Triple / treble
‘Triple’ means ‘having three parts or involving three groups, people or events, as in a triple murder inquiry.’
‘Treble’ means ‘three times as big, as much, or as many as something else’
Sharon sold the car for treble the amount she paid for it.
Triumphal / triumphant
‘Triumphal’ means ‘done or made to celebrate a victory,’ as in a triumphal procession.
‘Triumphant’ means ‘showing pleasure and pride because of a victory or success.’
The newly-elected minister felt exhausted, but also triumphant.
Troop / troupe
‘Troop’ means ‘soldiers in an organised group.’
The United States agreed to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan.
A ‘troupe’ is a group of singers, actors, or dancers who work together.
Truism / truth
A ‘truism’ is a statement that is clearly true so that there is no need to say it.
Ben’s speech was just a collection of clichés and truisms.
The truth is the true facts about something, rather than what is untrue, imagined, or guessed.
How do I know you’re telling me the truth?
Turbid / turgid
‘Turbid’ water or liquid is dirty and muddy.
A ‘turgid’ writing or speech is boring and difficult to understand.
Some English textbooks published locally are turgid.
Umpire / referee
Both undertake the same duties such as conducting a game according to the rules, but they attend different games. You need an umpire for tennis, hockey, cricket and baseball, but you need a referee for football, ice hockey, rugby and boxing.
Unaware / unawares
‘Unaware’ means ‘not noticing or realising what is happening.’
Mary is totally unaware that she is being watched.
If something takes you unawares, it happens when you are not expecting it and are not prepared.
His question caught her completely unawares.
Underlay / underlie
‘Underlay’ means ‘thick material that is put between a carpet and the floor.’
‘Underlie’ means ‘to be the cause of something; or the basic thing from which something develops,’ as in the basic principles that underlie the party’s policies.
Understand / comprehend
‘Understand’ means ‘to know the meaning of what someone is telling you or the language that they speak.’
I don’t understand Urdu.
‘Comprehend’ means ‘to understand something that is complicated or difficult.’
I did not fully comprehend what had happened.
Unwanted / unwonted
‘Unwanted’ means ‘not wanted or needed.’
‘Unwonted’ means ‘unusual and not what you expect to happen,’ as in unwonted freedom.
Upon / on
The two words are synonymous. However, you have to be guided by the usage.
We completely depend upon your help.
Once upon a time, there lived a king.
All he had on was a pair of tattered shorts.
He switched on the computer.
Upshot / result
An ‘upshot’ is the final result of a situation.
If something results from something else, it is caused by it.
Accidents are the inevitable result of driving too fast.
Upsurge / surge
An ‘upsurge’ is a sudden increase.
There was an upsurge in violence immediately after the general elections.
A ‘surge’ is a sudden large increase in a feeling, as in a surge of excitement.
Urban / urbane
‘Urban’ means ‘relating to towns and cities,’ as in urban population.
‘Urbane’ means ‘behaving in a relaxed and confident way in social situations.’
The president was urbane, witty, direct and honest.
Use / usage
‘Use’ means ‘the action or fact of using something.’
There was an exit for use in emergencies.
‘Usage’ means ‘the way that words are used in a language; it may also be the way in which something is used, or the amount of it that is used,’ as in water usage.
Vacant / vacuous
A ‘vacant’ seat, building, room or piece of land is empty and available for someone to use.
A few apartments are still vacant.
‘Vacuous’ means ‘showing no intelligence or having no useful purpose.’
It was a vacuous romantic novel.
Vacation / holiday
A ‘vacation’ is one of the periods of time when a university is closed.
A ‘holiday’ is a time of rest from work.
The school holidays start tomorrow.