List Of Commonly Misused English Words

This is a list of English words that are thought to be commonly misused. It is meant to include only words whose ''misuse'' is deprecated by most usage writers, editors, and professional grammarians defining the norms of Standard English. It is possible that some of the meanings marked ''non-standard'' may pass into ''Standard'' English in the future, but at this time all of the following ''non-standard'' phrases are likely to be marked as ''incorrect'' by English teachers or changed by editors if used in a work submitted for publication, where adherence to the conventions of Standard English is normally expected. Some examples are homonyms, or pairs of words that are spelled similarly and often confused.

The words listed below are often used in ways that major English dictionaries do not approve of. See List of English words with disputed usage for words that are used in ways that are deprecated by some usage writers but are condoned by some dictionaries. There may be regional variations in grammar, orthography, and word-use, especially between different English-speaking countries. Such differences are not classified normatively as non-standard or "incorrect" once they have gained widespread acceptance in a particular country.

List

A

* a lot and allot. ''A lot'' means "many" or "much"; ''allot'' means to distribute something.
* abdicate, abnegate, abrogate, and arrogate. To ''abdicate'' is to resign from the throne, or more loosely to cast off a responsibility. To ''abnegate'' is to deny oneself something. To ''abrogate'' is to repeal (do away with) a law or abolish (put an end to) an arrangement, also to evade a responsibility. To ''arrogate'' is to attempt to take on a right or responsibility to which one is not entitled.
** ''Standard'': Edward VIII abdicated the throne of the United Kingdom.
** ''Standard'': Henry VIII abrogated Welsh customary law.
** ''Non-standard'': You should not abrogate to yourself the whole honour of the President's visit (should be "arrogate").
* accept and except. While they sound similar (or even identical in parts of the US), ''except'' is a preposition that means "apart from", while ''accept'' is a verb that means "agree with", "take in", or "receive". ''Except'' is also occasionally used as a verb, meaning to take out or to leave out.
** ''Standard'': We accept all major credit cards, except Diners Club.
** ''Standard'': People are fools... present company excepted! (meaning "present company excluded")
** ''Non-standard'': I had trouble making friends with them; I never felt .
** ''Non-standard'': We all went swimming, for Jack.
* acute and chronic. ''Acute'' means "sharp", as an acute illness is one that rapidly worsens and reaches a crisis. A ''chronic'' illness may also be a severe one, but it is long-lasting, lingering, or having a long history.
** ''Standard'': She was treated with epinephrine during an acute asthma attack.
** ''Standard'': It is not a terminal illness, but it does cause chronic pain.
** ''Non-standard'': I have suffered from acute asthma for twenty years.
** ''Non-standard'': I just started feeling this chronic pain in my back.
* adverse and averse. ''Adverse'' means unfavorable, contrary or hostile. ''Averse'' means having a strong feeling of opposition, antipathy, or repugnance. Merriam-Webster notes that ''adverse'' is commonly used as an attributive adjective (before the noun), while ''averse'' is rarely used in this situation.
** ''Standard'': They sailed despite adverse weather conditions.
** ''Standard'': He was averse to taking his medicine.
** ''Non-standard'': He is not adverse to having a drink now and then.
* aesthetic and ascetic. ''Aesthetic'' relates to an appealing or unappealing visual look or atmosphere. ''Ascetic'' is used to express the avoidance of pleasure due to self-discipline.
** ''Standard'': The aesthetics of the building were beautiful.
** ''Standard'': Some religions support ascetic practices.
* affect and effect. The verb ''affect'' means "to influence something", and the noun ''effect'' means "the result of". ''Effect'' can also be a verb that means "to cause omethingto be", while ''affect'' as a noun has technical meanings in psychology, music, and aesthetic theory: an emotion or subjectively experienced feeling.
** ''Standard'': The other benefit of class and collective actions is that they effect social and economic change.
** ''Standard'': This poem affected me so much that I cried.
** ''Standard'': Temperature has an effect on reaction spontaneity.
** ''Standard'': The dynamite effected the wall's collapse.
** ''Standard'': He seemed completely devoid of affect.
** ''Non-standard'': An IOC spokesman told Press Association Sport: "We were aware that FIFA might consider changing the dates for the 2022 World Cup. We are confident that FIFA will discuss the dates with us so as to co-ordinate them and avoid any affect on the Winter Games."
** ''Non-standard'': Some neighbors complain about Romney's new presidential entourage—including dozens of Secret Service agents who now guard the candidate 24 hours a day—and its affect on their quiet street.
** ''Non-standard'': His teammate Steve Nash can see how the time off had an affect on Gasol.
** ''Non-standard'': Seneca Jones Timber Co. executives say the pipe will effect 2,000 acres of their timberland, another 1,000 acres of property for roads, as well as public lands where Seneca harvests and transports logs.
** ''Non-standard'': The rain effected our plans for the day.
** ''Non-standard'': We tried appeasing the rain gods, but to no affect.
* aisle and isle. An aisle is a corridor through which one may pass from one place to another. An isle is an island.
