9 Common Word Choice Errors to Avoid

Wednesday, May 33 min read

Spell-check is one of the advantages of a modern computer, but it isn’t perfect. One significant downside is that the program can’t tell when you’ve misused a word that you spelled correctly. Sometimes the error is easily spotted, such as swapping “your” for “you’re,” but other linguistic mix-ups are trickier. A hearty (or is it “hardy”?) breakfast can fortify hearty (or is it “hardy”?) workers for a long day ahead of them — there are subtle, but important differences. When words are similar in both meaning and spelling, remembering the difference is a challenge. Read on for a list of commonly confused words and some mnemonic advice to tell them apart.

Amused / Bemused

These two words sound similar despite their different spellings, so they’re easy to mix up. “Amused” means “finding something funny or entertaining.” (“The cartoon amused the kids.”) However, “bemused” is about being puzzled or confused. (“He was bemused by the directions.”) The “be” can help you remember that “bemused” is about your own state of mind, rather than finding something else entertaining.

Disperse / Disburse

These two words have similar meanings, but only one applies to discussing money. “Disperse” means “to distribute and spread out over a wide area.” (“The villagers dispersed at the first sign of trouble.”) “Disburse” also refers to distributing, but it only applies to dollars and cents. When you disburse, you pay money out of a fund. (“They disbursed funds to the charity organizations.”) To remember this one, think of going to the bursar’s office to pay tuition bills.

Flaunt / Flout

When you flaunt something, you display it ostentatiously to show off. (“He flaunted his new set of golf clubs.”) “Flout” means “to disregard a rule or law.” (“She flouted her curfew by staying up late.”) If you’re bold, you can flaunt your new designer dress while flouting laws against jaywalking. The memory aid here isn’t quite as obvious, but it might be helpful to think that the “out” in “flout” means that you’ll be “out of bounds” if you disregard a rule.

Hearty / Hardy

“Hearty” means “expressed warmly” (“I send you hearty congratulations!”) or “wholesome and substantial food” (the hearty breakfast of the introduction). “Hardy” means “robust and capable of enduring difficult conditions.” (“The hardy plant survived the winter.”) Think of “hearty” as related to the heart — heartfelt sentiments or foods that warm the chest and belly — and “hardy” with the word “hard” — things that are tough and can survive.

Imply / Infer

Both of these words involve communication, but there are subtle differences in usage. “Imply” means “to strongly suggest the truth.” (“She implied we were in danger.”) “Infer” means “to deduce or conclude from evidence rather than explicit statements.” (“After reading the report, he inferred taxes would be increasing.”) The “in” of “infer” helps us remember that it’s an internal form of reasoning to reach a conclusion.

Moral / Morale

Something that’s moral is all about right and wrong. (“He took a moral stance on the issue.”) “Morale” has a very similar spelling but refers to the confidence and enthusiasm of a group. (“The team’s morale was high before the big game.”) Remember, morale (with an “e”) is all about building up enthusiasm in a group.

Pedal / Peddle / Petal

Given their similar spellings, it’s easy to confuse these words when writing, but they have very different meanings. A pedal is a foot-operated lever used for powering a bicycle. (“He pedaled the bike down the street.”) “Peddle” means “to sell goods from place to place.” (“She was peddling Girl Scout Cookies door-to-door.”) “Petals” are the colorful outside leaves of a flower. Someone can peddle their petals while pedaling on their bike.

Premier / Premiere

Both of these words come from a French word meaning “first in rank or importance,” but they are different parts of speech, which give them different meanings. “Premier” (an adjective) means “first in importance.” (“We visited the country’s premier museum.”) “Premiere” (a noun) is still about being first, but it only refers to entertainment. A premiere is the first showing of a play, film, or other work of art. (“They attended the premiere of the new Marvel movie.”)

Rein / Reign

Here’s another pair of homophones — words pronounced similarly but with different meanings. A rein is a long, narrow strap that guides a horse while riding. (“I took control of the horse’s reins.”) However, “reign” describes the time someone holds royal office. (“It was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.”) The added “g” makes the word fancy, just like a king or queen.

Featured image credit: DaniloAndjus/ iStock

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