Confusing words – part 9

Contents
1. ADDUCE / DEDUCE / DEDUCT______________________________________2
2. AFFLUENT / EFFLUENT____________________________________________2
3. AID / AIDE_____________________________________________________2
4. ALIGHT / LIGHT_________________________________________________2
5. ALLUDE / ELUDE_________________________________________________2
6. ALTHOUGH / BUT________________________________________________2
7. AMBIGUOUS / AMBIVALENT / EQUIVOCAL_____________________________3
8. AMUSE / BEMUSE________________________________________________3
9. ANT / AUNT____________________________________________________3
10. AROUSE / ROUSE________________________________________________3
11. ASSISTANCE / ASSISTANTS________________________________________3
12. AUGER / AUGUR_________________________________________________3
13. AVENGE / REVENGE______________________________________________4
14. BAIL / BALE____________________________________________________4
15. CENSOR / CENSURE / SENSOR_____________________________________4
16. CHILLI / CHILLY_________________________________________________4
17. CLIMACTIC / CLIMATIC___________________________________________4
18. COMPEL / IMPEL_________________________________________________4
19. CURB / KERB___________________________________________________5
20. DEMUR / DEMURE_______________________________________________5
21. DESPERATE / DISPARATE__________________________________________5
22. DOUSE / DOWSE________________________________________________5
23. DRAW / DRAWER________________________________________________5
24. ENVELOP / ENVELOPE____________________________________________5
25. ESPECIALLY / SPECIALLY__________________________________________6
26. FEWER / LESS__________________________________________________6
27. FINALLY / FINELY________________________________________________6
28. FLAIR / FLARE__________________________________________________6
29. FOREWORD / FORWARD__________________________________________6
30. LAID / LAIN____________________________________________________6
31. LAST / TAKE____________________________________________________7
32. LOW / SHORT___________________________________________________7
33. MINIMAL / NOMINAL_____________________________________________7
34. PASS AWAY / PASS OUT___________________________________________7
35. PATIENCE / PATIENT’S / PATIENTS__________________________________7
36. RING / WRING__________________________________________________7
37. SERVE / SERVICE________________________________________________8
38. TURBID / TURBULENT / TURGID____________________________________8
39. VAIN / VANE / VEIN______________________________________________8
40. WADE / WEIGHED_______________________________________________8
Choose the correct word from the following pairs:

1. ADDUCE / DEDUCE / DEDUCT

1. The player had points ___________ for arguing with the referee.
2. Rather, before even ___________ the evidence, they have already made up
their minds that the answer is ‘yes’.
3. The ___________ that the fish died because of water pollution.
4. A number of factors are ___________ to explain the situation.
5. The landlord said he would ___________ the amount from the housing
deposit.
6. We cannot ___________ very much from these figures.

2. AFFLUENT / EFFLUENT
1. Cigarette smoking used to be commoner among ____________ people.
2. Ground water is polluted by industrial ____________ and human waste.
3. He is becoming more and more ____________.
4. ____________ from local factories are finding their way into the river.

3. AID / AIDE
1. A former ________ has published a book about his experiences in the White
House.
2. A woman in the street saw that he was in trouble and came to his ________.
3. A thesaurus is a useful ________ to writing.
4. The prime minister instructed his ________ not to speak to the press about
the matter.
5. About a fifth of the country’s income is in the form of foreign ________.

4. ALIGHT / LIGHT
1. The suspect ___________ from the train at Euston and proceeded to
Heathrow.
2. The lamp caught fire and set ___________ to the curtains.
3. He was smoking in bed and his blankets caught ___________.
4. It’s a north-facing room so it doesn’t get much ___________.

5. ALLUDE / ELUDE
1. The thief ___________ the authorities for months.
2. She had a way of ___________ to Jean but never saying her name.
3. After three years, the cup still ___________ him.
4. She mentioned some trouble that she’d had at home and I guessed she was
___________ to her son.

6. ALTHOUGH / BUT
1. Edinburgh is an interesting place ___________ it takes a long time to get
there.

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2. Grace is an excellent athlete ___________ she injured her leg recently.
3. Harry is a great friend ___________ we don’t see each other often.
4. Laura cooked roast beef for me ___________ I don’t eat meat.

