18  Commonly Confused Words, One Word Substitution, Word Usage, Incomplete Proverbs

18.1 Introduction

This chapter trains you to master areas where students often lose marks:
- Confused words that look/sound alike but differ in meaning.
- One-word substitutions that replace long expressions.
- Word usage in sentences.
- Incomplete proverbs where you must recall the standard expression.

18.2 1) Commonly Confused Words

18.2.1 1.1 Pairs and Examples

  • Affect / Effect
    • Affect = to influence (verb).
    • Effect = result (noun).
      Example: The weather will affect our plans. The effect was disastrous.
  • Accept / Except
    • Accept = agree/receive.
    • Except = excluding.
      Example: She accepted the gift. Everyone except John attended.
  • Advice / Advise
    • Advice = recommendation (noun).
    • Advise = to recommend (verb).
      Example: She gave me good advice. I advise you to rest.
  • Compliment / Complement
    • Compliment = praise.
    • Complement = completes.
      Example: He paid her a compliment. The scarf complements her dress.
  • Principal / Principle
    • Principal = head of institution / capital sum.
    • Principle = fundamental truth.
      Example: The principal spoke. Honesty is a good principle.
  • Stationary / Stationery
    • Stationary = not moving.
    • Stationery = paper/office supplies.
      Example: The car remained stationary. I bought new stationery.
  • Than / Then
    • Than = comparison.
    • Then = time sequence.
      Example: She is taller than him. We ate, then left.

18.3 2) One-Word Substitution

18.3.1 2.1 Key Substitutions

  • A person who loves mankind → Philanthropist
  • A person who hates mankind → Misanthrope
  • One who can speak many languages → Polyglot
  • One who studies elections and voting → Psephologist
  • A speech by one person → Monologue
  • Fear of heights → Acrophobia
  • A remedy for all diseases → Panacea
  • A person who abstains from alcohol → Teetotaler
  • Government by the wealthy → Plutocracy
  • One who compiles dictionary → Lexicographer

18.3.2 2.2 How to approach

  • Break into roots: philo = love, mis = hate, poly = many, graph = writing.
  • Relate to familiar contexts (medicine, politics, psychology).

18.4 3) Word Usage in Sentences

Choose the correct option that fits the sentence.

Examples
1. She could not (bare/bear) the pain. → bear
2. He is the (heir/air) to the throne. → heir
3. The ship lost its (course/coarse) in the storm. → course
4. His handwriting is very (illegible/eligible). → illegible
5. He was (all ready/already) to leave. → all ready

18.5 4) Incomplete Proverbs

18.5.1 4.1 Common Proverbs

  • A stitch in time … → saves nine.
  • Empty vessels … → make the most noise.
  • A rolling stone … → gathers no moss.
  • All that glitters … → is not gold.
  • Too many cooks … → spoil the broth.
  • Where there is a will … → there is a way.
  • An apple a day … → keeps the doctor away.
  • Don’t put all your eggs … → in one basket.
  • Rome was not built … → in a day.
  • Make hay … → while the sun shines.

18.6 5) Practice Questions

18.6.1 Part A – Confused Words

  1. Choose the correct word:
    She (accept/except) the invitation.
  2. The (principal/principle) of our college addressed us.
  3. His remarks had no (affect/effect) on me.
  4. We should follow moral (principals/principles).
  5. He gave me a good (advise/advice).

18.6.2 Part B – One Word Substitution

  1. A speech by one person → (a) Dialogue (b) Monologue (c) Soliloquy (d) Speech
  2. Government by the rich → (a) Democracy (b) Plutocracy (c) Aristocracy (d) Monarchy
  3. One who abstains from liquor → (a) Pessimist (b) Teetotaler (c) Miser (d) Abstainer
  4. A remedy for all diseases → (a) Tonic (b) Cure (c) Panacea (d) Placebo
  5. One who compiles dictionary → (a) Editor (b) Lexicographer (c) Publisher (d) Printer

18.6.3 Part C – Proverbs

  1. A stitch in time …
  2. Too many cooks …
  3. Don’t put all your eggs …
  4. Rome was not built …
  5. Make hay …

18.7 6) Answer Key

Part A
1. accept
2. Principal
3. effect
4. principles
5. advice

Part B
6. (b) Monologue
7. (b) Plutocracy
8. (b) Teetotaler
9. (c) Panacea
10. (b) Lexicographer

Part C
11. saves nine
12. spoil the broth
13. in one basket
14. in a day
15. while the sun shines

18.8 Summary

  • Confused words require attention to spelling + context.
  • One-word substitutions shorten long definitions.
  • Proverbs test cultural knowledge and quick recall.
  • Continuous practice builds strong vocabulary accuracy for entrance exams.