** ''Standard'': He came from a small isle in the Caribbean.
** ''Standard'': The coffee is down the third aisle on the left.
* algorithm and logarithm. An ''algorithm'' is a step-by-step procedure, usually for calculation, the processing of data, or choosing among alternatives. The ''logarithm'' of a number is the power (i.e., exponent) to which a specified base must be raised to produce that number.
** ''Standard'': The board of directors developed an algorithm for choosing the company's new president from among the remaining candidates.
** ''Standard'': The algorithm for long division is usually taught in grade school. On the other hand, the algorithm for square root extraction, of which the best known pencil-and-paper form is still the one developed by Hero of Alexandria, is nowadays rarely taught, even in secondary school.
** ''Standard'': Using a base of 2, the logarithm of 32 is 5, because 2⁵ equals 32.
** ''Standard'': The number of octaves between two sounds is equal to the base-2 logarithm of the ratio of their frequencies.
* allow. The verb ''allow'' usually requires a referent. The construction "allows to" is a common error of German-speakers and South Asians with English as a second language. An accepted intransitive construction is "allows for" ("allows of" is also attested but obsolete).
** ''Standard'': The application allows users to download more quickly.
** ''Standard'': Roman law allowed a soldier to make a valid will without any formality.
** ''Non-standard'': The instrument allows to measure ...
** ''Standard but awkward'': "Allows to" can be used in this way, by moving the referent to the end: "The screen does not allow to pass any insects larger than gnats" and "A tenant who causes or allows to transpire damage to the property is liable ...". Such phraseology is awkward and should usually be rewritten, but not always.
* allusion and illusion. An ''allusion'' is an indirect or metaphorical reference to something; an ''illusion'' is a false picture of something that is there.
* appraise and apprise. To ''appraise'' is to assess or value something; to ''apprise'' is to teach or inform.
** ''Standard'': His performance was appraised very positively.
** ''Standard'': I lost no time in apprising her of the situation.
** ''Non-standard'': Has he been appraised of the fact?
*Arab and Arabic. As an adjective, ''Arab'' refers to people and things of ethnic Arab origin. ''Arabic'' refers to the Arabic language or writing system. Its use as a synonym for ''Arab'' is considered controversial by some.
* are and our. ''Are'' is the second-person singular present and the first-, second-, and third-person plural present of the verb ''be''. ''Our'' means "belonging to us".
** ''Standard'': Are you coming to our house after the show?
** ''Standard'': Our family has been trying to save money because of the country's current economic situation.
* ascent and assent. To ''ascend'' means to go up or advance from an original position. To ''assent'' is to agree.
** ''Standard'': I watched the balloon's ascent into the sky.
** ''Standard'': We need to reach assent on how to do this project.
* assure, ensure, and insure. In American English, to ''assure'' is purely to intend to give the listener confidence, to ''ensure'' is to make certain of something, and to ''insure'' is to purchase or provide insurance for something. The only difference with British English is that ''assure'' can be used instead of ''insure'', particularly in the context of life insurance or assurance.
** ''Standard'': I assure you that I will have your car washed by the time you return.
** ''Standard'': When you mow the lawn, ensure there are no foreign objects in the grass.
** ''Standard'': I plan to purchase the collision policy when I insure my car.
** ''Standard'': Progressive insured his SUV.
** ''Standard'': I already have more than enough life assurance.
** ''Non-standard'': His actions insured that the attacking army would fail.
* awaken and awoken: ''Awaken'' is typically used to express waking in the present tense. ''Awoken'' is typically used to express waking in the past tense. ''Awoken'' is the original "hard verb" inflection of "to wake", but through morphological leveling the soft form ''awakened'' has become more common.
** ''Standard'': We must awaken the dragon.
** ''Standard'': The dragon has awoken.

