Commonly confused words

pint vs gallon

There are 8 pints in a gallon in both the imperial and US systems. But the units themselves differ: a US pint...

plain vs plane

Plain usually means simple, clear or undecorated: "plain English" or "a plain white shirt." Plane means an air...

plausible vs possible

Possible means capable of happening — a statement about reality. Plausible means it sounds believable — a stat...

plum vs plumb

A plum is the fruit, and figuratively something desirable — a plum job. Plumb with a B means exactly vertical,...

poisonous vs venomous

A venomous animal delivers its toxin actively — by biting, stinging or spearing. A poisonous one is harmful pa...

pole vs poll

A pole is a long slender rod, or one of the two extremes of the Earth or a magnet: "The tent pole snapped." A...

polyamorous vs monogamous

Monogamy means one romantic or sexual partner at a time. Polyamory means multiple committed relationships at o...

populace vs populous

The populace is a noun — the general population of a place. Populous is an adjective meaning having many inhab...

pore vs pour

To pore over something is to study it closely and at length — poring over the accounts. To pour is to make a l...

potassium vs sodium

Two different chemical elements, both alkali metals, both essential to the body and easily confused because th...

pothead vs stoner

Both are informal terms for a habitual cannabis user, and they overlap heavily. Pothead emphasises frequency —...

practical vs pragmatic

Practical means suited to actual use rather than theory — a practical solution works in the real world. Pragma...

practice vs practise

In British English, practice with a C is the noun and practise with an S is the verb: you practise the piano,...

pray vs prey

Pray is a verb meaning to speak to a god or to beg earnestly: "She prays every evening." Prey is a noun meanin...

precede vs proceed

Precede means to come before — a short introduction preceded the talk. Proceed means to go forward or carry on...

precedent vs president

A precedent is an earlier case or decision used as a guide for later ones. A president is the head of a state...

precise vs premise

Precise is an adjective meaning exact. A premise is a noun: a statement taken as the basis for an argument — a...

preclude vs exclude

Preclude means to rule something out in advance — to make it impossible before it can happen: "the injury prec...

premier vs premiere

Premier means first in rank or importance, and as a noun it is a head of government: "the country's premier re...

premise vs premises

A premise is a proposition that an argument rests on — the premise of the study. Premises means a building and...

prescribe vs proscribe

Prescribe means to lay down as a rule or order officially — a doctor prescribes medicine, a regulation prescri...

present vs prevent

Present means here or now, or a gift, or to show and introduce. Prevent means to stop something happening. <em...

presently vs currently

Currently means at this moment: "she is currently in Berlin." Presently traditionally means soon or shortly: "...

principal vs principle

Principal means main or most important, and also names the person in charge or the original sum of a loan: "th...