Words like “Friend”
The pairs and near-pairs that trip people up around Friend. Start with the direct confusables — then follow the thread through the same tag.
Friend vs. Acquaintance
Someone you know well and are close to versus someone you know but aren't close to.
Ally vs. Friend
Someone on your side in a specific shared interest versus someone you have a personal bond with.
Entries in the same category — pick one if the main cluster didn't land.
Less vs. Fewer
For things you measure versus things you count.
UsageWho vs. Whom
Subject versus object — the pronoun doing it versus the pronoun it happens to.
UsageLay vs. Lie
You lay something down. You lie down yourself.
UsageThat vs. Which
Essential versus extra — a comma decides.
UsageComprise vs. Compose
The whole comprises the parts. The parts compose the whole.
UsageMe vs. I
When you’re the subject versus when you’re the object.
UsageIronic vs. Coincidence
A reversal of expectation versus two things happening to line up.
UsageLiterally vs. Figuratively
Claiming something really happened versus using it as a turn of phrase.
UsagePassed vs. Past
Moving by versus time gone by.
UsageCompose vs. Constitute
Parts make a whole — but which verb?
UsageDraft vs. Draught
Two spellings, context decides.
UsagePrinciple vs. Principal
A rule versus the head — quick reminder.
Looking for a specific mistake, not a word?