B

* barter, haggle and banter. To barter means to exchange goods rather than carrying out commercial transactions using money. To haggle is to negotiate a price. Banter is a noun meaning a friendly or good-natured exchange of remarks.
* belie. To belie means "to contradict" or "to give a false impression of". It is sometimes used incorrectly to mean to betray something hidden.
* bemused. To be bemused is to be perplexed or bewildered; however, it is commonly used incorrectly in place of amused.
* bisect and dissect. ''Bisect'' means "to cut into two"; ''dissect'' means "to cut apart", both literally and figuratively. ' is an archaic word meaning "to separate by cutting", but has not been in common use since the 17th century.
** ''Standard'': The Americas are bisected by the Panama canal.
** ''Standard'': She dissected Smith's dissertation, pointing out scores of errors.
** ''Standard'': We dissected the eye of a bull in biology class today.
** ''Probably non-standard'': We the eye of a bull in biology class today.
*born and borne. ''Born'' is when a living creature enters the world through the birthing process. ''Borne'' means to carry, realize, or bear something.
** ''Standard'': I was born on March 6, 1982.
** ''Standard'': I contracted mosquito-borne malaria while in Africa.
* breath and breathe. A ''breath'' (noun) is the air that is inhaled or exhaled from the lungs. To ''breathe'' (verb) is the act of inhaling or exhaling.
* buy and by. ''Buy'' means to purchase or spend money on something. ''By'' is a preposition meaning close to or indicating who did something.
** ''Standard'': I want to buy a TV.
** ''Standard'': We are by the station now.
** ''Standard'': My favorite novel is by Ursula Le Guin.

C

* cache, cachet and cash. A ''cache'' (IPA: ) is a storage place from which items may be quickly retrieved. A ''cachet'' (IPA: ) is a seal or mark, such as a wax seal on an envelope or a mark of authenticity on a product (usually used figuratively to mean "marked by excellence, distinction or superiority").
** ''Standard'': The pirates buried a cache of jewels near the coast.
** ''Standard'': Living in New York City definitely has a certain cachet.
** ''Standard'': But if a recommendation out of the Board of Governors meeting Tuesday in Las Vegas gets enacted as soon as this autumn, division titles would lose more than cachet.
** ''Standard'': The Wiz would be safer following the path San Antonio took with Leonard, only they haven't built up the cachet that allowed the Spurs to say, essentially, "Trust us. Hold tight as a cheap cap hold, and we'll make it worth your while."
** ''Standard'': This of course would be the second time Prokhorov was able to take advantage of a situation where his huge cache of cash helped him with the Nets.
** ''Non-standard'': It was easy: For one, he was an athlete who had made it, which provided the ultimate caché among parents who wanted their kids to go as far in sports as their talent could take them.
** ''Non-standard'': The greatest cache this team has is that one of the players has an umlaut in his name.
** ''Non-standard'': You need a couple of money guys (serious big money), then it doesn't hurt if you have a minority owner or two with some cache in said city to help win over the local fans.
** ''Non-standard'': Despite the celebrity status, big-name athletes seem to have more cache with average Americans than their cohorts from Hollywood or the Executive Suite.
* can't and cant. ''Can't'' is a contraction of ''cannot''. ''Cant'' has a number of different meanings, including a slope or slant, or a kind of slang or jargon spoken by a particular group of people. "Canting arms" is a coat-of-arms that represents meaning of the bearer's surname.
** ''Standard'': I can't understand the dialogue in this book because it is written in cant.
** ''Standard'': Heralds do not pun; they cant.
** ''Non-standard'': I cant swim; I have never taken lessons.
* canvas and canvass. ''Canvas'' is a type of fabric known for being tough and strong. ''Canvass'' is a way to try to get people's support or find out where their support lies.
** ''Standard'': I use a canvas cover to protect the barbecue.
** ''Standard'': Canvass the block for information on their votes.
** ''Non-standard'': My political party needs to canvas the local neighborhoods.
* cloth, clothe and clothes. ''Cloth'' is the material that is typically woven and available in rolls, known as 'bolts' (though 'bolt' is a defined length of cloth) and sold in fabric stores. ''Clothe'' is a verb and refers to the action of putting on ''clothes'' that have been created using (usually) ''cloth''. ''Clothes'' are garments that have been manufactured, usually using ''cloth''.
** ''Standard'': I will look for a clothes shop to purchase some garments to wear.
** ''Standard'': At the local cloth shop I can purchase fabric to sew some garments.
** ''Standard'': I will clothe her in the new garment I have made, so that she may attend the ball.
** ''Non-standard'': This cloth shop only sells women's garments.
** ''Non-standard'': The clothes shop only sells bolts of cloth.
* complementary and complimentary. Things or people that go together well are ''complementary'' (i.e., they ''complete'' each other); ''complimentary'' describes an item given without charge (considered a 'gift'), usually in addition to a product or service that may have been purchased. It also describes praise given to someone or something.
** ''Standard'': Exercise, nutrition, and medical care are complementary factors in good health.
** ''Standard'': The motel provides a complimentary breakfast to overnight guests.
** ''Standard'': Jane was complimentary about the new couch, which she said complements the drapes and carpet.
*

