Confusing Words in English

In English vocabulary, homophones are a set of words that sound same but they are different in terms of meaning and function. These kinds of words can cause a lot of confusion among writers. Mixing them up can confuse the readers. So, you have to be very careful with word choice. Today, I am coming up with such a case i.e. I will compare defuse vs. diffuse.

I will explain each of these terms and provide you with their definitions and example sentences. I hope that after reading the whole post, you will get out of this confusion about whether to choose defuse or diffuse.

Defuse vs. Diffuse – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it defuse or diffuse?

Defuse and diffuse are very close to homophones. If you speak these words together and quickly, they will pronounce similar. However, they are quite different from each other in terms of meaning and function. Let us check out their definitions with examples one by one.

Defuse

Defuse is used as a verb within a sentence. It means to reduce or to remove a tension or something like a difficult situation. It can be synonymous with disarm, calm, disable, etc.

For example,

1. They called the whole department to defuse the bomb.

2. There started uneasiness so; she defused the difficult situation by starting a peaceful conversation.

3. The quickest way to defuse fear or insecurity or anger is usually humor. I think comics figure that out quickly, and, once you figure it out, you think, ‘Hey if I can do this and get paid, that would be kind of cool. (Billy Gardell)

Diffuse

Diffuse is used as an adjective or a verb within a sentence. As an adjective, it means scattered outward to over a large area. It can also mean ‘not concentrated’.

For example,

1. Sorry, I can’t get you. Your message is quite diffuse.

2. You will need some time to make this business great and diffuse.

As a verb, diffuse is synonymous with scatter, disseminate, spread, or disperse. It means to scatter or to spread outward to over a large area.

For example,

1. He advised everyone to put the shades over the bulbs to diffuse the light.

2. It is the mission of the printer to diffuse light and knowledge by a judicious intermingling of black with white. (Frederick Douglass)

Conclusion

It is concluded that defuse and diffuse are quite near to homophones. They are not interchangeable. They are different in terms of meaning and function within sentences. Defuse is used as a verb, which means to remove tension from a difficult situation. Diffuse, on the other hand, means (as a verb) to scatter outward or (as an adjective) it means scattered outward or not concentrated.

Not only homophones that create confusions but; there are other words in English vocabulary that cause confusions among people. Today, I am coming up with two such words that create a muddle like situation. The case is degree vs. diploma. Let us check out the differences between them. I will define each of these words and help you in getting the differences between them.

Degree vs. Diploma – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it degree or diploma?

Both of these words are academic words. It means that they are related to educational sector. However, there are a few differences between them that you should remember. Mixing them up will cause a great confusion among listeners or readers. Let me discuss it one by one.

Degree

A degree is an award which is given by recognized colleges and universities. After a successful completion of a particular program, a college or a university award a degree to the candidates. For example, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a Ph.D. degree. These four programs are the main types of a degree.

There is a difference between such kinds of a degree. For instance, an associate’s degree is a degree program mainly of two years whereas; a bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree program. On the other hand, a master’s degree can be started after completing a bachelor’s degree. It is also named as a post-graduate degree program.

Apart from all of the above degree programs, a Ph.D. degree can be done with an intensive research that is why, it carries more than four years. It can be completed in four years as well. A Ph.D. is a doctorate degree in any discipline.

Note: You cannot study Ph.D. in medicine and sometimes in theology.

Diploma

A diploma programme is based on a particular course and is just like a certificate that is issued by the educational institutions.

Unlike a degree, a diploma does not take a long time to be completed. It takes almost two-years or sometimes less than it. An institute that provides a diploma programme does not need to be a recognized or an approved institute like a university or a college. This particular award is usually based on vocational courses. For instance, a person takes this course in order to get him/her trained or qualified in a particular area. So, it means that this particular program provides you an education within your given field.

Note: Do not think about a diploma that it is, actually, a certificate. A certificate is different as it does not lead to a diploma. You can get a certificate after completing a single course as it does not require a long time to be completed. So, we can say that certificates are very specialized.

Conclusion

It is concluded that degrees and diplomas are not similar. Though, they are awards given by educational sectors but they are not interchangeable. The importance of a diploma is comparatively less than a degree. A degree is a proper course of study, usually a 3 to 4 years long, which is given by a recognized university or college. Diploma, on the other hand, is a course mainly of one or two years long. It is basically a short term course. A certificate is more specific than a diploma, which takes a very less time to be finished.

 

Also, see the AP Style Academic Degress for more information on how you can write Academic Degrees in AP Style, click on the link http://wordeng.com/ap-style/academic-degrees  

There are hundreds of confusing words in English vocabulary. Other than homophones, words like diary and dairy can cause mistakes in writing. These words do not spell similar but have same number of letters, which is the reason for the confusion between them. So, in this post, I am coming up with the case of diary vs. dairy. I will define each of these words and use them in example sentences, so that you will get the function of these words.

Diary vs. Dairy – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it diary or dairy?

As you can see that both of these words have same letters but they are arranged in a different pattern. Diary and dairy are two different words having different meanings and functions. You should be careful in writing these words. Sometimes, it happens that a person mistakenly write dairy instead of diary; because he/she was so quick in writing that made him do this typing or more good to say a spelling mistake.

So, in order to get rid of this kind of spelling mistake, you should be very careful while writing because a little mistake can ruin up your entire writing.

Now, I will define diary and dairy one by one.

Diary

Diary is used as a noun within a sentence. In this way, it is used to refer to a book or a notebook in which a person frequently writes down his/her daily record of his/her activities, observations, or events, etc. Diary can be synonymous with a journal, personal organizer, record, etc.

