There are many trios and pairs of phrases and words that confuse us as we practice to consider verbal communication. These guidelines are prepared to help the readers to improve their formal writing skills.

1.Emend/Amend

To emend is to make a correction; to amend is to make a change. [Click to Tweet]

2.Altogether/ All Together

Altogether is an adverb and means completely or “all in all”; all together means everything or everyone together.

3.Wreck/Wreak

Wreck means debris or rubble; to wreak is to “bring about” or cause or inflict.[Click to Tweet]

4.Oral/Verbal

Oral means spoken communication whereas Verbal means both spoken and written communication

5.Torturous/Tortuous

Tortuous means winding or twisting; a torturous experience is an agonizing one. [Click to Tweet]

6.Which/That

The distinction is usually not observed in British English. Which is used non-restrictively whereas that is employed restrictively. For example, the mobile phone that is costly (one mobile phone possessing that characteristic among many); the mobile phone which is costly (one mobile phone alone with that characteristic). Find UK based academic writers to help you in your coursework, assignment Writing and report writing tasks.

7.Because/Since

Since is typically used to refer to time. However, in informal writing these two terms are very much interchangeable.

8.Stationery/Stationary

Stationery refers to letter writing materials and products such as pencil, eraser or pencil sharpener; to be stationary, on the other hand, is to remain still.

9.Repetitious/Repetitive

Both these terms are interchangeable. However, the word Repetitive has a more neutral meaning.

10.If/Whether

Both if and whether are frequently used and are correct to express a choice. However, it is recommended to use the later in formal writing. The use of If is more appropriate where reference is made to probability or possibility.

11.Regretfully/Regrettably

Regretfully means full of regret or with regret; regrettably means unfortunately.[Click to Tweet]

12.Purposefully/Purposely

Purposefully is doing something with a purpose; purposely is to do something on purpose.

13.Convince/Persuade

To convince is to help someone to believe or understand; to persuade is to encourage them to do something.

14.Pique/Peak

Pique may be defined as to arouse interest; to peak, on the other hand, is to reach the highpoint.

15.Partially/Partly

Partially means rarely or incomplete; partly means in part.

16.Might/May

The use of Might is more appropriate in theoretical or hypothetical context; May, on the other hand, refers to possible or factual.

17.Hone in/ Home in

Hone in refers to confusing one word for another; to home in is to close in.

18.Historical/Historic

Historical refers to any event in history; Historic refers to something for its extraordinary impact on history.

19.Insure/Ensure

To insure is to protect or cover; to ensure is to make sure or to guarantee.

20.Economical/Economic

Economical refers to economy or frugality; Economic suggests the science of economy.

21.Elementary/Elemental

Elementary means basic; Elemental refers to something integral or essential to the nature.

22.Discrete/Discreet

Discrete means distinct; discreet, on the other hand, refers to something unnoticeable or subtle.

23.One another / Each other

Both are interchangeable but one another is preferred in formal writing when more than two of something are being referred to.

24.Continuous/Continual

Continuous means constant or uninterrupted; Continual refers to something that is regularly repeated.

25.Complement/Compliment

Complement is used in context of completeness; compliment means praise or admire. [Click to Tweet]

Conclusion:

Our spoken communication tends be casual or at least less formal than our writing. Knowing how to write a particular phrase and which word to use can make a substantial difference to your formal writing skills. The purpose of this list of problem phrases and commonly confused homonyms is to help you remember the rules of grammar.

Please feel free to add more problem words and phrases in comment box below 🙂