Commonly confused words

probable vs possible

Possible means it could happen. Probable means it is likely to. Everything probable is possible; most possible...

professor vs processor

A professor is a senior university teacher. A processor is the chip that runs a computer, or a machine that pr...

profit vs revenue

Revenue is the total money a business brings in from sales before anything is deducted; profit is what is left...

profit vs prophet

A <strong>profit</strong> is what you have left after costs, or more loosely any benefit: <em>the café turned...

proletariat vs bourgeoisie

Terms from Marxist analysis for two classes defined by their relationship to productive property. The bourgeoi...

prophecy vs prophesy

Prophecy with a C is the noun: a prediction. Prophesy with an S is the verb: to make one. Unlike practice/prac...

prostate vs prostrate

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. Prostrate, with the extra R, means lying face down —...

protest vs protect

Protest is to object, publicly or strongly — <em>protest against the cuts</em>, <em>a protest march</em>. Prot...

proton vs electron

Both are subatomic particles with opposite charges. A proton is positive and sits in the nucleus with the neut...

provided vs providing

Used as conjunctions, they mean the same thing — "on condition that". <em>Provided that the weather holds, we'...

Prussia vs Germany

Prussia was a state that no longer exists; Germany is the country that partly grew out of it. Prussia was the...

psychoanalysis vs psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the umbrella term for talking therapies of every kind. Psychoanalysis is one specific traditi...

psychologist vs therapist

Psychologist is a protected professional title requiring a psychology degree and, for clinical work, postgradu...

psychologist vs psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a qualified medical doctor who then specialised in mental health, and can prescribe medicati...

purpose vs propose

Purpose is the noun: the reason something exists or is done. Propose is the verb: to put a plan, an idea, a to...

purposely vs purposefully

Purposely means on purpose — deliberately rather than by accident. Purposefully means with evident determinati...

quality vs qualify

Quality is a noun: how good something is, or a feature it has. Qualify is a verb: to meet the requirements for...

quality vs quantity

Quality is how good something is, or a characteristic it has: <em>The build quality is excellent.</em> Quantit...

quasar vs pulsar

A quasar is the extremely luminous core of a distant galaxy, powered by matter falling into a supermassive bla...

quid pro quo vs bribery

A quid pro quo is any exchange of one thing for another — the phrase is neutral and describes ordinary contrac...

quiet vs quite

Quiet describes low noise or calm — "the library was quiet all morning". Quite is an adverb of degree meaning...

quote vs quotation

Traditionally quote is the verb and quotation the noun: you quote someone, and the result is a quotation. Quot...

rain vs reign

Rain is water falling from the sky, or a heavy fall of anything: "The rain started before we reached the car."...

raise vs rise

Raise always acts on something else: you raise your hand, raise a child, raise the rent. Rise happens by itsel...