Some words in English appear to be similar, but their meanings are different. Be familiar with the following confusable words.
Canvas / canvass
Canvas is a strong cloth used to make bags, tents, or shoes. It can also be a painting done with oil paint.
The art gallery has a canvas by George Keyt. Canvass is to try to persuade people to support a political party or candidate.
Candidates from all the parties are out canvassing in Colombo today.
Carousal / carousel
Carousal is a boisterous drinking party.
Carousel is the moving belt that you collect your bags from at an airport.
Caster / castor
Caster is very fine ground white sugar. Castor oil is a purgative. The swivelling little wheels on the legs of furniture can be spelt as either casters or castors.
Casual / causal
Casual means happening by chance.
The speaker made some casual remarks before delivering his lecture.
Causal is the relationship between an effect and its cause.
There is a causal relationship between unemployment and crime.
Catholic / catholic
Catholic means connected with the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic (with a simple ‘c’) means including a very wide variety of things.
Thelma has a catholic collection of LP records.
Calvary / cavalry
Calvary is the mount near Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified.
Cavalry means mounted soldiers on horses, camels or wheels,
Celibate / chaste
To be celibate is to abstain from marriage. To be chaste is to be pure, modest and sexually faithful.
Cement / concrete
Cement is a bonding agent that comes in many forms. Concrete is the product of a bond between cement and aggregates such as sand and gravel.
Censer / censor / censure
Censer is the container in which incense is burned. A censor is a person who suppresses matter on moral or political grounds. To censure is to reprimand severely.
Centre / middle
Geometrically, the centre of something is a focal point. The middle of something is a more general, approximate term.
Certainty / certitude
Certainty is the state of being completely certain.
Nancy knew with absolute certainty that Bob would say no.
Certitude is the state of being or feeling certain about something.
Chafe / chaff
If a part of your body chafes, it becomes sore because of something rubbing against it. Chaff is the outer seed covers that are separated from grain before it is used as food.
Chaff also means to tease light-heartedly.
Chairman / chairwoman / chairperson / chair
Depending upon your commitment to political correctness, you can safely use chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson. ‘Madam chairman’ is not uncommon in Britain but some people resist calling a person a ‘chair.’ However, very often we hear expressions such as ‘He was nominated as chair of the board of governors.’
Chaotic / inchoate
A chaotic situation is one in which everything is happening in a confused way. Inchoate items, plans, or attitudes are only just starting to develop.
Charted / chartered
If an area of land or sea is charted, it has been explored, surveyed and mapped. A chartered accountant, surveyor or engineer is someone who has successfully completed special examinations. In another sense, a chartered bus, train or aircraft is one that has been hired for an occasion.
Chemist / druggist / pharmacist
If you want medicine, you go to a chemist in the United Kingdom and druggist in the United States. The pharmacist is the person who prepares and dispenses drugs and medicines.
Childish / childlike
Childish means behaving in a silly way that makes you seem much younger than you really are. It is used to show disapproval. Childlike means having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive qualities such as innocence and eagerness. The sight filled me with childlike excitement.