Confusing Words
Confusing words are words that are very similar and commonly confused. Choose the correct word to
complete the question. Each question has only one correct answer.
Q1: The _________ applauded enthusiastically after the performance was finished.
( audience / spectators )
Q2: I haven't seen him _________ over five years. ( since / for )
Q3: __________ the fact that it was difficult, the exam also included questions that we
had never studied before.( besides / beside )
Q4: I told my boss that I wanted a big __________. ( rise / raise )
Q5: The article's ____________ read "Politician Wants Answers".( title / headline )
Q6: His opinion had no _____________ on my decision. ( effect / affect )
Q7: He __________ down for a short nap. ( lay / lie )
Q8: Could you give me the ____________ for that wonderful dessert? ( receipt / recipe )
Q9: Please finish your work _______________ five o'clock. ( by / until )
Q10: He was cooking dinner ______________ the football match. ( while / during )
Q11: Could you go to the store and get me some __________? ( stationary / stationery )
Q12: I need to _____________ a new button onto my shirt. ( sow / sew )
Q13: You will find the book ___________ the lamp on the table. ( beside / besides )
Q14: You can choose from _____________ four prizes! ( between / among )
Q15: It's so hot! I need to find some ______________. ( shadow / shade )
Q16: _______ his having studied French, he found the course very difficult. (although
/despite )
Q17: The movie was________ boring he fell asleep! ( such / so )
Q18: I ___________ about how my friend was doing in Rotterdam. ( wandered /
wondered )
Q19: He should be arriving _____________. ( briefly / shortly)
Q20: They went to a basketball _______________ on Saturday night. ( play / game )
Q21: Unfortunately, unemployment is on the _______________ again. ( rise / raise )
Q22: I wasn't able to do any work because of the _______ interruptions. ( continual /
continuous )
Q23: The ______________ scene was completely unexpected. ( climactic / climatic ).
Q24: Did Henry Ford __________ the car? ( invent / discover )
Q25: The car needs to have its __________ repaired. ( breaks / brakes )
Q26: ____________ I'm concerned, you can come along. ( As long as / As far as )
Q27: __________ he was reluctant to help, he finally lent a helping hand. ( Despite /
Although )
Q28: The _________ of the school welcomed the new students to classes. ( principle /
principal )
Q29: Olympia is the ____________ of Washington State. ( capital / capitol )
Q30: That painting by Picasso is ____________. ( worthless / priceless )
Q31: Have you decided ______________ you would like to come? ( weather / whether )
Q32: You shouldn't leave litter ______________ on the ground. ( laying / lying )
Q33: I spent my evening ______________ television. ( looking at / watching )
Q34: The political situation is _______________ very unstable. ( actually / currently )
Q35: Art _______________ is a very subjective matter. ( objection / criticism )
Q36: The car tried to _______________ the bus on the freeway. ( overcome / overtake )
Q37: Could you give me some _________________ on this problem? ( advice / advise )
Q38: Please _________ me to pick up some bread at the market. ( remember / remind )
Q39: John ______________ me $50 until next Monday. ( borrowed / lent )
Q40: His help with the contract was ________________. ( invaluable / valueless )
Q41: He is a very _____________ person. He always has time to listen to people's
problems. ( sensible / sensitive )
Q42: Jack went to the library to _______ the latest Stephen King novel. ( lend / borrow )
Q43: Mary _____________ us we had made a good decision. ( assured / ensured )
Q44: He _____________ the book on the table. ( laid / lay )
Q45:Unfortunately, he made quite a serious __________ while working on the plumbing.
( fault / mistake)
Q46: I hope our services ________________ your expectations. ( accede / exceed )
Q47: All the children are coming ________________ John. ( accept / except )
Q48: The professor was given _________________ to materials in the research library.
( access / excess )
Q49: Some people feel that his _________ to the President was unnecessary. ( allusion
/ illusion )
Q50: Are we ____________ to leave on vacation? ( all ready / already )
Q51: There is ____________ too much violence on TV today. ( all together / altogether )
Q52: Is there __________ we can put off the meeting until tomorrow?(any way/ anyway)
Q53: The outcome of the project was entirely _______. He planned every step! ( casual
/ causal )
Q54: The police threatened to ___________ the faulty goods. ( cease / seize )
Q55: Jack felt ____________ the outcome would be in his favor. ( confidant / confident )
Q56: They created a _______________ design for a Halloween mask. ( costume /
custom )
Q57: I ordered ____________ even though I was already full. ( desert / dessert )
Q58: The lawyer would like to ___________ a response from his client. ( elicit / illicit )
Q59: He is an ______________ expert in his field. ( eminent / imminent )
Q60: I'd like to ________ from France, but I don't know where to move. ( emigrate /
immigrate )
Q61: They _______________ his motives are less than pure. ( expect / suspect )
Q62: I didn't _____________ the solution. I just guessed! ( infer / imply )
Q63: Did they win or ______________ the game last week? ( loose / lose )
Q64: The ___________ department is looking for three new employees. ( personal /
personnel )
Q65: Should we ____________ with the project or wait until July? ( precede / proceed )
Q66: Children tend to be rather _________________ and need something to keep them
occupied. ( restless / restive )
Q67: This attachment is a _______ that allows you to clean your curtains. (complement /
compliment)
Q68: He strove to _____ an invention to eradicate the need for monthly upkeep. (device
/devise)
Q69: I went to John to seek ____________ on my current situation. ( council / counsel )
Q70: The Uncertainty ___________ was posited by Heisenberg. ( Principal / Principle )
