Spelling, Vocabulary, and Confusing Words

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Because many words in English sound or look alike, frequently causing confusion, this list will be very helpful.

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a vs. an	Rule. Use a when the first letter of the word following has the sound of a consonant. Keep in mind that some vowels sound like consonants when they’re sounded out as individual letters. Examples: a finger a hotel a U-turn (pronounced You-turn) a HUD program a NASA study Rule. Use an when the first letter of the word following has the sound of a vowel. Remember that some consonants sound like vowels when they’re spoken as individual letters. Examples: an FBI case (F is pronounced ef here) an honor (H is silent here) an unusual idea an HMO plan (H is pronounced aitch here) an NAACP convention (N is pronounced en here) Deciding whether to use a or an before abbreviations can be tricky. The abbreviation for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) causes confusion because it can be pronounced as a word (fak), or one letter at a time (F-A-Q). Using the guidelines above, one would say a FAQ when it is pronounced as one word, and an FAQ when it is pronounced one letter at a time.
accept except	to agree; to receive but, with the exception that
ad add	advertisement to perform addition
ades aides AIDS aids	fruit drinks people who help; assistants acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome helps, assists
adverse averse	unfortunate; strongly opposed (refers to things, not people) Examples: an adverse reaction to the medication adverse weather conditions having repugnance (refers to people) Example: He is averse to a military draft.
advice (noun) advise (verb)	recommendation the act of giving a recommendation
affect vs. effect	Rule 1. Use effect when you mean bring about or brought about, cause or caused. Example: He effected a commotion in the crowd. Meaning: He caused a commotion in the crowd. Rule 2. Use effect when you mean result. Example: What effect did that speech have? Rule 3. Also use effect whenever any of these words precede it: a, an, any, the, take, into, no. These words may be separated from effect by an adjective. Examples: That book had a long-lasting effect on my thinking. Has the medicine produced any noticeable effects? Rule 4. Use the verb affect when you mean to influence rather than to cause. Example: How do the budget cuts affect your staffing? Rule 5. Affect is used as a noun to mean emotional expression. Example: She showed little affect when told she had won the lottery.
ail ale	to be ill; to cause pain or distress malt beverage more bitter than beer
air err heir	what we breathe make a mistake one who inherits something
aisle I’ll isle	passageway contraction for I will a small island
all awl	entire, everything a tool
allot a lot	to parcel out always two words meaning many
allowed aloud	gave permission to said out loud; spoken
all ready already	means all are ready Example: We are all ready to go. refers to time Example: Is it summer already?
all together altogether	refers to a group; all of us or all of them together Example: It is wonderful to be all together to celebrate your birthday. entirely Example: It is not altogether his fault.
altar alter	pedestal, usually religious Example: They exchanged wedding vows at the altar of the church. to modify Example: Please don't alter your plans until we have the final schedule approved.
allude elude illude	to refer indirectly Example: He alluded to his past as a spy. avoid capture Example: The fugitive eluded the police for a month. mislead Example: He illuded her about his age.
allusion illusion	an indirect mention of something false perception
ambiguous ambivalent	to have more than one meaning Example: The law was ambiguous. to have mixed feelings Example: She is ambivalent about her wedding dress.
amicable amiable	friendly (refers to things, not people) friendly (refers to people) Example: The amiable couple had an amicable divorce.
among between	involves three or more Example: Who among us has not lied? involves just two Example: She couldn’t decide between Chinese and Thai food.
amount number	used for things not countable Example: We couldn't handle that amount of ill will. used for things that can be counted Example: The number of accidents increased by ten percent.
ant aunt	a bug the sister of a parent
ante auntie	a bet placed before playing affectionate term for a parent’s sister
anxious eager	to have anxiety or worry Example: She is anxious about taking the test. excited Example: She is eager to get a puppy.
any more anymore	something additional or further Example: It didn’t rain any more this year than last year. any longer, nowadays Example: Harry doesn’t travel anymore.
