Levi's Lists
Frequently Misplaced Words
Here are just a few of the words I come across
that are used in the wrong context, followed by the meaning of
each word. The words listed here are homophones
-
words that sound the same as other words - and are often simply
misplaced by people.
Please keep in mind as you read this list, it is written for those who
write in Australian English!
| A | |
| affect | have an influence on |
| effect | change or result caused by someone or something |
| aisle | passageway separating two areas |
| I'll | truncated - short for 'I will' |
| isle | small island |
| allowed | permitted |
| aloud | audible |
| B | |
| bail | security deposit to ensure you return to court |
| bale | remove from, help out of a predicament |
| brake | device to slow down or stop |
| break | to damage or separate into pieces |
| C | |
| carat | unit of weight for precious stones |
| caret | proofreading mark to indicate an insertion point |
| carrot | root vegetable |
| check | examine, test, investigate |
| cheque | written order for your bank to pay money from your account to someone else |
| complement | thing that completes something |
| compliment | praise |
| council | group meeting for consultation or discussion |
| counsel | advice, guidance |
| D | |
| descent | downward slope |
| dissent | disagreement |
| desert | area of land with low rainfall |
| dessert | sweet course served at the end of a meal |
| device | machine or tool used for a specific task |
| devise | work something out in your mind |
| dual | having two parts or functions |
| duel | formal fight to settle a disagreement |
| F | |
| flour | powder made from ground grain |
| flower | part of a plant that produces seeds |
| G | |
| grate | rub into small pieces on a rough surface, annoy, metal framework |
| great | large in size, important, excellent |
| H | |
| hear | perceive sound by using the ear |
| here | in, at or to this place |
| I | |
| its | belonging to it |
| it's | truncated - short for 'it is' |
| K | |
| know | to have knowledge of |
| no | express disagreement or refusal |
| L | |
| licence | document granting permission to do something |
| license | to give a licence |
| M | |
| miner | person who works in a mine |
| minor | small, lesser |
| N | |
| naval | of or relating to a navy |
| navel | part of abdomen where umbilical cord was once attached |
| P | |
| peace | calm, harmony |
| piece | a bit or a part of something |
| plain | simple, without decoration |
| plane | tool for smoothing wood, abbreviation of aeroplane or airplane |
| practice | something done regularly to gain skill (noun) |
| practise | to do something regularly to gain skill (verb) |
| principal | the head of a school or a person taking a lead part |
| principle | moral rule that guides a person's behaviour |
| R | |
| rain | water falling from cloud in drops |
| reign | to rule over something, be supreme |
| S | |
| sea | mass of salt water, the ocean |
| see | percieve with the eyes or mind |
| sole | singular, exclusive, not shared |
| soul | spiritual part of a sentient being, fundamental part of something |
| T | |
| their | associated with them |
| there | in or to that place |
| they're | truncated - short for 'they are' |
| to | indicating movement towards |
| too | also, as well |
| two | one more than one |
| V | |
| vain | overly pleased with oneself, particularly physical appearance |
| vane | flat blade on a rotary device |
| vein | body part that transports blood |
| W | |
| weather | daily atmospheric conditions |
| whether | used to introduce an indirect question or express doubt |
| were | past tense of 'be' |
| we're | truncated - short for 'we are' |
| who's | truncated - short for 'who is' |
| whose | of whom, of which |
| Y | |
| your | associated with you |
| you're | truncated - short for 'you are' |