Distinguishing between words often confused

All ready – all prepared. Tell me when you all ready. Already – previously. She arrived when he had already left. All right – standard English. All together – everyone in the same place. Altogether – entirely.

Here reaction was altogether different from what I expected. Altar (noun)- a table or stand at which religious rites are performed. Alter (verb) – to change.

If you fail in the first attempt you will have to alter your plans.

Brake (verb) – to slow down or stop; (noun) – a device for slowing down or stopping. Brake cautiously on wet roads.

A defective brake may cause an accident. Break – to cause to come apart, to shatter; (noun) a fracture. The X-ray shows a dislocation in your ankle.

Capital – (spelling, used in all cases except when referring to a tall building in which a legislature meets) Do you have enough capital to start this business? (wealth).

That is a capital idea. (of major importance). In most countries murder is a capital offence punishable by death.

However, others are opposed to capital punishment. Capitol – a building in which a legislature meets (Capitalised when it refers to a building for a national legislature like in the USA.
Clothes – wearing apparel. Take those clothes to the dry cleaner. Cloths – pieces of fabric.

Use these cloths to dust the desks. Coarse – (adjective) rough, crude. We talk of coarse and fine salt.  Course – path of action; part of a meal; series of studies; also used after of to mean naturally or certainly.

What course should I follow to find a job outside the country? Soup was the first course. He is taking a course in Media studies.

Of course you can do that after you have done your homework.
Complement (noun) something that makes whole or complete; (verb) to make whole or complete.

The complement of 50 degrees angle is 40 degrees angle. (The two complete a 90 degrees angle.) Their part of the job complements mine.

(Together the parts completes the job.) Compliment (noun) praise; a courteous act or expression; (verb) to express praise or respect. Thank you for the compliment.

Consul – (a person appointed by a government to serve the citizens in a foreign country. The Zimbabwean consul in Johannesburg helped a lot of citizens in distress.

Council (noun) a group called together to accomplish a job. Councillor – a member of a council. The council met to discuss the proposed budget for the coming year.

Did all councillors vote for amendment of the constitution?

Counsel (noun) advice; (verb) to advise. Counsellor (noun) one who gives advice. He accepted the wise counsel of his teacher. Mr Ndlovu had counselled him to take sciences at higher levels of education.

Mr Ndlovu had been his guidance counsellor. Desert (noun) – a dry region.
Desert (verb) to leave or abandon.

He vowed that he would never desert his friends in their hour of need. Dessert (noun) the final course of a meal. For dessert we had ice cream.

Formally – in a proper or dignified manner, according to strict rules. He formally addressed the general meeting after a few hiccups.

Formerly – previously; in the past. She formerly worked for the Ministry of Agriculture before joining the Ministry of education.

Later (adjective; adverb) more late. We will send he package at a later date. You will get help later. Latter (adjective) the second of two as opposed to former.

When given the choice of a day school and a boarding school, I choose the latter. Lead – to go first. She led the way out of the hall. Led (verb, past tense of lead). He led the team to victory. Lead (noun, pronounced ‘led’) a heavy metal, graphite in a pencil.

Try out the following exercises to test yourself if have understood these often confusing words: Choose the correct words from those in brackets: Mother was (all together, altogether) too surprised to protest.

We have (born, borne) more than our share of the burden.
When you are (already, all ready), I will help you. We polished the car with (cloths, clothes).

If you (brake, break) a window, you will pay for it. Are the sandwiches (already, all ready) prepared, or do we need to make them?

These supplies will (complement, compliment) those that you already have. What did you order for (dessert, desert)? Why does he use such (course, coarse) language? I do like parties conducted as (formally, formerly) as this one.

We are not sure which (course, coarse) to follow. He spoke to both the mayor and the superintendent, and the (later, latter) was more helpful.

Loose (adjective); pronounced ‘loos’) free; not close together; not firmly fastened. His belt was loose so he could not run properly.

Some of the nails on the roof are loose. Lose (verb, pronounced “looz”) to suffer loss of.

When did you lose your ticket? Moral (adjective) good; virtuous; (noun) a lesson of conduct. His conduct showed him to be a moral person.

The class understood the moral of the story.
Morale (noun) spirit; mental condition.

The victory boosted the team’s morale. There are many more of such words to be considered. For now we leave it here.
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