Words like “Principal”
The pairs and near-pairs that trip people up around Principal. Start with the direct confusables — then follow the thread through the same tag.
Principal vs. Principle
A person or main thing versus a fundamental rule or belief.
Principal vs. Interest
The loan amount versus the fee charged for borrowing it.
Principle vs. Principal
A rule versus the head — quick reminder.
Entries in the same category — pick one if the main cluster didn't land.
Accept vs. Except
To receive or welcome versus to exclude — near-opposite meanings.
ConfusablesAffect vs. Effect
The action versus the result — a verb and a noun most of the time.
UsageLess 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.
ConfusablesThen vs. Than
Time versus comparison — two different jobs, one letter apart.
UsageLay vs. Lie
You lay something down. You lie down yourself.
ConfusablesI.e. vs. E.g.
That is to say versus for example — one clarifies, the other illustrates.
UsageThat vs. Which
Essential versus extra — a comma decides.
ConfusablesImply vs. Infer
The speaker implies. The listener infers.
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.
Looking for a specific mistake, not a word?