Similarly, a ''complement'' is an accessory, while a ''compliment'' is a statement of admiration.

* complacency and complaisance. ''Complacency'' means self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. ''Complaisance'' means the willingness to comply with the wishes of others.
* contiguous, continual, and continuous. ''Contiguous'' means "touching" or "adjoining in space"; ''continual'' means "repeated in rapid succession"; ''continuous'' means "uninterrupted" (in time or space).
** ''Standard'': Alaska is not one of the forty-eight contiguous states.
** ''Standard'': The field was surrounded by a continuous fence.
** ''Standard'': The continuous murmur of the stream.
** ''Standard'': His continual interruptions are very irritating.
* contingent and contingency. As a noun, a ''contingent'' is a representative group; a ''contingency'' is a possible event.
** ''Standard'': The explorers were prepared for every contingency.
** ''Standard'': He was a member of the California contingent at the convention.
** ''Non-standard'': He was greeted by a contingency from the school board.
* copy write and copyright: ''Copy write'' means to make written copies for manuals, press releases, or advertisements. A ''copyright'' consists of select privileges that legally protect a work and prohibit its duplication.
** ''Standard'': Contact a copy writer if you need more advertisements written for the event.
** ''Standard'': This book has another five years of protection under its copyright.

D

* defuse and diffuse. To ''defuse'' is to remove the fuse from a bomb, or in general to render a situation less dangerous, whereas to ''diffuse'' is to disperse randomly. ''Diffuse'' can also be used as an adjective, meaning "not concentrated".
** ''Standard'': Bill's face turned red at Joe's tactless remark to the Kennel Club meeting, but Clarice defused the situation by turning it into a joke. "Not that even a Dachshund would stoop so low, of course!" she quipped.
** ''Standard'': The speaker droned on, his words like a powerful sleeping gas slowly diffusing through the stuffy air of the auditorium.
** ''Standard'': The spotlights went dark, leaving the scene lit only by the diffuse glow of the lanterns.
** ''Non-standard'': Houston was aware it was happening and worked to diffuse the campaign late in the process.
** ''Non-standard'': A government agency long associated with efforts to mediate and diffuse tense situations in communities helped organize rallies over the killing of Florida teen Trayvon Martin last year, a conservative leaning legal advocacy group claims.
** ''Non-standard'': Cavaliers small forward Luol Deng tried to diffuse all the questions about how emotional it will be facing his former team – the Chicago Bulls – Wednesday night at The Q.
** ''Non-standard'': After finding the suspected bomb, Pennsylvania state police were called in to diffuse it.
* desert and dessert. As a verb, ''desert'' means to abandon. As a noun, ''desert'' is a barren or uninhabited place; an older meaning of the word is "what one deserves", as in the idiom just deserts. A ''dessert'' is the last course of a meal.
* disassemble and dissemble. To ''disassemble'' means "to dismantle" (e.g., to take a machine code program apart to see how it works); to ''dissemble'' means "to tell lies".
* disburse and disperse. ''Disburse'' means "to give out", especially money. ''Disperse'' means "to scatter".
* discreet and discrete. ''Discreet'' means "circumspect". ''Discrete'' means "having separate parts", as opposed to contiguous.

