Words often confused and misused - 10

1.     Dose  and Doze

Dose   /dəʊs/         Prescribed amount of medication

The doctor increased the dose of pain killers as my pain

became unbearable.

             

Doze /dəʊz/                    Have a short sleep, especially during the day

As I was listening to the story, I dozed off.

2.     Draft, Draught and Drought

Draft /drɑːft/        sketch, outline or summary of plan/letter etc. / bank draft

I have finished the first draft of my story. I may have to make a few changes after reading it again.

Draught /drɑːft/   Current of air/an amount of liquid that you swallow at one time

The draught of cold air that blew into the room made her shiver.

After taking a draught of wine, she put the glass down.

Drought  /draʊt/            a long period of time when there is little or no rain

                                     

Many farmers left the village after the drought that year.

         

3.     Drown and Sink

Drown/draʊn/                to sink under water and die

When the Titanic sank in the sea, most of the people on board were drowned.

Sink/sɪŋk/                       Go beneath the surface of liquid

A log of wood will float on water, but a stone will sink.

4.     Dual and Duel

Dual /ˈdjuːəl/         things that have two similar aspects, parts, or functions

Earlier, sofas served a dual purpose – to sit on as well as, to sleep on.

Duel /ˈdjuːəl/ A fight between two parties

Shyam and Gopi entered into a duel. Their mother rushed in to separate them.

5.     Earn and Yearn  
        

Earn /ɜː(r)n/         win/ to receive money for work that you do

She doesn't earn much money, but she enjoys the work.

Yearn /jɜː(r)n/      to want something a lot, especially something 

that you know you may not be able to have

They were yearning to have a baby.

             

Words often confused and misused - 9

1.    Disease and Decease

Disease /dɪˈziːz/(noun)                   Ailment or illness
Smoking can cause fatal diseases.
Decease dɪˈsiːs (noun)                     Death ( rarely used as a noun)
Deceased /dɪˈsiːst/( adjective)/(pronoun)
There was a large crowd at the funeral as the deceased was a highly respected person.

2.    Differ  and Defer

Differ /ˈdɪfə(r)/                       to be different from something else; to disagree
Cultures differ from country to country.
Defer  /dɪˈfɜː(r) / (stress on the second syllable)          to postpone / to acknowledge the merit of
I defer to your superior knowledge.

3.    Difference and Deference

Difference  /ˈdɪfrəns/                       distinguishing feature
What is the difference between these two washing machines?
Deference /ˈdef(ə)rəns/                    Respect
Out of deference for his teacher, Rahul stopped arguing further.

4.    Disability and Disability

Disability /ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/          Inability to perform some or all the tasks of daily life
Dyslexia is a learning disability.
Inability /ˌɪnəˈbɪləti/              Lack of ability, means or power to do something
Her inability to face the situation made her lose her sanity.

5.    Disinterested and  Uninterested

Disinterested  /dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/          Impartial, not interested
Mr. Mukund is famous as a disinterested judge.
Uninterested /ʌnˈɪntrəstɪd/             Unconcerned; bored
Being uninterested in politics, my sister hardly reads the newspapers.

Words often confused and misused -8

1.    Delightful and Delicious  

Delightful /dɪˈlaɪtf(ə)l/                Very pleasing

I was totally impressed by her delightful singing.

Delicious /dɪˈlɪʃəs/                     Tasty, good to eat

The food in this restaurant is quite delicious.

2.    Destiny and Destination

Destiny /ˈdestəni/           Somebody’s preordained future

You can shape your  destiny with a proper goal and perseverance.

Destination /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/      the place where someone or something is going

This bus will take you to your destination.

3.    Deny, decline and refuse

Deny /dɪˈnaɪ/       to say that you did not do something  that someone has  accused you of doing

The officer denied having accepted bribe.

Decline/dɪˈklaɪn/            to say politely that you will not accept something or do something/ to become less or worse

Mala declined the invitation to attend Ravi’s wedding.

The number of people using bicycles has declined drastically.

Refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/              Indicate unwillingness; not accept something

Today’s women refuse to be cowed down by male domination.

4.    Dependant and Dependent

Dependant (noun)/dɪˈpendənt/                                    a child or other relative to whom

 you givefood, money, and a home.

Having his parents as dependants, Sekhar works overtime to make both ends meet.

Dependent (adjective)  /dɪˈpendənt/              Not self-reliant

I have two dependent relatives to care for.

5.    Desert and Dessert

           

Desert (noun) /ˈdezə(r)t/           a large area of land with few plants and little water

and where the weather is always dry.

The ‘Thar Desert’ forms a natural boundary running along the border between India and Pakistan.

Dessert /dɪˈzɜː(r)t/      sweet food that you eat after the main part of a meal

I am planning to prepare gulab jamuns for dessert .