Commonly confused words

can vs may

<em>Can</em> is mainly about ability: 'She can swim a mile.' <em>May</em> is about permission or possibility:...

can't vs cannot

They mean the same thing. Can't is the contraction and belongs in speech and ordinary writing; cannot is the f...

canal vs channel

A canal is a waterway constructed by people, dug for boats or for irrigation: "The barge came up the Grand Uni...

cannon vs canon

A <em>cannon</em>, with two Ns, is a large mounted gun: "They fired the cannon at noon." A <em>canon</em>, wit...

canvas vs canvass

Canvas with one S is the heavy cloth — a painter's canvas, canvas shoes. Canvass with two S is a verb meaning...

capability vs competency

Capability is the capacity to do something — including potential not yet realised. Competency is demonstrated...

capability vs ability

Ability is what someone can already do: "she has the ability to read music". Capability is the capacity to do...

capital vs capitol

Capitol, spelt with an o, refers only to a building where a legislature meets. Capital, with an a, covers ever...

cappuccino vs latte

Both are espresso with steamed milk; the ratio is the difference. A cappuccino is traditionally equal thirds e...

caribou vs deer

Deer is the family; caribou is one species within it — the same animal Europeans call reindeer. Caribou is the...

caribou vs reindeer

They are the same species, Rangifer tarandus. In Europe and Asia they are called reindeer; in North America, w...

cast vs caste

Cast means to throw, and names the performers in a play or film, and the plaster support for a broken bone. Ca...

cause vs cos

Cause is a complete word meaning the thing that produces a result, or a movement people support — "the cause o...

cavalry vs calvary

Cavalry means troops on horseback, and now armoured units that inherited the role. Calvary is the hill outside...

cemetery vs graveyard

A graveyard sits in the grounds of a church and is tied to that congregation. A cemetery is an independent bur...

censure vs censor

To censure is to express formal disapproval — a committee censures a member. To censor is to suppress or remov...

ceramics vs pottery

Ceramics is the broad category — anything made from fired clay or similar non-metallic minerals, including til...

cervix vs uterus

The cervix is part of the uterus, not a separate organ. The uterus is the whole muscular structure; the cervix...

charity vs clarity

Charity is help for those in need, or an organisation that provides it. Clarity is the quality of being clear....

chauvinist vs misogynist

A misogynist hates or despises women. A chauvinist believes their own group is superior — the word originally...

check vs czech

Check is the everyday verb and noun meaning to examine, verify or hold back — "check the dates before you send...

chef vs chief

A chef is a trained cook, usually one in charge of a professional kitchen: "The chef changes the menu every mo...

childish vs childlike

Childish is a criticism: immature, petulant, behaving worse than an adult should. Childlike is a compliment: h...

chlamydia vs gonorrhea

Two different bacterial infections, both sexually transmitted, frequently confused because they cause similar...