Writing Challenge: Words that look or sound alike

Yes, it's high time we had another writing challenge. Let's talk about words that look or sound alike.

I just read a news report about the typhoon Soudelor, and it said there was a power outage in a city battered by the typhoon. The word 'outage' instantly made me remember another word 'outrage' - I may have confused 'outage' with 'outrage'.

In fact, there are so many words that look or sound alike or 'confusing words' in English. How about 'desert vs dessert', 'gateway vs getaway', 'fussy vs fuzzy', 'stationary vs stationery'? Just name a few.

It may have something to do with the fact the there are only 26 letters in English. English has a vocabulary more than one million, but they are all the different combinations of the 26 letters. No wonder so many words look or sound alike.

It can be a problem, though, especially for those who are trying to learn English. Confusing words could cause confusion that will hamper or interrupt your reading or listening, or rather, confusing words can be so troublesome and need more attention.

It seems inevitable to make mistakes when you're trying to write them down. I'm not sure if the electric spell checkers are of much help, but there must be an effective way out there for you to remember or recognize them.

Are you ready for a new writing challenge? If so, try to publish a blog about this topic. You could share your ways of remembering confusing words, or tell us what words you think are so confusing or troublemakers.

In the stillness of the dawn I found myself at the site of my childhood home, a sight so soothing and hauntingly hopeful. Soft pink summer rays of th…

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Comments

Expector Smith August 29, 2015 12:06

Thanks for the comment, Md.
Md. Shariful Alam August 28, 2015 18:48

I think video instruction is very useful to learn such kind of alike words.
Expector Smith August 20, 2015 23:39

@ann

I'm looking forward to your blog! Thanks.
ann August 20, 2015 14:14

Dear Expector Smith, I 'm almost taking a CHANCE to CHANGE my way of writing on my new blog. I will post it soon. Thank you for a wonderful comment.
Expector Smith August 14, 2015 23:27

@Daniel

Thanks. Try to write such a blog.
Daniel August 14, 2015 17:58

Very good challenge for remembering that tricky words we fail to learn their correct usages.
Expector Smith August 10, 2015 14:02

@Alice

Thanks for taking this challenge. I'll go and read your blog.

@Seeker

I'm looking forward to your blog! Thanks.
Alice E. August 10, 2015 5:03

Hi Expector love the challenge! Here's my take on it:

http://www.myenglishclub.com/profiles/blogs/expector-smith-s-writin...

Expector Smith's Writing Challenge: Words that look or sound alike "My Childhood Room"

In the stillness of the dawn I found myself at the site of my childhood home, a sight so soothing and hauntingly hopeful. Soft pink summer rays of th…
Expector Smith August 9, 2015 23:47

@Evangelina

Thanks for sharing the confusables.

It may not be such a problem for native English speakers, though. Realizing and facing the problem is the first step to dealing with it.
Expector Smith August 9, 2015 10:23

@Mishaikh

Thanks for being the first to comment on this blog. I'll go and read your new blog.

@Keen

You're welcome. I can hardly wait to read your blog.

@Onee

Thanks for the nice comment. Try to write one - you sure can do it!

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