E

* e.g. and i.e. The abbreviation ''e.g.'' stands for the Latin ''exempli gratiā'' "for example", and should be used when the example(s) given are just one or a few of many. The abbreviation ''i.e.'' stands for the Latin ''id est'' "that is", and is used to give the only example(s) or to otherwise qualify the statement just made.
** ''Standard'': A Briton is a British citizen, e.g., John Lennon.
** ''Standard'': Tolkien's ''The Hobbit'' is named after its protagonist, i.e., Bilbo Baggins.
** ''Non-standard'': A Briton is a British citizen, i.e., Paul McCartney ''(at the last count, there were about 60 million Britons—Sir Paul is far from being the only one)''
* economic and economical. ''Economic'' means "having to do with the economy". ''Economical'' means "financially prudent, frugal" and also figuratively in the sense "sparing use" (of time, language, etc.)''The New Fowler's Modern English Usage'' (revised 3rd edition) (1998)
** ''Standard'': Buying in bulk can often be the most economical choice.
** ''Standard'': The actor should be economical in his use of movement.
** ''Standard'': He attended the School of Economic and Business Sciences.
** ''Non-standard'': Leading economical indicators suggest that a recession may be on the horizon.
** ''Non-standard'': The actor should be economic in his use of movement.
* elicit and illicit. ''Elicit'' is a verb that means to draw out, evoke or obtain. ''Illicit'' is an adjective that refers to something illegal or improper.
** ''Standard'': The lawyer hopes to elicit convincing testimony from the witness.
** ''Standard'': Police found a large amount of illicit drugs.
** ''Standard'': They had an illicit love affair.
* emigration and immigration. ''Emigration'' is the process of leaving a country; ''immigration'' is the process of arriving in a country—in both cases, indefinitely.
** ''Standard'': Ethnic communities, such as Little Italy, were created by people emigrating from their home countries.
* eminent, immanent, imminent, and preeminent. ''Eminent'', originally meaning "emerging", means "illustrious or highly-regarded". ''Preeminent'' means "most highly-regarded". ''Imminent'' means "about to occur". ''Immanent'' (less common than the other two, and often theological) means "indwelling, pervading".
** ''Standard'': The eminent doctor Jones testified on behalf of the defence.
** ''Standard'': Rumours that war was imminent soon spread through the population.
** ''Standard'': God's grace is immanent throughout the entire creation.
* emoji and emoticon. ''Emojis'' are actual pictures, whereas ''emoticons'' are typographic displays of a facial representation, e.g. :-).
* epitome is used to mean a typical or ideal example of something. epidemy is an epidemic disease.
* eponymous is used to describe something that gives its name to something else, not something that receives the name of something else.
** ''Standard'': Frank, the eponymous owner of ''Frank's Bistro'', prepares all meals in a spotless kitchen.
** ''Non-standard'': Frank maintains an eponymous restaurant, ''Frank's Bistro.''
* ethic and ethnic. ''Ethic'' refers to morals. ''Ethnic'' refers to nationalities.
* every day and everyday. ''Every day'' (two words) is an adverb phrase meaning "daily" or "every weekday". ''Everyday'' (one word) is an adjective meaning "ordinary".
* exacerbate and exasperate. ''Exacerbate'' means "to make worse". ''Exasperate'' means "to annoy".
** ''Standard'': Treatment by untrained personnel can exacerbate injuries.
** ''Standard'': Do not let Jack talk to the state trooper; he is tactless and will just exasperate her.
* expedient and expeditious. ''Expedient'' means "done conveniently or quickly, but possibly improperly". ''Expeditious'' means "done efficiently", and does not carry any negative connotation.
** ''Standard'': The chef's expedient solution was to microwave the undercooked hamburger.
** ''Standard'': The chef's expeditious solution was to cook a new hamburger.

