Some English words appear to be similar but they have different meanings. Here are some of them:
Scan / glance
‘Scan’ means ‘to examine an area carefully but quickly, often because you are looking for a particular person or thing.’
Douglas scanned the horizon, but he could not see any ship.
‘Glance’ means ‘to look at someone or something quickly.’
Roy glanced nervously at his watch.
Scare / scarify
‘Scare’ means ‘to make someone feel frightened.’
Loud noises scare cats and dogs.
‘Scarify’ means ‘to break and make loose the surface of a road or field using a pointed tool. It also means ‘to criticise someone very severely.’
Sceptic / septic
A sceptic is a person who disagrees with particular claims and statements, especially those that are generally thought to be true.
Sceptics argue that the rise in prices is temporary.
A wound or part of your body that is septic is infected with bacteria.
Skimp / skimpy
‘Skimp’ means ‘to not spend enough money or time on something, or not use enough of something so that what you do is unsuccessful or of bad quality’
It’s vital not to skimp on staff training.
A skimpy dress or skirt is very short and does not cover very much of a woman’s body.
Scull / skull
A scull is a small light boat for only one person, used in races.
‘Skull’ means ‘the bones of a person’s or animal’s head.’
Scuttle / scupper
‘Scuttle’ means ‘to move quickly with short steps, especially when you are afraid and do not want to be noticed.’
‘Scupper’ means ‘to ruin someone’s plans or chance of being successful.’
Plans to build a hotel near a temple have been scuppered.
Sensitive / sensuous
‘Sensitive’ means ‘able to understand other people’s feelings and problems.’
Rosanne is a sensitive and intelligent young girl.
‘Sensuous’ means ‘pleasing to your senses,’ as in sensuous music.
Sewage / sewerage
Sewage is the mixture of waste from the human body and used water that is carried away from houses by pipes under the ground.
‘Sewerage’ means ‘the system by which waste material and used water are carried away in sewers and treated to stop them being harmful.’
Shear / sheer
‘Shear’ means ‘to cut the wool off a sheep.’
‘Sheer’ is used to emphasize that something is very heavy or large.
The sheer size of the country makes communication difficult.
Shortage / shortfall
A shortage is an insufficient amount or a deficiency.
There is a shortage of fuel in the country.
A shortfall is the failure to meet some requirement or target, and the extent of it.
Sick / ill
To be sick is a euphemism for ‘to vomit’, so ‘ill’ is usually substituted for ‘sick’ to mean a state of sickness or being unwell.
Simile / metaphor
A simile makes a comparison or indicates ‘similarity.’
The party went like a house on fire.
A metaphor makes a more direct analogy.
“You’re a doll” he told her.
Simple / simplistic
‘Simple’ means ‘not difficult or complicated to do or understand.’
There is no simple answer to your question.
‘Simplistic’ means ‘treating difficult subjects in a way that is too simple.’
This is a very simplistic approach to the problem.
Sleight / slight
‘Sleight’ means ‘dexterity, as in the sleight of hand displayed by a magician.’
‘Slight’ means ‘small, slim, or insignificant.’
She made a slight mistake in her presentation.
Solecism / solipsism
A solecism is a violation of conventional usage.
A solipsism is a belief that only the self is real and knowable.
Sophomore / freshman
In the United States a freshman is a student in the first year of secondary school or is a first-year undergraduate at a university. A sophomore is the second-year equivalent.
Soul / sole
The soul is a part of a person that is not physical, and that contains their character, thoughts and feelings.
The sole person or thing is the only one.
Diane was the sole survivor of the crash.
Sow / sew
‘Sow’ means ‘to plant or scatter seeds on a piece of ground.’
We will sow the seeds in March.
‘Sew’ means ‘to use the needle and thread to make or repair clothes.’