Commonly confused words

credible vs credulous

Credible describes something believable — a credible account. Credulous describes a person who believes too re...

criteria vs criterion

Criterion is singular — one criterion. Criteria is plural — several criteria. "The main criteria is cost" is t...

cue vs queue

A cue is a signal or prompt — an actor waits for their cue — and also the stick used in snooker. A queue is a...

custodian vs janitor

In the building sense the two are largely interchangeable, with custodian the more formal job title, especiall...

custom vs habit

A custom is a practice a community shares and expects: "It is the custom here to bring flowers on the first vi...

cyborg vs android

A cyborg starts as a living organism and has artificial parts added — the biology comes first. An android is a...

cyclone vs hurricane

They are the same kind of storm with different regional names. A tropical cyclone is called a hurricane in the...

dairy vs diary

Dairy relates to milk — dairy products, a dairy farm. A diary is a book in which you record daily events or ap...

dam vs damn

A dam is a barrier that holds back water: "Beavers built a dam across the stream." Damn is a mild swear word,...

dear vs deer

Dear means beloved or precious, and it is how letters begin: "Dear Sarah, thanks for the photos." A deer is th...

decent vs descent

Decent means respectable, adequate or kind — a decent meal, a decent person. Descent means a downward movement...

deduce vs deduct

To deduce is to reach a conclusion by reasoning from evidence — Holmes deduces the answer. To deduct is to sub...

defence vs defense

There is no difference in meaning — only in spelling by region. <em>Defence</em> is standard in Britain, Irela...

definite vs definitive

Definite means clear, fixed and certain — a definite answer, a definite date. Definitive means conclusive and...

defuse vs diffuse

To defuse is to remove the danger from something — literally removing a fuse from a bomb, figuratively calming...

dementia vs senility

Dementia is a clinical term for a group of conditions causing progressive decline in memory and thinking. Seni...

Denmark vs Netherlands

Two separate northern European countries that are not neighbours — Germany sits between them. Denmark speaks D...

dependant vs dependent

In British English, a dependant with an A is a person who relies on you, and dependent with an E is the adject...

desert vs dessert

Dessert, with two S, is the sweet course at the end of a meal. Desert, with one, is arid land — or, as a verb...

despite vs dispute

Despite is a preposition meaning in spite of — <em>despite the rain, we went</em>. Dispute is a verb meaning t...

detection vs detention

Detection is discovering something hidden. Detention is holding someone in custody — or keeping a pupil behind...

deuterium vs hydrogen

Deuterium is hydrogen — specifically an isotope of it. Ordinary hydrogen has one proton and no neutron; deuter...

device vs devise

A device is a thing: a tool, gadget or scheme. To devise is to invent or plan one. The pattern is reliable in...

diary vs journal

A <em>diary</em> is a dated record of what happened, usually written up day by day: <em>She kept a diary every...