F

* flack and flak. Flak is adverse criticism or anti-aircraft fire (the latter being the original definition). A flack is a publicity agent or press relations person.
** ''Standard'': He took a lot of flak for his unpopular position.
** ''Standard'': The B-17 was shot down by German flak.
** ''Non-standard'': But he took no flack from her people.
* flesh and flush. To ''flesh out'' is to add flesh to a skeleton, or metaphorically to add substance to an incomplete rendering. To ''flush out'' is to cause game fowl to take to flight, or to frighten any quarry from a place of concealment.
** ''Standard'': The forensic pathologist will flesh out the skull with clay.
** ''Standard'': The beaters flushed out the game with drums and torches.
** ''Non-standard'': This outline is incomplete and must be flushed out.
* flounder and founder. To ''flounder'' is to be clumsy, confused, indecisive, as if flopping about like a fish out of water (a ''flounder'' being a kind of fish). To ''founder'' is to fill with water and sink (or, figuratively, to fail).
** ''Standard'': The ship is damaged and may founder.
** ''Standard'': She was floundering on the balance beam.
** ''Non-standard'': The ship is damaged and may flounder.
* flout and flaunt. One ''flouts'' a rule or law by flagrantly ignoring it. One ''flaunts'' something by showing it off.
** ''Standard'': If you have it, flaunt it.
** ''Standard'': He continually flouted the speed limit.
** ''Standard'': The diplomat's son flaunted his ability to flout the speed limit.
** ''Non-standard'': If you have it, flout it.
** ''Non-standard'': He continually flaunted the speed limit.
* forego and forgo: ''Forego'' means to go before. ''Forgo'' means to give up or do without.
** ''Standard'': After reading the foregoing paragraph, she decided to forgo the rest of the book.

G

* gone and went. ''Gone'' is the past participle of ''go''. ''Went'' is the simple past tense of ''go''.
** ''Non-standard'': Looking back on it, they should have went No. 1 in their respective drafts.
** ''Non-standard'': She had previously underwent a surgical procedure to remove an abscess discovered during a recent ultrasound.
** ''Non-standard'': Phoenix has went 5–15 over the last 20 games and now that Bledsoe is out with another knee injury, the Suns could potentially see their losing streak extend to seven as they face the elite Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in their next three games.
* guarantee and guaranty. In legal terms, a ''guaranty'' is a binding assurance of the performance of a product or service, commonly a security for the fulfillment of an obligation (often on another's behalf), while a ''guarantee'' is a person who benefits from a guaranty (provided by a ''guarantor''). However, it has become common for the word ''guarantee'' to refer to any assurance itself (often verbal, rather than a written warranty) of a certain outcome, including figuratively. The verb form has also become ''guarantee''.
** ''Standard'': I guarantee that you will make a return on your investment.
** ''Standard'': The radio advertisement promised a three-month, money-back satisfaction guarantee.
** ''Standard'': The collision statistics to date seem to virtually guarantee several such accidents per month until this intersection is redesigned.
** ''Standard'': The completion bond firm lost its $50 million guaranty when the film production collapsed after the death of the director.
** ''Uncommon except in law'': This phone comes with a written one-year guaranty against defects. (Use ''warranty'' in most contexts, which is more precise and more common.)
** ''Uncommon except in law'': The guarantee studio received a $50 million payout from the completion bond firm. (Rephrase, e.g.: The studio received a $50 million guaranty payout from the completion bond firm.)