7. AMBIGUOUS / AMBIVALENT / EQUIVOCAL

1. He has fairly _____________ feelings towards his father.
2. What do you think the title really means? It’s rather _____________, isn’t it?
3. They are _____________ and, in some cases, they are just wrong.
4. If you don’t use the correct grammar the meaning can be a bit
_____________ and lead to confusion.
5. His words to the press were deliberately _____________ - he didn’t deny the
reports but neither did he confirm them.
6. Some loved her, some hated her, few were _____________ about her.

8. AMUSE / BEMUSE
1. Sue was __________ by her boyfriend’s strange behaviour.
2. Joan was not __________ by the joke her brother told.
3. He was __________ by what was happening.
4. I think it __________ him to see people make fools of themselves.

9. ANT / AUNT
1. She always behaves badly when her ________ come to visit.
2. A hundred hungry ________ came to our picnic.
3. My ________ is afraid of ________. She gets hysterical when she sees one.
4. I’ve got ________ I my pants - I can’t wait to get started on my experiment.

10. AROUSE / ROUSE

1. She finally __________ herself at lunchtime and got out of bed.
2. Both lectures __________ a lot of interest I the subject of geology. (s. past)
3. The goal __________ the supporters and they began to really get behind the
team.
4. The programme __________ strong feelings, as you can see by the number of
letters received.

11. ASSISTANCE / ASSISTANTS

1. A hurling team managers, their _____________ and parents are asked to
attend.
2. We hope this financial contribution will be of _____________.
3. I own many people my thanks for their support and _____________ during
the preparation of this book.
4. She returned to the store and, with the help of two _____________, found a
wig she liked.

12. AUGER / AUGUR

1. The workmen need an _________ to remove the material from the pipe.
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2. The company’s sales figures for the first six months _________ well for the
rest of the year.
3. We use the _________ to drill holes, the sweeper to sweep the parking lot,
the hammer to bust concrete.
4. The movement of troops _________ ill for the peace of the area.

13. AVENGE / REVENGE

1. He wants to __________ the murder of his brother.
2. He wants __________ for the murder of his brother.
3. She took __________ on him for leaving her by smashing up his car.
4. She determined to herself on the killer.

14. BAIL / BALE

1. The girl is charged with manslaughter and is on ________ awaiting trial.
2. The sheepherder went over to his storage hut and brought out one ________
of wool.
3. Calcot, Bakersfield, Calif., has annual sales of 1.4 million ________ of cotton.
4. Because of a previous conviction, the judge refused to grant ________.
5. The straw is left on the field to be ________ later.
6. It was so boring I ________ early.

15. CENSOR / CENSURE / SENSOR

1. Ministers were ___________ for their lack of decisiveness during the crisis.
2. I have been assured that there is no fault with the temperature ___________
or gauge.
3. Part of his film has been banned by the ___________.
4. His dishonest behaviour came under severe ___________.
5. The letters she received were ___________.
6. The security device has a heat ___________ which detects the presence of
people and animals.

16. CHILLI / CHILLY

1. She was feeling a little _________, so she ate some _________ to warm
herself up.
2. Cut the _________ open and remove the seeds.
3. I went to see the sales manager but got an rather _________ reception.
4. The chicken is seasoned with a blend of cayenne, _________, and black and
white pepper.

17. CLIMACTIC / CLIMATIC

1. Some parts of the world seem to be experiencing ____________ changes.
2. She was marvellous in the ____________ sleepwalking scene in Macbeth.
3. And the final ____________ emotional moment is cringe inducing rather than
searing moving.

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4. Under certain ____________ conditions, desert locusts increase in number.

18. COMPEL / IMPEL

1. As a schoolboy he was ____________ to wear shorts even in winter.
2. She was in such a mess I felt ____________ to offer your services.
3. I wonder what it is that ____________ him to exercise all the time.
4. A sense of duty ____________ Harry to answer her questions. (s. past)

19. CURB / KERB

1. Traces of the stone ________ can be seen on the east side.
2. You really need to ________ your spending.
3. Works to raise ________ and improve lighting on the A414 in Danbury will
begin on Monday.
4. The police are trying to ________ under-age drinking.