appraise apprise	to put a value on something to notify
arc ark	arch, crescent, half moon a vessel or a refuge
ascent (noun) assent (noun or verb) consent	movement upward enthusiastic agreement; to agree agreement
assistance (noun) assistants (noun)	help people who help
assumption presumption	an idea not based on evidence an idea based on evidence
assure ensure insure	to promise or say with confidence to make sure something will/won't happen to issue an insurance policy
ate eight	past tense of eat the number after seven
aural oral	having to do with hearing having to do with the mouth
averse	(see adverse)
awed odd	in a state of amazement unusual; opposite of even when referring to numbers
aye eye I	yes organ one sees with pronoun
bald bawled	having no hair cried
ball bawl	a sphere to cry or wail loudly
band banned	a group, sometimes a group of musicians forbidden
bare bear	naked, unconcealed, plain the animal
base bass	the bottom; vulgar; headquarters (singular) low vocal or instrumental range (pronounced like lace); a type of fish (pronounced like lass)
based baste	be dependent or supported to moisten; to criticize or lash out at
bases (noun, verb) basis (noun)	headquarters (plural of base); builds on foundation; belief
be bee	to exist or live insect
beach beech	sandy area with water type of tree with smooth, gray bark
beat beet	to strike violently; to flutter or flap; to pound as with a drum; to defeat; to stir vigorously a plant with a fleshy red or white root
beau bough (noun) bow (noun) bow (noun, verb)	boyfriend (pronounced like owe) branch of a tree (pronounced like cow) part of a set with arrows (pronounced like owe) boat front, a male's form of curtsy, bending at the waist; comply (pronounced like cow)
because vs. since	Rule. Because and since can be used almost interchangeably although because always indicates cause and effect and since is used for a relationship or time. Example: Since I have some extra money, I will buy shoes. (not cause and effect) Example: I will go to the game because my daughter is on the team. (cause and effect) Example: I have wanted to talk to you since yesterday. (time)
been bin	form of be used with has or have container
bell belle	chime or alarm; a signal beautiful or charming woman
berth birth	a boat dock; bedroom or bed being born; beginning
better bettor	of higher quality someone who places bets
between	(see among)
biannual biennial semiannual	twice a year every two years twice a year (same as biannual)
bite byte	to use one’s teeth to tear food computer term for eight bits of information
billed build	charged a fee construct
blew blue	past tense of blow the color
bloc block	a group united for a particular purpose city street; a cube-shaped object
boar bore	male pig someone or something not interesting
board bored	piece of wood; a group of people uninterested
boarder border	someone who pays for room and food perimeter; boundary
bode bowed	predict bent (pronounced like owed)
bold bowled	daring to have gone bowling; knocked over
bolder boulder	more daring a large rock
boos booze	sounds made by disapproving audience alcohol
bough	(see beau)
bow	(see beau)
boy buoy	male child a naval beacon or marker
brake break	stop separate into pieces
bread bred	a food; slang for money past tense of breed; raised
brewed brood (verb, noun)	fermented mull over; a cluster or family
brews bruise	ferments a black-and-blue mark, contusion
bridal bridle	relating to brides a harness, usually for a horse
bring take	you bring something towards you take something away
broach brooch	to raise a topic a bauble; a piece of jewelry
brows browse	the hairs in the arch above the eyes search for, peruse
but butt (noun/verb)	except bottom; joke object; to ram
buy by bye	purchase, acquire near, next to short for goodbye
cache cash	hidden stash money
calendar colander	chart of days and months sieve to drain off liquids
can may	able to permission to
cannon canon	large, mounted gun rule, commandment
canvas canvass	awning cloth, tarp to poll; a poll
capital capitol	assets; essential; main city statehouse
carat caret carrot karat	unit of weight in gemstones a proofreading mark to show insertion (^) edible root a unit for measuring the fineness of gold
cast (noun, verb) caste	group of actors; to throw a social class, a rigid system of social distinctions
cay key quay	a small, low island (also spelled key) a small, low island; instrument for opening locks (pronounced key) wharf, dock, pier
cede seed	to surrender reproductive germ
cell sell	prison room; basic structural unit of an organism to exchange for money
censor (verb, noun) censure sensor	disallow; person who disallows Example: The soldier's letters were censored before mailing. to disapprove of; criticize strongly Example: The children were censured by the principal. a device that measures heat, light, etc. and transmits a signal to a control or measuring instrument
cent scent sent	a penny a smell, aroma transmitted