H

* hang. The standard past participle of ''hang'' is ''hung''. The past participle ''hanged'' is reserved for execution by hanging, and sometimes for suicide by hanging, although usage guides differ on the importance of the distinction between ''hanged'' and ''hung''.
* hangar and hanger.
** ''Standard'': The aeroplane is in the hangar; the coat is on the hanger.
* hay and straw. ''Hay'' is animal fodder made by cutting and drying a grassy plant. ''Straw'' is the dry stalk of a cereal plant (e.g., barley, oats, rice, or rye), after the grain or seed has been removed; it is used to line an animal's stall or for insulation.
* hear and here. To ''hear'' is to detect a sound with one's ears. ''Here'' refers to one's immediate location.
* hoard and horde. A ''hoard'' is a store or accumulation of things. A ''horde'' is a large group of people.
** ''Standard'': A horde of shoppers lined up to be the first to buy the new gizmo.
** ''Standard'': He has a hoard of discontinued rare cards.
** ''Non-standard'': Do not horde the candy, share it.
** ''Non-standard'': The hoard charged when the horns sounded.
** ''Non-standard'': It probably shouldn't come as a surprise; an angry hoard is calling for his head to be mounted on a wall.
** ''Non-standard'': Despite good progress on the team's bid for a new arena, the Bucks aren't getting LeBron James or Durant next summer, so why horde cap space to chase ghosts?

I

* imply and infer. Something is ''implied'' if it is a suggestion intended by the person speaking, whereas a conclusion is ''inferred'' if it is reached by the person listening.
** ''Standard'': When Tony told me he had no money, he was implying that I should give him some.
** ''Standard'': When Tony told me he had no money, I inferred that I should give him some.
** ''Non-standard'': When Tony told me he had no money, he was inferring that I should give him some.
* inherent and inherit. A part ''inherent in'' X is logically inseparable from X. ''To inherit'' is a verb, meaning "pass down a generation".
** ''Standard'': Risk is inherent in the stock market.
** ''Standard'': The next president inherits a legacy of mistrust and fear.
** ''Non-standard'': There is violence inherit in the system.
* it's and its. ''It's'' is a contraction that replaces ''it is'' or ''it has'' (see apostrophe). ''Its'' is the possessive determiner corresponding to ''it'', meaning "belonging to it".
** ''Standard'': It's time to eat! (it is time)
** ''Standard'': It's been nice getting to meet you. (it has been)
** ''Standard'': My cell phone has poor reception because its antenna is broken.
** ''Non-standard'': Its good to be the king.
** ''Non-standard'': The bicycle tire had lost all of pressure.

J

* jibe and jive. Jibe is to be in accord with. Jive is hepcat patois or deception.
** ''Standard'': Don't give me that same old jive.
** ''Standard'': Your report doesn't jibe with the facts.
** ''Non-standard'': Your report doesn't jive with the facts.

L

* levee and levy. A ''levee'' is a structure built along a river to raise the height of its banks, thereby preventing nearby land from flooding (see: dike). ''To levy'' is to impose (1) a tax, fine or other assessment, or (2) a military draft; as a noun, a ''levy'' is an assessment or army thus gathered. The two words share a common root, but they are not considered interchangeable in Standard English. Because they are homophones, misuse is usually only apparent when observed in writing.
** ''Standard'': The Netherlands is well known for its elaborate system of levees.
** ''Standard'': This statute allows the state to levy a 3% tax.
** ''Non-standard'': Recent storms have weakened the levy.
* loathe and loath or loth: ''Loathe'' is a verb meaning "to strongly dislike", and ''loath'' (or ''loth'') is an adjective meaning "unwilling" or "reluctant".
** ''Standard'': I loathe arrogant people.
** ''Standard'': I was loath to concede defeat.
** ''Standard'': I was loth to concede defeat.
** ''Non-standard'': Colangelo and Krzyzewski are loathe to break the players up into categories, but essentially, that's what is in place.
** ''Non-standard'': Which is why the Panthers were loathe to give him a guaranteed contract.
* loose and lose. ''Loose'', as an adjective, can mean the opposite of "tight", the opposite of "tighten", or (datedly) "promiscuous"/"of lax morals"; ''loose'', as a verb, means "release". ''Lose'' can mean "fail to win", "misplace", or "cease to be in possession". ''Lose'' is often misspelled ''loose''.
** ''Standard'': We cannot afford to lose customers to our competitors.
** ''Standard'': A screw is loose and I need a screwdriver to tighten it.
** ''Standard'': Loose the hounds!
** ''Dated'': He regularly consorted with loose women.
** ''Non-standard'': If the team cannot score any points, they will loose the game.

