Confusing Words: Breath (noun) and Breathe (verb)
Meaning:
Breath (the air taken into or expelled from the lungs)
Breathe (take air into the lungs and then expel it, especially as a regular physiological process.
Breath vs Breathe Clarification: Breath and breathe are two different words with different meanings and functions within sentences.

Breath vs Breathe – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Both breath and breathe are correct words to use. They both have different meanings and functions. It means that you cannot use them interchangeably.

Breath and breathe are just one-letter apart. Breath is pronounced as “breth” whereas, breathe is pronounced as “breeth”.

Let me define each term separately so that you can easily differentiate between breath and breathe. I will also use these terms in example sentences to show out their functions within sentences.

Breath

Breath is used as a noun within sentences. It is used to refer the air that is inhaled or exhaled during respiration.

1. I was out of breath because I ran so fast to get you.

2. Can you hold your breath for about one minute?

3. I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am. (Sylvia Plath)

Breathe

Unlike breath, breathe is works as a verb within sentences. Breathe means to bring air or oxygen in and out of the lungs. In simple words, it means inhaling or exhaling air.

1. The nurse informed him that the patient was not able to breathe well.

2. I can breathe fresh clean air in the green-grassy environment.

3. “Now I can’t breathe, so I have to do another surgery to repair my breathing,” he explained. “It’s just like when you start dyeing your hair.” (Yahoo Health)

Got the Difference?

The difference between breath and breathe is so simple to memorize. Breath is a noun that is the air or oxygen we inhale or exhale whereas, breathe is a verb that means to bring that air in and out of the lungs.

Breath = Noun
Breathe = Verb

You must be careful about their pronunciations. Breath is pronounced as ‘breth’ (as in shed). Breathe, on the other hand, is pronounced as ‘breeth ‘(as in cheese).

Quiz

I hope you are now clear with the above discussion. Now, test youself by filling the below sentences using breath or breathe.

1. I can hardly __________.

2. Take a deep _________ and relax.

3. _________ a sigh of relief.

4. Hold your _________; I am going to surprise you very soon.

(Answers at the end)

What Did You Learn?

Breath and breathe are two different words with different meanings and functions within sentences. Breath is a noun that is used to refer the air that is inhaled or exhaled during respiration. Breathe, on the other hand, is a verb meaning to bring that air in and out of the lungs.

Answers : 1. Breathe , 2. Breath , 3. Breathe , 4. Breath

Confusing Words: Catsup (noun) and Ketchup (noun)
Meaning:
Catsup (another term for ketchup.)
Ketchup (a smooth sauce made chiefly from tomatoes and vinegar, used as a relish.)
Catsup vs Ketchup Clarification: Catsup and ketchup are two different spellings of the same word

Catsup vs Ketchup – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

If you quickly speak out these words together, you will feel that these words sound exactly same. However, there is a slight difference in terms of pronunciation. In fact, catsup and ketchup are two different spellings of the same word.

As I said above that both catsup and ketchup have similar meaning. It is used as a noun within sentences which means a sauce that contains tomatoes, sugar, spices, etc. as its ingredients.

1. I have also added a cup of ketchup in the mixture.

2. French fries is nothing without ketchup.

3. I mix mayonnaise, ketchup and brandy and a little bit of mustard. This is a heck of a good sauce for seafood. (Jose Andres Puerta)

Check Out: The Difference Between Catalog and Catalogue.

Ketchup or Catsup?

The reason that I have used ketchup in the above examples is that ketchup is the dominant spelling in almost every part of the world.

Ketchup = Dominant Spelling

However, after a research, I came to know that catsup is popularly used in some parts of U.S., Latin America and Mexico.

