Commonly confused words

sonar vs radar

Sonar uses sound waves and works underwater, where radio waves are absorbed almost immediately. Radar uses rad...

sonata vs concerto

A sonata is written for a solo instrument, either alone or with piano accompaniment. A concerto sets a soloist...

sonic vs supersonic

Sonic simply relates to sound — sonic waves, a sonic boom. Supersonic means travelling faster than the speed o...

sorcery vs witchcraft

The distinction is traditional rather than fixed. Sorcery usually implies magic worked through learned techniq...

Spaniard vs Spanish

Spaniard is a noun naming a person from Spain. Spanish is the adjective — Spanish food, Spanish history — and...

sputum vs mucus

Mucus is the general secretion produced by mucous membranes throughout the body — airways, gut, eyes and elsew...

stairwell vs staircase

A staircase is the stairs themselves — the flight of steps with its handrails. A stairwell is the vertical sha...

stake vs steak

A steak is a thick slice of meat or fish you cook and eat — "he ordered the steak rare". A stake is a pointed...

stalactite vs stalagmite

Stalactites hang from the ceiling; stalagmites rise from the ground. The letters give it away: stalaCtite has...

stationary vs stationery

Stationary with an A means not moving — a stationary vehicle. Stationery with an E means writing materials: pa...

statue vs statute

A statue is a sculpted figure of a person or animal — "a bronze statue of Queen Victoria stands in the square"...

steal vs steel

Steal is a verb meaning to take something that isn't yours: "someone tried to steal my bike." Steel is the met...

stipend vs salary

A salary is regular payment for work under an employment contract, with the rights and deductions that come wi...

straight vs strait

Straight means without bends or deviation. Strait means narrow or constricted — a strait of water, a straitjac...

strategy vs tactics

Strategy is what you are trying to achieve and why that route will work: <em>Our strategy is to win the mid-ma...

stripped vs striped

Stripped is the past of strip — to remove a covering: "the walls were stripped." Striped means marked with str...

subconsciously vs unconsciously

Subconsciously means happening below the level of awareness while you are awake and functioning — a subconscio...

subsequently vs consequently

Subsequently means afterwards and says nothing about why: "he resigned; subsequently the share price fell." Co...

succubus vs incubus

Two forms of the same folkloric idea, distinguished by position and by which sex they visit. A succubus is a f...

suit vs suite

A suit is a matching jacket and trousers, a category of playing cards, or a legal action: "He wore a navy suit...

suitcase vs luggage

A suitcase is one item — a rectangular case you pack clothes into. Luggage is the collective word for everythi...

summary vs summery

A summary is a brief account of something longer. Summery is an adjective meaning suggestive of summer — a sum...

surname vs maiden name

A surname is a family name — the part shared with relatives, as opposed to a given name. A maiden name is spec...

systematic vs systemic

Systematic means methodical — carried out according to a plan or system. Systemic means affecting an entire sy...