20. DEMUR / DEMURE

1. The lawyer requested a break in the court case, but the judge ___________.
2. She taught her how to act polite, ___________, obedient and respectful.
3. She gave him a ___________ smile.
4. No, no,’ he ___________, waving his hands in front of his face.
5. She agreed to his request without ___________.

21. DESPERATE / DISPARATE

1. The two cultures were so utterly ____________ that she found it hard to
adapt from one to the other.
2. The situation is ____________ - we have no food, very little water and no
medical supplies.
3. For us to succeed it is essential for ____________ groups to work together to
achieve these common goals.
4. He seems to have a ____________ need to be loved by everyone.

22. DOUSE / DOWSE

1. We watched as demonstrators _________ a car with petrol and set it alight.
2. Now he happily _________ for earth-radiation with a pair of rods.
3. This gentleman, a Sea Bee, claimed that he could _________ for gold!
4. He grabbed a thick cloth from his pack, and _________ the torch.

23. DRAW / DRAWER

1. Jordy had always been a good _________, he could _________ trees
amazingly.
2. The museum has turned out to be a big _________ for school children in the
city.
3. They discovered a stash of money hidden at the back of a _________.
4. But despite his efforts, it’s not enough: the points are still even and the match
is a _________.
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24. ENVELOP / ENVELOPE
1. The graveyard looked ghostly, ____________ in mist.
2. The teacher opened the sealed ____________ containing the exam papers.
3. The children play at hide-and-seek and ____________ themselves in a big
sheet.
4. We’re trying to push the ____________ as much as possible.

25. ESPECIALLY / SPECIALLY

1. He has his shirts made _____________ for him by a tailor in London.
2. She loves flowers, _____________ roses.
3. This kitchen was _____________ designed to make it easy for a disabled
person to use.
4. I don't want to be treated _____________.
5. There is nothing _____________ radical about that idea.
6. She can't be sure she will win, _____________ at this early stage of the
campaign.

26. FEWER / LESS

1. _________ than thirty children each year develop the disease.
2. People want to spend _________ time in traffic jams.
3. People these days are buying _________ newspapers.
4. Ironically, when I’m on tour, I listen to _________ music.
5. Heath Square is _________ than four miles away from Dublin city centre.

27. FINALLY / FINELY

1. I ordered shredded beef in a black bean sauce with __________ sliced leek.
2. After days of searching, the missing child was __________ found.
3. These are among the most __________ made car parts in the industry.
4. She __________ apologized, but she wasn't very graceful about it.

28. FLAIR / FLARE

1. There was a sudden _________ when she threw the petrol onto the fire.
2. He played with great imagination and _________.
3. She had a _________ for languages.
4. There was a slight _________ at the ends of his trouser legs.
5. Tempers _________ after a three-hour delay at the Airport yesterday.

29. FOREWORD / FORWARD

1. I recently received an email ____________ from a friend.
2. The ____________ was written by a famous scholar.
3. In other words, having a ____________ view changes what you do in the
here and now.
4. In the ____________ to his latest book, the Brazilian author apologises to his
readers.

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5. But the main thrust of his speech was looking ____________ to the future of
British farming.

30. LAID / LAIN

1. The body had _______ in the field for some time.
2. He took out his gold watch and _______ it ostentatiously on the table in front
of him.
3. The dust has _______ undisturbed for years.
4. We’re having a new carpet _______ in the hall next week.

31. LAST / TAKE

1. How long does your English class ________ ?
2. How long does it ________ you to finish your homework ?
3. My mobile phone battery ________ about three or four days before I have to
recharge it.
4. In my car a full tank of petrol ________ me about 6 days.

32. LOW / SHORT

1. Joseph is quite ________, but his brothers are both really tall.
2. We have a sofa, two armchairs and a ________ table.
3. It’s not fashionable to wear ________ skirts at the moment.
4. The wall is too ________, we need to make it higher so the dog can’t get out.

33. MINIMAL / NOMINAL

1. There were no injuries and damage to the building was __________.
2. His role, however, was __________, and the group was actually managed by
professionals.
3. The government provides electricity, gas, water, and bread at a __________
charge.
4. The kitchen was small and cramped, with __________ counter space and
cabinetry.