The words, catsup and ketchup, are derived from a chinese word ke-tsiap, which is a fish sauce. The word ketchup’s publicity may flourish because of the company ‘Heinz’ who brought the term ‘Heinz Tomato Ketchup’. Hence, ketchup influenced the English vocabulary and is, now, used as the most commonly used spelling around the world. Finally, Ketchup took over catsup in America as well because of this U.S. company, Heinz, who first named their product as ‘Heinz Tomato Catsup’. In the 1880s, catsup switched to ketchup.

So, writers must be careful with word choice. They should choose ketchup, which is the widely accepted spelling, rather than catsup.

What about Catsup?

As it is clear that ketchup is the dominant and acceptable spelling around the world. However, if you really like this spelling, you can use catsup as your product name.

Obviously, if a product name is catsup, you should use the same word rather than correcting its spelling.

You can use Catsup as a Company or Product Name

What Did You Learn?

Catsup and ketchup are two different spellings of the same word. It is a sauce or a condiment that contains tomatoes, sugar, spices, etc. as its ingredients. Ketchup is the dominant and preferred spelling around the world. You can use catsup as a product or company name.

Confusing Words: Centrifugal (adjective) and Centripetal (adjective)
Meaning:
Centrifugal (moving or tending to move away from a centre.)
Centripetal (moving or tending to move towards a centre.)
Centrifugal vs Centripetal Clarification: Centrifugal and centripetal are two totally different words that cannot be interchangeable.

Centrifugal vs Centripetal – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

In terms of pronunciation, centrifugal and centripetal are so close to each other. Beside this, they both are scientific terms and they both may be called a force. These are the reasons for the confusion between them. However, both of these words are not interchangeable. They have totally different meanings from each other.

Let me define these terms one by one. In this way, you will be able to differentiate the centrifugal force from centripetal force.

Centrifugal

Centrifugal is used as an adjective within sentences. It is used to refer a force that moves away something from a center.

1. According to a research, the circulation of blood is entirely centrifugal that allows blood to move outward from the heart.

2. Henkel Loctite Impregnation process has designed a centrifugal procedure following the process in each tank to spin out the impregnant residue and water. (Hindu Business Line)

Centripetal

Centripetal is the opposite of Centrifugal

Like centrifugal, centripetal is also used as an adjective within sentences. Centripetal is the opposite of centrifugal. Unlike centrifugal force, centripetal force is used to refer a force that moves or attracts something toward a center.

1. When a body moves with uniform speed along a circular path, it involves centripetal force.

2. “ It’s got a big drum on it and the seed spins with centripetal force one way while another part spins the other way which creates an atomising effect, so what it does is coat every seed individually as it’s going,” he said. (Farm Weekly)

Centrifugal and Centripetal can be used Figuratively

Both centrifugal and centripetal can be used figuratively as well. For instance, centrifugal can be used to point out someone or something that is avoided by others. On the other hand, centripetal seeks attention or concentration.

1. Paris is centripetal for everyone, which has almost 22 top-rated beautiful locations.

2. This creature of the poem may assemble itself into a being with its own centrifugal force. (Sharon Olds)

The following example is one of the famous quotes of Mahatma Gandhi. Check out the use of centripetal and centrifugal within a sentence.

The fact that mankind persists shows that the cohesive force is greater than the disruptive force, centripetal force greater than centrifugal. (Mahatma Gandhi)

What Did You Learn?

Centrifugal and centripetal are two totally different words that cannot be interchangeable. Both are used as an adjective within sentences. Centrifugal is a force that moves away something from a center. Centripetal, on the other hand, is a force that moves or attracts something toward a center.

Confusing Words: Can (verb) and May (verb)
Meaning:
Can (be able to.)
May (expressing possibility.)
Can vs May Clarification: Can and may are not interchangeable.

Can vs May – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Can and may are both auxiliary verbs. Though, their meanings are quite close but there are differences in the usage of these words. You have to be careful about the contexts because both words can express different natures.

Let me define them one by one. In this way, it will be easy for you to differentiate between can vs. may.

Can

Can is used as an auxiliary verb within sentences. It is used when you are speaking about ability ( physical or mental ability) to do something.

