vs Control
He's vs His
I / Me / My
Say / Tell / Ask
There / Their / They're
To / Too / Two
Where / Were / Wear / We're
Mixed! - Difficult
More tests on the English tests page

If you know of any other common mistakes like these, let us know.

If nothing else these should make you feel happy: Mistakes are also made by people who really should know better:-

Click here for a list of common American English and British English differences

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Click here for a collection of medical howlers.

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