If you read our previous article Most Commonly Confused Words In Usage (Part 1), then you are in for a ride of another list as such. If you have not yet, click here to read it now, and then come back to this one. We have included a few variations in this list, hoping that it would help your vocabulary feel uplifted and advanced. Let’s delve right in.
Confused Words List 2
1. Sensuous and Sensual
As we said, this list does have some variations. Most often, people do mix the use of the words Sensuous and Sensual. Sensual means pertaining to senses; for example, We should not give a loose reign to our sensual desires. Sensuous means something that gives pleasure to the senses. For example, Keat’s poetry is sensuous and picturesque.
2. Popular and Populous
People usually tend to mix up the use of these confused words pair. Popular as we all know means famous; Ray is the most popular boy in his class because of his amicable disposition. Populous means crowded or full of people. New York has become a very populous city in the United States.
3. Historic and Historical
While Historical is the word most people want to go for when they want to refer to something that relates to history, they end up using Historic which means something that is famous in history. Let us understand the difference with the help of examples. It was a historic day when our form became independent of third-party interference and Many events of historical importance may not influence political life at all.
4. Canvas and Canvass
This confused words pair is not amongst the variations in this list and is much similar to the ones in the previous list. The words sound very similar to one another but for the addition of the letter ‘s’ in the spelling that makes them different. Canvas is a type of cloth; for example, He painted a beautiful picture on a piece of canvas. Canvass means to seek votes; for example, Every candidate goes about canvassing before the elections.
5. Apprehend and Comprehend
When you look these words up, you might find them as synonyms of the word ‘understand’. Even so, they do have slightly different meanings. Apprehend refers to fear; I apprehended sinister designs on his part against this institution. Comprehend means to understand; I could not exactly comprehend what he meant to say.
6. Bridal and Bridle
Not many would be aware of the word Bridle and would usually use it in place of Bridal. Bridal means something pertaining to the ground. For example, All her relatives were present in the bridal chamber on the occasion of the ceremony. Bridle has nothing to do with a bride; it rather means to check. We should bridle our desires if we want to be happy in life.
7. Continual and Continuous
Yes, these words to form from the word ‘continue’, and that is why people tend to mix their uses. This is one reason why this pair of confused words finds its way on this list. Continual means frequent, while continuous means without any break. Let us take a look at their examples; There was a continual exchange of messengers between the two nations during the war. He had continuous pain in his stomach for two hours.
8. Contagious and Infectious
If you are wondering, “Is there even a difference between the two?”, then yes, there is! Contagious stands for the virus that transfers my contact. For example, Small-pox is a contagious disease. Infectious on the other hand stands for the virus transferred by air or water. Cholera is an infectious disease. No wonder it is amongst the confused words.
If you liked learning about these words, let us know in the comment section below, so that we can bring you more of these. It is kind of fun to know the differences between confused words that we often tend to misuse. Let us correct that from hereon.
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