cereal serial	breakfast food a series or array
chance chants	accident(al) chorus, melody
chased chaste	went after pure, virginal
chews choose	how one eats food with teeth to pick
childish childlike	immature innocent
Chile chili chilly	a country in South America a type of pepper; a dish with peppers in it cold, brisk
choral coral chorale corral	a cappella, singing without instruments material that makes up reefs; orange color a hymn, a choir horse pen
chord cord cored	three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously; line segment joining two points on a curve a rope or strand of flexible material removed the center of something
chute shoot (verb, noun)	an inclined shaft to discharge from a weapon; a stem
cite sight site	to assert; to quote from; to subpoena vision, the power to see a location or position
classic classical	important; fundamental having to do with Greek or Roman antiquity; pertaining to eighteenth-to nineteenth-century music
clause claws	in grammar, a group of words containing a subject and verb; part of a contract an animal’s nails
click clique	a sound a group
climactic climatic	having to do with the climax having to do with the climate
close (verb, adjective) clothes	to shut (pronounced like rose); nearby (pronounced like dose) apparel
coarse course	rough, lacking in fineness of texture; crude a class; a path
colander	(see calendar)
colonel kernel	an officer in the military a seed
complement compliment	completing part of an order praise
confidant confident	someone confided in certain, sure
connote denote	to suggest, imply Example: A growling dog connotes danger. to be a sign of Example: Certain clouds denote rain on the way.
consent	(see assent)
continual continuous	repeated but with breaks in between; chronic Example: The continual problem of our car not starting forced us to sell it. without interruption in an unbroken stream of time or space Example: The continuous dripping of the faucet drove me crazy.
core corps corpse	center or crucial part trained group dead body
cosign cosine	to sign along with a trigonometry term
council counsel (verb, noun)	a group of people meeting for a purpose advise; advice, an attorney
creak creek	a sound a stream
crews cruise	many groups a trip or vacation by sea
criteria criterion	plural of criterion a standard for evaluating or testing something
cue queue	a hint; a stimulus a line of people waiting
currant current	type of small berry up to date
curser cursor	someone who swears or wishes misfortune on another a blinking symbol indicating position on a computer screen Spelling, Vocabulary, and Confusing Words Page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 dam damn a barrier obstructing the flow of liquid a swear word or curse dammed damned blocked from flowing doomed days daze twenty-four-hour periods of time to stun or overwhelm dear deer affectionate term the animal denote (see connote) desert (noun, verb) dessert a desolate area; to abandon extra s for sugary treat desperate disparate lost all hope, in despair entirely dissimilar device (noun) devise (verb) an invention to invent dew do due condensation in the morning to take action owed by a certain date die dye to cease to live; the singular of dice to stain or color using an agent different from vs. different than vs. differently than Rule. Use different from not different than. Example: The weather was different from what we expected. You may use differently than when a clause precedes and follows the expression. Example: He works differently than she does. discreet discrete careful, confidential individual, distinct discussed disgust talked over repulsion does does female deer (plural) (pronounced like hose) a form of to do (pronounced like fuzz) doughs doze unbaked loaves of bread to sleep dual duel two-fold fight eager (see anxious) effect (see affect) e.g. i.e. for example Example: My living expenses have increased, e.g., rent, food, and utilities. that is, in other words Example: My living expenses have drained my finances, i.e., I have less money in the bank at the end of every month. eight (see ate) elicit illicit evoke, extract, draw out illegal elude (see allude) elusive illusive difficult to describe, evasive Example: The point of the novel is elusive to me. plausible or possible; deceptive Example: She had the illusive dream of finding happiness by traveling. (plausible, possible) Example: She had an illusive idea that she was qualified for the job. (deceptive, delusional) emigrate immigrate to exit one country in order to live in another country to enter a new country to live empathy sympathy to understand another's feelings to feel compassion or sadness for another ensure (see assure) epic epoch saga a period of time, an age err (see air) every day (every, adjective; day, noun) everyday (adjective) each day Example: I learn something new every day. ordinary Example: These are my everyday clothes. except (see accept) eye (see aye) facts fax objective data short for facsimile; technology that sends images by phone faint feint to go unconscious pretense fair (adjective, noun) fare impartial; an exhibition payment or expense for travel fairy ferry imaginary being possessing magical powers type of boat farther refers to physical distance only Example: We had to walk farther than the map indicated. further (adverb, adj.) refers to physical distance like farther; moreover; in addition; to a greater extent Examples: We need to discuss this further. Nothing could be further from the truth. We had to walk further. further (verb) To help forward, advance, or promote a work, undertaking, cause, etc. Example: Elisa had more desire to further her own interests than to further the mission of the organization. faux foe fake, imitation enemy, opponent faze phase to perturb or fluster a period or situation feat feet an extraordinary act or accomplishment twelve-inch increments; appendages at end of legs feted fetid celebrated, honored noxious, gross fewer less under refers to a number that can be counted Example: Fewer days off. refers to an uncountable amount Example: Less rain, less fear. used for direction Example: Under the mattress, not under $100. find fined discover penalized fir fur type of tree hairy coat of an animal flair flare style erupt flea flee insect to run away flew flu flue past tense of fly, to have moved through the air with wings a virus part of a chimney floe flow sheet of floating ice pour, proceed, spew flour flower grain the bloom of a plant for fore four preposition ahead the number after three forego forgo to go in front of, precede to do without foreword forward introduction to a book written by someone other than the author opposite of backward fort forte a military fortification someone’s strong point, talent forth fourth forward number after third foul fowl offensive, disgusting certain birds frees freeze frieze releases to make cold a decorative band on the wall further (see farther) gait gate a manner of walking or stepping, stride Examples: trotting, galloping, limping barrier gilt guilt gold-covered blame gone went used with has or have Examples: Ella has gone to the store. Barry and Ella have gone to the beach. past tense of go Examples: Ella went to the store. Barry and Ella went to the beach. gored gourd stabbed with a horn or tusk hard-shelled fruit gorilla guerrilla largest of the apes soldier using surprise raids; irregular tactics graft graphed attach; acquisition of money dishonestly diagrammed grate great a cover or partition of parallel or crossed bars excellent grill grille method of cooking; barbecuing an openwork barrier for a gate groan grown a low, mournful sound of pain or grief to have increased in size guessed guest conjectured, offered an opinion company, honoree guise guys appearance or assumed appearance men hair hare what grows on one’s head and body rabbit hall haul passageway or large room to pull, drag, or lower halve have divide into two to possess hangar hanger shed or shelter for housing airplanes something to hang a garment on in the closet haut/haute hoe high-class, fancy as in haute couture (pronounced oh or oht) flat-bladed gardening tool have vs. of should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve are contractions for should have, could have, and would have. No such wording as should of, could of, would of hay hey dried grass interjection used to call attention heal heel to alleviate or cure back part of the foot; scoundrel healthful healthy something that promotes health Example: Organic food is thought to be healthful. to have good health hear here to listen; to give an official hearing in this spot heard herd listened a flock of animals heir (see air) heroin heroine a narcotic derived from morphine female admired for courage or ability hi high a greeting, informal for hello elevated higher hire more elevated to pay for services him hymn pronoun referring to male person or animal song in praise of religious deity hoard horde stockpile, amass a large group, crowd hoarse horse cracked voice animal hoes hose flat-bladed gardening tools a flexible tube for conveying liquid hole whole an opening entire, complete holy wholly religious entirely, completely hostel hostile boarding house or inexpensive lodging antagonistic hour our sixty minutes possessive pronoun I (see aye) idle idol idyll or idyl not active; unemployed someone admired interlude, breathing space; romance, fairy tale i.e. (see e.g.) I'll (see aisle) illicit (see elicit) illude (see allude) illusion (see allusion) illusive (see elusive) immigrate (see emigrate) imply infer to indicate without being explicit to conclude from evidence in inn preposition; inside small hotel inc. ink abbreviation for incorporated fluid in pens incite insight to prompt to action understanding, comprehension incredible incredulous astonishing Example: Her gymnastic moves were