34. PASS AWAY / PASS OUT

1. It was sweltering and she _____________ from the heat.
2. After a short illness, he _____________ peacefully in the night.
3. Martin successfully _____________ at the Royal Marines training centre in
Devon. (s.p.)
4. He was the first member of my family to _____________ quite young.

35. PATIENCE / PATIENT’S / PATIENTS

1. A number of ____________ have been successfully treated with the new
drug.
2. Their youngest son was beginning to try my ____________.
3. Just like any doctor, we take a ____________ medical details and allergies
before a consultation.
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4. He's a good teacher, but he doesn't have much ____________ with the
slower pupils.
5. The hospital was extremely busy, so the ____________ had to have
____________.
6. There has been no significant change in the ____________ condition.

36. RING / WRING

1. Students should ___________ the correct answers in pencil.
2. Car dealers are ___________ their hands over low sales this summer.
3. She’s ___________ out the shirt and hung it out to dry.
4. There's been an accident - can you ___________ for an ambulance?
5. My ears are still ___________ from the sound of the military band.
6. I'll ___________ his neck if he does that again!

37. SERVE / SERVICE

1. ___________ the pie warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
2. I've worked in public health ___________ throughout my career.
3. Everyone fell silent though when the prince raised his racket and ball to
___________.
4. You should leave a generous tip to reward good ___________.
5. A sheet of red outdoor fabric ___________ as the roof.
6. He had his motorcycle ___________ by the respondent.

38. TURBID / TURBULENT / TURGID

1. The style was ____________, the characters were poorly outlined and too
‘original’.
2. The ____________ water should be cleared before chlorination.
3. In rougher, more ____________ water, trout are much harder to see.
4. He told me to investigate the composition of this ____________ liquid.
5. The town had remained calm since the ____________ times seven months
ago.
6. Some entries are rather ____________, and others wonderfully pretentious.

39. VAIN / VANE / VEIN

1. He was so _______, he would change his clothes three times a day.
2. They staunched the flow of blood from his _______.
3. The _______ on one side of the feather's spine was wider than the one on the
other.
4. He sighed, and traced a _______ in the table wood before answering, and it
was obvious this came hard for him.
5. Any wind capable of turning the _______ which keeps the mouth of the tube
facing the wind is capable of registration
6. All the police's efforts to find him were in _______.

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40. WADE / WEIGHED
1. We had to __________ through pages of legal jargon before we could sign the
contract.
2. Your luggage must be __________ before it is put on the aircraft.
3. Easy access to a skilled workforce __________ heavily with us when we chose
a site for the new factory.
4. It took him three hours to __________ through waist-high water too deep to
take his two children with him.
5. Only when we have __________ all the factors involved can we decide when
would be the best time to start.

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Key
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 deducted adducing deduced adduced deduct deduce
2 affluent effluent affluent Effluents
3 aide aid aid aides aid
4 alighted light alight light
5 eluded alluding eluded alluding
6 but although although but
7 ambivalent ambiguous equivocal ambiguous equivocal ambivalent
8 bemused amused bemused amuses
9 aunts ants aunt, ants ants
10 roused aroused roused aroused
11 assistants assistance assistance assistants
12 auger augur auger augurs
13 avenge revenge revenge avenge
14 bail bale bales bail baled bailed
15 censured sensor censor censure censored sensor
16 chilly, chilli chilli chilly chilli
17 climatic climactic climactic climatic
18 compelled impelled impels compelled
19 kerb curb kerbs curb
20 demurred demure demure demurs demur
21 disparate desperate disparate desperate
22 doused dowses dowse doused
23 drawer, draw draw drawer draw
24 enveloped envelope envelop envelope
25 specially especially specially specially especially especially
26 Fewer less fewer less less
27 finely finally finely finally
28 flare flair flair flare flared
29 forwarded foreword forward foreword forward
30 lain laid lain laid
31 last take takes lasts
32 short low short low
33 minimal nominal nominal minimal
34 passed out passed away passed out pass away
35 patients patience patient's patience patients, patient's
patience
36 ring wringing wringing ring ringing wring
37 Serve services serve service serves serviced
38 turgid turbid turbulent turbid turbulent turgid
39 vain vein vane vein vane vain
40 wade weighed weighed wade weighed

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