For example,

1. I used to write my whole day’s activities in my diary to make them memorable.

2. My friends found my secret diary, which I used to hide from everyone.

3. Your mind is a diary. Storing all those notes you need, but all those secrets you can tell. (Zaza)

Dairy

Dairy is used as a noun or an adjective within a sentence. As a noun, it is used to refer to a place, such as a department, room, or a building, which is used for the processing of milk products; for example, cheese, milk, butter, etc.

For example,

1. My father used to go to the nearby dairy to buy fresh milk.

2. Do you want to get a job in one of the country’s famous dairies?

As an adjective, it is used to describe those products that contain milk or are made from milk, like cream, cheese, etc.

For example,

1. If you want to lose fat, stop having dairy products too much.

2. Growing up on a dairy farm, you certainly learn discipline and a commitment to purpose. (Mike Johanns)

Conclusion

It is concluded diary and dairy are two different words having different meanings and functions. As a noun, diary is used to refer to a book to write down records, whereas dairy is such a place in which processing of milk products take place. On the other hand, dairy is used as an adjective too. As an adjective, dairy describes such products that are made from milk.

There are hundreds of confusing words in English vocabulary that are creating confusion among writers and speakers. Most of them are homophones that sound exactly same but are different in terms of meaning and function. Today, I am coming up with two such words that are known as a set of homophones. The case is cue vs. queue.

I will discuss these words to provide you the differences between them. I will come up with their definitions and use them in example sentences.

Cue vs. Queue – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it cue or queue? Do not get confused. Read the whole post to know about these confusing words.

As I said above that cue and queue are two different words having same pronunciation but different meanings and function. Let us check out their definitions one by one.

Cue

Cue is used as a noun or a verb within a sentence. As a noun, it is used to refer to a signal that a person uses to tell another person to do something.

For example,

• The manager gave her a cue to come out on the stage for her performance.
• She thought that her friend’s smile would be her cue to leave the party.

As a noun, it can also used to refer to a straight wooden rod that is used in snooker or billiards to strike the ball.

For example,

• You must strike the red ball with your awesome cue stick.

As a verb, it means to give a cue to someone.

For example,

• You have to cue me at the right moment so that, I will be prepared for my speech.
• They had not cued the performers.

In the context of the game, cue (as a verb) means to strike with the help of a cue.
For example,

• He perfectly cued till the end of the game and won it.

Queue

Queue is used as a noun or a verb within a sentence. As a noun, it is used to refer to a line or a chain of people or things. People lined up especially for waiting for something.

For example,

• I should reach early at the mall otherwise; I will have to line up in a queue waiting anxiously for my turn.
• I spent the whole Sunday in the queue for the ticket. I appeal to both countries to relax the visa process. It is a must—it is important than opening rail tracks and air and bus links. (Amrit Sethi)

As a verb, queue means to line up or to make a chain in a queue.

For example,

• The management asked everyone to, first, queue themselves and then demand the things.
• Are not they going to queue up to buy tickets?

Got the Difference?

So, it is clear from the above definition that cue and queue are two different words having same pronunciation but different meanings and functions. This is because of their pronunciation that makes everyone confused while writing.

Apart from this, the phrases ‘cue up’ and ‘queue up’ are both correct to use. You have to be careful about their different contexts. Remember their definitions and then use these phrases. Cue up means to position audio or video recordings to start playing. On the other hand, queue up means to line up to get something.

Conclusion

It is concluded that cue and queue are both used as a noun or a verb within a sentence. A cue, as a noun, is used to refer to a signal or a wooden rod used in a game like snooker or billiard. As a verb, it means to give a cue or to strike with a cue.
On the other hand, a queue (as a noun) is used to refer to a line of people or things whereas, as a verb, it means to line up in a queue.

Today’s post is also about two such words that often create confusion among writers and speakers. As you know that English language is full of confusing words so, you have to be very careful with word choice. Today’s case is criteria vs. criterion. What could be the difference between them?

Let us explore these words. I will provide definition and use each of these words in example sentences to show you their functions within sentences.

Criteria vs. Criterion – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it criteria or criterion?

From the above two words, criterion is perhaps not a commonly used word. However, the word ‘criteria’ is a commonly used word. As a writer or a speaker, you use criteria more often than criterion. Let me first define the word ‘criteria’ then, I will reveal a truth behind criteria vs. criterion.

Criteria (Definition)

‘Criteria’ is used as a noun or a word within a sentence. It is used to refer to a basis or a principle through which one can evaluate or test something. It is synonymous with standard, measure, or a scale.

For example,

1. You should meet the following criteria otherwise; you will not be selected for the sports competition.

What about Criterion?

Criterion has the same definition as of criteria. The fact is that criterion is the singular form of criteria.

For example,

1. We surely need a valid criterion for this course.

It means that the word ‘criteria’ is a plural noun.

Criteria = Plural Noun

Criterion = Singular Noun

Most of the people do not use criterion as a singular noun; instead, they use ‘criteria’ in the plural as well as in singular contexts.

For example,

1. As a renowned organization, you should clear up this specific criteria. (Incorrect)
• As a renowned organization, you should clear up this specific criterion. (correct)

2. As a renowned organization, you should clear up these criteria. (Correct)
• As renowned organization, you should clear up these criterion. (Incorrect)

Some Outside Examples

1. Our criteria for deciding what’s good and what’s bad is very fickle, especially in this country. (Roberta Flack)

2. A major criterion for judging the anxiety level of any society is the loss of its capacity to be playful. (Edwin H. Friedman)

Conclusion

It is concluded that most of the people use ‘criteria’ as a singular as well as a plural noun. If you want your writing to be error-free then, make sure that ‘criteria’ is a plural noun form of the word ‘criterion’.

If you want to refer to a single basis or a principle through which one can evaluate or test something then, you should choose the word ‘criterion’. However, if you want to refer to more than one criterion then, you can easily choose ‘criteria’ as a plural noun.