incredible. skeptical Example: Citizens are incredulous about the reason for the increase in the price of gas. ingenious ingenuous clever naive or simple innocence innocents to be without guilt people who are without guilt insure (see assure) irregardless regardless no such word exists in spite of, without regard isle (see aisle) it's its contraction for it is or it has Example: It’s for a good cause. possessive pronoun Example: The cat hurt its paw. jewel joule gem in physics, a unit of work or energy karat (see carat) kernel (see colonel) key (see cay) knead kneed need work with bread dough hit with one’s knee to require knew new past tense of know, to have understood opposite of old knight night a soldier in the Middle Ages period between sunset and sunrise knot not interlacing of cord or rope used to express negation know no understand, comprehend a negative to express dissent knows nose understands part of the body one smells with Spelling, Vocabulary, and Confusing Words Page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 lacks lax is deficient in slack, easy-going ladder latter the thing with rungs that you climb the second of two Example: If given a choice between vanilla and chocolate ice cream, I'll take the latter. lain lane past participle of lie as in lie down narrow road or passage lay vs. lie lay vs. lie chart Present Past Participle (A Form of Have) To recline lie, lying lay has/have/had lain To put or place (verb followed by an object) lay, laying laid has/have/had laid To tell a falsehood lie, lying lied has/have/had lied Examples in the Present Tense: I like to lie down for a nap at 2:00 p.m. I am lying down for a nap today. The hens lay eggs. The hen is laying eggs. I am tempted to lie about my age. I am not lying about my age. Examples in the Past Tense: I lay down for a nap yesterday at 2:00 p.m. The hen laid two eggs yesterday. He lied on the witness stand. Examples with a Participle (has, have): I have lain down for a nap every day this week. The hen has laid two eggs every day this week. He has lied each day on the witness stand. lead led a metal element (pronounced like red); present tense of led (pronounced like seed) guided, past tense of to lead leak leek unintended discharge of liquid or gas type of onion lean (adjective, verb) lien not fatty; to incline a claim on property to secure debt payment leased least rented smallest in size or amount less (see fewer) lessen lesson to make less a unit to be learned or studied lie lye a falsehood; present tense of lie down (see lay vs. lie chart above) a caustic substance lightening lightning to make lighter a brilliant electric spark in the sky loan lone something lent for temporary use only, solitary loose lose opposite of tight opposite of win; misplace Mach mock (adjective, verb) ratio with the speed of sound: Mach 1 = the speed of sound Mach 2 = twice the speed of sound artificial; ridicule made maid created cleaning lady mail male correspondence masculine; opposite of female main mane primary, chief, leading long hair on the back of a horse or lion maize maze corn labyrinth mall maul plaza, focal point abuse, claw manner manor behavior palatial residence marquee marquis canopy, shelter; projection over a theater entrance aristocrat, nobleman marry merry to wed cheerful marshal (verb, noun) martial assemble; a judge militant, aggressive may (see can) meat meet (verb, noun) mete animal flesh used for food to connect, touch; an event administer, allot medal meddle decoration, badge to interfere unwantedly metal mettle earth element boldness mind (noun, verb) mined intelligence; obey excavated to extract ores miner minor (noun, adjective) one who excavates to extract ores someone under legal age; small missed mist failed to hit fog, fine spray moan mown lament; sound of suffering cut grass mode mowed method, manner to have cut grass mood mooed an emotional state the sound a cow made moose mousse an animal type of dessert morning mourning start of the day, between night and afternoon sorrow over someone’s death muscle mussel fibrous tissue edible marine bivalve mustard mustered yellow condiment assembled, gathered naval navel pertaining to ships belly button, umbilicus need (see knead) new (see knew) night (see knight) no (see know) none nun not one, not any female member of a religious order nose (see knows) not (see knot) number (see amount) oar or ore a blade for rowing conjunction metal-bearing mineral or rock odd (see awed) of (see have) on to vs. onto Use onto if you can add up before on. Examples: He climbed (up) onto the roof. She held on to her child in the crowd. one won single unit past tense of win oral (see aural) ordinance ordnance a law military weapons and ammunition our (see hour) overdo overdue to do to excess past due packed pact past tense of pack an agreement or treaty pail pale bucket lacking color pain pane physical or emotional suffering a plate of glass or panel