Confusing Word Pairs
Transcription Definition 1 Definition 2
to agree to take or
accept except /əkˈsept/ /ɪkˈsept/ not including
allow
affect effect /əˈfekt/ /ɪˈfekt/ to influence (v) the result (n)
advice advise /ədˈvaɪs/ /ədˈvaɪz/ suggestion (n) to suggest (v)
completes or goes
complement compliment /ˈkɒmplɪment/ a nice remark
well with
discreet discrete /dɪˈskriːt/ careful, tactful separate, distinct
eminent imminent /ˈemɪnənt/ /ˈɪmɪnənt/ famous, respected about to happen
/ˌeksɪˈbɪʃən/
exhibition expedition public show journey for research
/ˌekspəˈdɪʃən/
of great height (vertical)
high tall far above ground level
usually about people
/ɪnˈdʒiːniəs/
ingenious ingenuous clever, inventive naïve, honest
/ɪnˈdʒenjuəs/
/ɪˈreləvənt/
irrelevant irreverent not related disrespectful
/ɪˈrevərənt/
training or repetition to do something regularly
practice practise /ˈpræktɪs/
(n) (v, BrE)
/ˈprɪnsəpəl/ school head / most
principal principle rule or belief
/ˈprɪnsəpl/ important
stationary stationery /ˈsteɪʃənəri/ not moving paper, pens etc.
lose loose /luːz/ /luːs/ to misplace or not win not tight
dessert desert /dɪˈzɜːt/ /ˈdezət/ sweet dish dry land / to abandon
bare bear /beə(r)/ uncovered animal / to carry, endure
Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct word from the pair in brackets:
1. The research team is on an __________ to the Arctic. (exhibition / expedition)
2. The walls were completely __________, with no paint or wallpaper. (bare / bear)
3. That comment is completely __________. Let’s stay on topic. (irrelevant / irreverent)
4. She climbed a very __________ rock to get a better view. (high / tall)
5. He gave me a nice __________ on my haircut. (complement / compliment)
6. He created an __________ way to lock the door with magnets. (ingenious / ingenuous)
7. You need a lot of __________ to become a good pianist. (practice / practise)
8. Everyone was there __________ Sam — he had to work late. (accept / except)
9. She’s the school __________ and also teaches maths. (principal / principle)
10. This screw is too __________ — it won’t hold. (lose / loose)
11. Try to be more __________ about your colleague’s mistake. (discreet / discrete)
12. The building isn’t very __________, but it is quite wide. (high / tall)
13. The new law had a huge __________ on small businesses. (affect / effect)
14. I __________ my speaking skills every day. (practice / practise)
15. I strongly __________ you to speak with a lawyer. (advice / advise)
16. They crossed the __________ on camels. (dessert / desert)
17. The forecast says rain is __________. Better take an umbrella. (eminent / imminent)
18. These are two __________ problems, so let’s discuss them separately. (discreet / discrete)
19. She’s so __________ — she believed everything he said. (ingenious / ingenuous)
20. This car remained __________ at the traffic lights. (stationary / stationery)
21. Can you buy some __________ for the office — we need envelopes. (stationary / stationery)
22. Can you give me some __________ about applying for a job? (advice / advise)
23. Be careful not to __________ your passport at the airport. (lose / loose)
24. His jokes are funny but sometimes __________ toward religion. (irrelevant / irreverent)
25. Those shoes really __________ your dress. (complement / compliment)
26. I’m happy to __________ your invitation to speak at the conference. (accept / except)
27. It’s a matter of __________ — I won’t lie. (principal / principle)
28. The storm didn’t __________ our area, luckily. (affect / effect)
29. I can’t __________ this pain any longer. (bare / bear)
30. He’s an __________ artist — well known around the world. (eminent / imminent)
31. We visited a fascinating __________ on Roman art. (exhibition / expedition)
32. I’d like some ice cream for __________, please. (dessert / desert)
