Commonly confused words

sensible vs sensitive

Sensible means practical and showing good judgement — "take a coat, that's the sensible thing to do". Sensitiv...

sensual vs sensuous

Sensual relates to physical gratification, often with a sexual implication. Sensuous relates to pleasing the s...

separation of powers vs checks and balances

Separation of powers divides government into branches with distinct functions. Checks and balances gives each...

several vs severe

Several answers the question "how many?" — it means more than two but not a great number: "I've sent several e...

shade vs shadow

<em>Shade</em> is an area sheltered from direct sunlight — you sit in it, and it has no particular outline: "W...

shall vs will

The traditional rule: use shall with I and we for the plain future, and will for the other persons — reversing...

shamrock vs clover

Clover is the plant — a genus with many species. Shamrock is not a separate species: it is a young three-leave...

shear vs sheer

To shear is to cut — shearing sheep, and in engineering a shear force. Sheer means utter (sheer nonsense), ver...

shogun vs emperor

In Japan the emperor was the hereditary sovereign and religious head of state, while the shogun was the milita...

shrunk vs shrank

Shrank is the simple past and stands alone: "the jumper shrank in the wash." Shrunk is the past participle and...

sickness vs illness

They overlap heavily and are often interchangeable. Illness is the general term for being unwell, and is the c...

sight vs site

Sight is about seeing — the sense itself, or something you look at: "her sight is failing", "the harbour at du...

significant other vs girlfriend

Significant other is a deliberately neutral term covering any committed partner, without specifying gender, ma...

silica vs silicon

Silicon is the chemical element, symbol Si — the semiconductor that chips are made from. Silica is a compound...

similar vs similarly

Similar is an adjective and describes a thing: "a similar problem". Similarly is an adverb and describes how s...

simple vs simplistic

Simple means uncomplicated, and is usually a compliment: a simple explanation is a clear one. Simplistic means...

skinny vs slim

Both mean thin, but the tone differs sharply. Slim is a compliment — "she has a slim, athletic build" — while...

soar vs sore

To soar is to fly high or rise sharply — prices soared, an eagle soaring. Sore means painful, and as a noun a...

sociopath vs psychopath

Neither is a current clinical diagnosis. Both are popular terms loosely associated with antisocial personality...

sole vs soul

Sole means <em>only</em>, and also names the underside of a foot or shoe: <em>She was the sole survivor</em>;...

somebody vs someone

There is no difference in meaning — someone and somebody are interchangeable in almost every sentence, and bot...

someone vs somebody

Identical in meaning — both refer to an unspecified person, and both take a singular verb. Someone is marginal...

sometime vs sometimes

Sometime means at an unspecified point in time, referring to one occasion: "Let's meet sometime next week." So...

sometime vs some time

Sometime as one word means at an unspecified point — let's meet sometime. Some time as two words means a perio...