pair pare pear two of something to remove or peel type of fruit palate pallet palette roof of the mouth; taste a low, portable platform a range of colors; a board to hold and mix colors passed past past tense of pass the time before the present patience patients willingness to wait people under medical care pause paws a temporary stop animal feet peace piece calm a portion of something peak peek pique top of a mountain glance furtively to wound someone’s pride or to excite interest pealed peeled rang bells removed a layer pedal peddle foot-operated lever to sell, hawk, or dispense peer pier person who is an equal a structure extending out over water perpetrate perpetuate to commit, as in a crime to prolong or sustain Example: The myth that the sun revolved around the earth was perpetuated for centuries. phase (see faze) pi pie 3.1416, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter baked food filled with fruit or meat pistil pistol female organ of a flower type of gun plain (adjective, noun) plane not fancy; evident; simple; treeless area of land a flat or level surface; short for airplane pleas please cries for help; appeals a polite word; to satisfy plum plumb a type of fruit perpendicular pole poll a long, cylindrical piece of wood or metal a collection of opinions; survey pore pour small hole to send liquid flowing praise prays preys express approval makes requests to God hunts for food; victimizes precedence precedents presidents priority examples, criteria chief executives presence presents (noun, verb) appearance, being present gifts; offers presumption (see assumption) pries prize looks closely; wedges open award or reward principal (noun, adjective) principle head of school; chief; of first importance fundamental belief profit prophet gain predictor, seer pros prose professionals, experts literature quarts quartz units of liquid measure (four quarts to a gallon) a mineral quay (see cay) queue (see cue) rain reign rein water that falls in drops from the sky rule, administration bit, harness raise raze lift up flatten, tear down completely rap (noun, verb) wrap a type of music; to strike sharply to enclose in a covering rapped rapt wrapped struck sharply fascinated enclosed in a covering read red present and past tenses of to comprehend writing a color real reel actual, authentic stumble, falter recede reseed to move back, withdraw to seed again reek wreak to smell bad to cause trouble wreak havoc regardless (see irregardless) rest wrest relax take from retch wretch vomit lowly being, scoundrel review revue survey a satirical show right rite write correct; opposite of left ritual, ceremony to compose letters or words ring wring sound of a bell; jewelry worn around a finger to twist road rode rowed street, path, highway past tense of ride past tense of row roe row fish eggs aisle (pronounced like oh); propel with an oar (pronounced like oh); fight (pronounced like wow) role roll (noun, verb) part in a play or film a bun; to rotate roomer rumor one who rents a room innuendo, gossip root rout route base of a plant defeat (pronounced rowt) path (pronounced like root or rowt) rot wrought decay, decompose accomplished rote wrote by memory, formula past tense of write rude rued impolite, unmannerly regretted, repented rye wry seed from a grain mocking, ironic, droll Spelling, Vocabulary, and Confusing Words Page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 sacks sax large bags saxophone saver savor one who saves to appreciate a taste scene seen a view, a setting to have viewed with eyes scent (see cent) sea see a body of salt water to view with eyes seam seem line formed by pieces of fabric sewn together appear sear seer sere scorch, burn, or char one who sees (as in the future) withered, dry seas sees seize bodies of salt water views with eyes to grab hold of seed (see cede) sell (see cell) semiannual (see biannual) sensor (see censor) sent (see cent) serf surf (noun, verb) slave breaking waves; to ride a surfboard serial (see cereal) set sit one sets a thing Example: Please set the table. one sits oneself Example: Please sit down at the table. sew so sow to stitch in the manner indicated to scatter or plant seed sewer suer a conduit for carrying off waste one who sues shear sheer to cut transparent shoe shoo foot attire interjection used to scare away an animal shoot (see chute) sic sick a Latin term used to indicate that something written is intentionally left in the original form, which may be incorrect. Example: She wrote, "They made there [sic] beds." ill sics six attacks a number sight (see cite) sign sine an indication a trigonometry term since see because sink synch or sync to submerge; to descend to a lower level; where you wash dirty clothes to synchronize, to coincide or match up site (see cite) slay sleigh kill snow vehicle, sled sleight slight cunning, skill slender, of little substance slew slough past tense of slay swamp (pronounced