Confused Words

Sore and Soar

Sore means painful, aching, stinging, injury, angry, annoyed, etc.

Soar means to fly, ascend, rise, climb, escalate, etc.

My feet were sore after the long walk.

She was sore over his sarcastic remark.

The eagle can soar high in the sky.

When the hospital offered free help, the poor couple’s spirits soared.

Confused Words

Roll and Role

Roll means to revolve, turn over, move, rotate, etc.

Role means function, task, responsibility, part, character, etc.

The lorry rolled down the hillside.

They rolled the injured guy on to his back to give him first aid.

Tom was sentenced for his role in the bank robbery.

He was given the lead role in the play.

Confused Words

Taut and Taught

Taut means tight, rigid, strained, firm, etc.

Taught means trained, educated, qualified, etc.

The rope was tied tautly.

His Uncle taught him to read and write.

Confused Words

Raise and Rise

Raise means to lift, elevate, move up, boost, improve, etc.

Rise means to arise, stand up, ascend, grow, etc.

An iron fence surrounding the mansion was raised.

Their hopes were raised after a few survivors were found.

Land prices are rising steeply with every passing day.

They all rose to greet the Mayor.

Confused Words

Soul and Sole

Soul means spirit, core, character, individual, etc.

Sole means single, lone, exclusive, unique, etc.

They all prayed for the departed soul.

His company has bagged the sole rights for telecasting the Golf championship.  

Confused Nouns

Cause and Reason

Rule: Cause is that which produces a result; Reason is the cause to do something, it justifies the result.

Incorrect Usage: (a) You need to have a good cause to come here.

                                  (b) What was the reason of that accident?

Correct Usage: (a) You need to have a good reason to come here.

                                        (b) What was the cause of that accident?

Confused Nouns

Shade and Shadow

Rule: Shade is the portion, which is sheltered from direct sunlight; Shadow is the form that is created when something comes in front of light.

Incorrect Usage: (a) They took rest in the shadow of a tree.

                                (b) He was afraid of his own shade.

Correct Usage: (a) They took rest in the shade of a tree.

                                             (b) He was afraid of his own shadow.