M

* militate and mitigate. To ''militate'' is to fight or exert pressure for something to happen or not to happen; it is typically followed by a preposition. To ''mitigate'' is to make something milder, typically something undesirable, and takes no preposition.
** ''Standard'': The seriousness of your crime was mitigated by the provocation you were under.
** ''Standard'': Over-protective practices in this factory militate against increased efficiency.
** ''Non-standard'': Over-protective practices in this factory mitigate against increased efficiency.

N

* novice and novitiate. A ''novice'' is a prospective or trainee member, as of a religious order. The ''novitiate'' is the state of being a novice, or the time for which one is a novice. However, a novice monk or nun is often incorrectly described as "a novitiate" (perhaps confused with "initiate").

O

* of and have. In some dialects of spoken English, ''of'' and the contracted form of ''have'', '' 've'', sound alike. However, in standard written English, they are not interchangeable.
** ''Standard'': Susan would have stopped to eat, but she was running late.
** ''Standard'': You could have warned me!
** ''Non-standard'': I should of known that the store would be closed. (Should be "I should've known" or “I should have known”)
* overestimate and underestimate. There is frequent confusion between things that ''cannot'' and ''should not'' be over/underestimated, though the meanings are opposite.
** ''Standard'': The damage caused by pollution cannot be overestimated (i.e., it is so enormous that no estimate, however high, is excessive)
** ''Standard'': The damage caused by pollution should not be overestimated (i.e., while significant, it would be wrong to exaggerate it)
** ''Standard'': The damage caused by pollution should not be underestimated (i.e., it is wrong to regard it as minor)
** ''Probably non-standard'': The damage caused by pollution cannot be underestimated (literal meaning: it is so minimal that no estimate is too small. Intended meaning: probably as in the first or third example)

P

* palate, palette, and pallet. The ''palate'' is the roof of the mouth; used metaphorically to refer to one's preferences in food. A '' palette'' is a board for holding and mixing paint; used metaphorically to refer to a range or selection of colors or other features. A ''pallet'' is a wooden platform for raising stacked goods off the floor, or a thin sleeping mattress placed on the floor.
** ''Standard'': After unloading the boxes from the pallets, I slept on a pallet on the floor.
** ''Standard'': My palate is not very refined.
** ''Standard'': The artist placed globs of varying paint colors on his palette before beginning to paint.
* past and passed. ''Past'' refers to events that have previously occurred, while ''passed'' is the past tense of "to pass", whether in a congressional action or a physical occurrence.
** ''Standard'': Congress passed the bill limiting the powers of the President.
** ''Standard'': History is mainly concerned with the events of the past.
** ''Standard'': He went past my house on his way to the store.
** ''Standard'': He passed my house on his way to the store.
** ''Non-standard'': He past my house on his way to the store.
* peremptory and preemptive. A ''peremptory'' act or statement is absolute; it cannot be denied. A ''preemptive'' action is one taken before an adversary can act.
** ''Standard'': He issued a peremptory order.
** ''Standard'': Preemptive air strikes stopped the enemy from launching the new warship.
* perpetrate and perpetuate. To ''perpetrate'' something is to commit it, while to ''perpetuate'' something is to cause it to continue or to keep happening.
** ''Standard'': The gang perpetrated outrages against several citizens.
** ''Standard'': The stories only serve to perpetuate the legend that the house is haunted.
* perquisite and prerequisite. ''Perquisite'' usually means 'an extra allowance or privilege'. ''Prerequisite'' means 'something required as a condition'.
** ''Standard'': He had all the perquisites of a movie star, including a stand-in.
** ''Standard'': Passing the examination was one of the prerequisites for a teaching position.
* perspective and prospective. ''Perspective'' is a view with correct visual angles, example: parallel railway tracks converging in the distance. ''Prospective'' is a future possibility or expectation.
* perspicuity and perspicacity. If something is perspicuous, it is easily understood; its meaning is obvious. If one is perspicacious, then one is quick to understand or has good insight.
** ''Standard'': I admired her perspicacity; she just seemed to get it so much better than I.
** ''Standard'': He expressed the idea so perspicuously that anyone could understand.
** ''Non-standard'': She spoke in a perspicacious way.
* photogenic