slew or slau) soar sore to fly at great height in pain soared sword flew at great height a bladed weapon sole soul bottom of foot; lone the spiritual part of humans some sum a certain unspecified number the total from adding numbers son sun male offspring star that is the central body of the solar system sonny sunny diminutive of son lit or warmed by the sun; cheerful spade spayed digging tool to have removed the ovaries of an animal staid stayed solemn, serious remained, waited stair stare step to look without blinking stake steak a pole cut of meat stationary stationery in one place writing paper steal steel (noun, adjective) rob iron alloy; determined step (verb, noun) steppe moving by lifting the foot; degree vast grasslands stile style turnstile, passageway fashion straight strait not curved or bent narrow passage of water connecting two bodies of water succor sucker relief, assistance fool suede swayed leather finished with a soft, napped surface past tense of sway; persuaded suite sweet a connected series of rooms opposite of sour summary summery an abstract or brief account of the summer sundae Sunday ice cream with syrup day of the week sympathy (see empathy) tacks tax short nails percent of earnings paid to the government tail tale hindmost animal appendage story take (see bring) tare tear (verb) allowance for the weight of packaging rip, pull apart taught taut past tense of teach tightly stretched tea tee a beverage a peg from which a golf ball is hit team teem group playing on the same side in a game swarm tear (noun) tier salt water coming from eyes when sad (pronounced like ear) a row or layer tense tents nervous strain portable shelters used for camping than then used for comparison indicates time, answers when their there they're possessive pronoun location contraction for they are threw through past tense of throw in one end and out the other throes throws agonizing struggles tosses, hurls throne thrown royal seat or office was tossed thyme time herb of the mint family past, present, future sequences of events ticks tics parasites; sounds of a clock facial twitches tide tied ebb and flow of the ocean past tense of tie to too two in the direction of, toward; used with the infinitive form of verbs (to go, to run, to hit) also, to an extensive degree Example: It is too hot to jog. the number after one toad toed towed similar to a frog having a toe pulled, hauled told tolled said sounded a bell tort torte a breach of contract a rich cake made with little or no flour tracked tract followed an extended area of land; a political or religious pamphlet troop troupe a body of soldiers a group of traveling performers vain vane vein excessively concerned about one’s appearance a blade moved by wind as in weather vane blood vessel vary very to change or alter extremely verses versus lines of poetry as compared to another choice; against vial vile small container for holding liquids repulsive, depraved vice vise bad habit; immoral practice device used to hold an object firmly wade weighed to walk through water to have put on a scale wail whale mournful cry marine mammal waist waste narrowest part of the human torso (usually) to squander or spend uselessly wait weight to be available or ready quantity of heaviness or mass waiver waver a relinquishment of some right to feel indecisive; vary warn worn to notify carried on the body; deteriorated warrantee warranty person who is given a written guarantee written guarantee way weigh direction to measure mass weak week lacking strength seven days starting with Sunday wear where to carry on the body in what place? weather whether state of the atmosphere in a location if weave we've to interlace thread or yarn to make a fabric contraction for we have went (see gone) were we're past tense of are contraction for we are wheeled wield moved on wheels to exercise power; to handle a weapon effectively which witch what one? sorceress while wile during or in the time that a trick to fool, trap, or entice whine wine complaining cry fermented grape juice that becomes an alcoholic beverage whined wind wined past tense of whine, complained what one does to keep a watch ticking on time (pronounced like kind); air current (pronounced like sinned) to supply with wine whirled world whorled spun rapidly planet Earth shaped like a coil whole (see hole) wholly (see holy) who's whose contraction for who is Example: Who’s at the door? possessive case of who Example: Whose coat is this? won (see one) wont (adjective, noun) won't accustomed; habit contraction for will not wood would tree trunk material expressing an intention Example: I would if I could. wrap (see rap) wrapped (see rapt) wreak (see reek) wrest (see rest) wretch (see retch) wring (see ring) write (see right) wrote (see rote) wrought (see rot) wry (see rye) yoke yolk harness for oxen yellow center of an egg yore you're your long past contraction for you are possessive pronoun