ENGLISH WORDS FREQUENTLY CONFUSED AND MISUSED

In English, there are many words which look similar, but they are different in meaning. Some of the words that are frequently confused and misused are as follows:

 STUDIO / STUDIOUS

 

Studio: a place where pictures are taken, or films are made.

 

e.g. The film was made in a Hollywood studio.

 

Studious: fond of study; careful and thoughtful.

 

e.g. To MELLOW / MELODIOUS

be a good scientist, you must be studious.

 

Mellow: mature; soft and pure; rich and full.

 

e.g. As he continues to age, he become more mellow and compassionate.

 

Melodious: tuneful; pleasant to the ear.

 

e.g. He voice is melodious; he should take up singin

 

PERISHABLE / PERISHING

 

Perishable: liable to die quickly.

 

e.g. Fresh vegetables are perishable; put them in the refrigerator.

 

Perishing: causing suffering.

 

e.g. Negative thinking may cause perishing emotions and thoughts.

 

SEDATIVE / SEDENTARY

 

Sedative: calming or soothing.

 

e.g. The doctor gave her some sedative medicine to put her to sleep..

 

Sedentary: accustomed to sitting; physically inactive.

 

e.g His sedentary work -- sitting in front of the computer -- took a toll on his health.

 

e.g. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle even if you are approaching 60..

 

GENTEEL / GENTLE

 

Genteel: well-bred, polite; imitating the lifestyle of the rich.

 

e.g. Your friend is genteel. Is he very rich?

 

e.g. All along he has been living in genteel poverty. He is not practical.

 

Gentle: kind, friendly, mild.

 

e.g. Be gentle to my puppy.

 

DISPOSABLE / INDISPOSED

 

Disposable: cant be removed or got rid of.

 

e.g. This machine is disposable; we can do without it

 

Indisposed: not feeling well; unwilling to

 

e.g. You look indisposed. Is there something wrong with you?

 

e.g. Many people are indisposed to working on weekends.

 

TERMINABLE / TERMINAL

 

Terminable: can be ended.

 

e.g. Your employment is only temporary and terminable at any time.

 

Terminal: at the end.

 

e.g. The doctor told him that he had terminal cancer.

 

DECORATIVE / DECOROUS

 

Decorative: having an artistic or showy effect.

 

e.g. The ballroom with all the ribbons and flowers are very decorative.

 

Decorous: showing good taste.

 

e.g. The Princess looks decorous in that simple but beautiful dress.

 

ENGLISH WORDS FREQUENTLY CONFUSED AND MISUSED