Confusables
Confusables are words that may sound similar, interchangeable in some contexts
but not in others, or they are related in some way or they are words that are
misused or just plainly misunderstood. They normally come in pairs, for instance,
disburse and disperse. Two similar sounding words, although with
two different meanings, the former means make payment and the latter
scatter.
Here are some examples of confusables:
blond, blonde - A woman with light-coloured hair is blonde but a man
is blond. The unisex adjective is blond; a blond race is a race of people with
fair hair and a light complexion
dependant, dependent - The first is used only as a word for a person
who depends on someone for support, usually financial. In all other cases dependent
is needed
bathos, pathos -
bathos : ludicrous anticlimax by sudden descent from dignity or intensity
to the commonplace, in speech, writing or a happening
pathos : quality (in art or an event) that creates feelings of pity or sadness
elegy, eulogy -
elegy : thoughtful or reflective poem. Any elegiac writing or music in mournful
in tone
eulogy : an expression of praise in speech or writing
autarchy, autarky
autarchy : absolute power; autocracy
autarky : self-sufficiency
maxim, axiom - An axiom is a self-evident or generally recognised truth,
an established principle. A maxim is a succinct expression, especially as a
rule of conduct
stupor, torpor
stupor : most usually the state induced by drugs or shock
torpor : is apathy or sluggishness, especially of a physical kind
urban, urbane
urban : relating to a city or town
urbane : charachterised by sophistication; polite or smooth in manner
amoral, immoral, unethical
amoral : having no morals; unconcerned or unconnected with moral standards;
having no moral standards - good or bad - by which one can be judged
immoral : having bad morals; not with conforming or opposed to moral standards;
wicked; the opposite of moral
unethical : not in conformity with the rules of fight behaviour within a profession
Source:
A Concise Dictionary of Confusables, B A Phythian, Guild Publishing 1989.