1. Can you sing a song?

2. I can imagine your situation that you are facing right now.

3. Today, you can choose to be in a good mood, or a bad mood. Give yourself permission to be happy every day. (Joel Osteen)

May

May is also used as an auxiliary verb within sentences. It means to express possibility; to give or to ask for a permission to do something.

1. You may go for shopping, if you want to.

2. See the clouds; it may rain today.

3. I may not be perfect.

Can or May?

The definitions of can and may are clear. Now, be careful in using these two auxiliary verbs. Whenever you want to ask for a permission or you want to express any possibility, use may instead of can. For instance, students ask to go to drink a glass of water. Mostly, they say,

“Ma’am, can I go to drink a glass of water?”

The above sentence is absolutely wrong. They should use ‘may’ instead of ‘can’. For example,

“Ma’am, may I go to drink a glass of water?”

or

“May I go to the bathroom?”

Note: You should not write mayn’t for may not, as, this contraction is incorrect to use. However, can’t for cannot is acceptable.

May not > Mayn’t = Wrong

Cannot > Can’t = Correct

Formal vs. Informal

If you want to ask for a permission, then you can use ‘can’. In this way, you have to be careful to whom you are asking because ‘can’ can be used as an informal manner. For instance, if you ask your friend, “Can I use your pen?” then there is no problem with the sentence formation. On the other side, if you ask your teacher for a permission then you should use ‘may’ like, “May I use your pen?”

So, it can be said that may is more formal and polite than can.

May = more formal + polite

What Did You Learn?

Can and may are not interchangeable. It is important to keep them apart. Both are used as an auxiliary verb within sentences. Can is used when you are speaking about ability or it can be used to ask permission informally. May, on the other hand, is used to express possibility; to give or to ask for a permission.

Confusing Words: Caramel (noun) and Carmel (noun)
Meaning:
Caramel (sugar or syrup heated until it turns brown, used as a flavouring or colouring for food or drink or combined with butter or cream to form a thick, sweet sauce.)
Carmel (A gender-neutral name of Hebrew origin)
Caramel vs Carmel Clarification:Caramel and carmel are not interchangeable.

Caramel vs Carmel – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Caramel and carmel are just one-letter apart but you cannot mix them up. Most people think that caramel and carmel are one word with two different spellings. It is important to keep them apart, as, nothing is similar between caramel and carmel.

Let us define these words one by one. I will use each of these words in example sentences to show you the function of these words.

Caramel

Caramel is used as a noun within sentences. It is used to refer a brown sweet or sugary syrup, which is used to give flavour or colour to food. In simple words, caramel is cooked sugar.

1. The café will charge more if you want more hot caramel over your dessert.

2. I always buy a bottle of caramel and refrigerate it to make small square candies.

3. The lightly salty caramel is touched — but just touched, mind you — with the yellow spice blend, too. (City Pages)

Carmel

Carmel is used as a proper noun within sentences. It is used to refer a city in California. Carmel is also used to refer a mountain range in Israel. In short, Carmel is used as the names for cities and many geographical locations.

1. I love New York City for its energy. Pebble Beach, Carmel Beach and that all area, for its completely laid back energy. Paris for the charm, shopping and the glamour. (Eva Larue)

2. A couple skates at Domaine de la Foret Perdu or the Lost Forest, a 9.3 mile weaving and zambonied forest trail made for skating in Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, near Three Rivers, Quebec. (Reuters)

Got the Difference?

From the above discussion, it is clear that caramel and carmel are two different words with different spellings, meanings and functions. Also, there is a slight difference in pronunciation as well.

Caramel is pronounced as kar-a-mul, i.e. with three syllables. Carmel, on the other hand, is pronounced as kar-mul, i.e. with two syllables.

Mostly, people mix two of the above pronunciations together. This is the reason for the confusion between them. Some people think that carmel is a misspelling but in fact, it is a proper word used to indicate many locations.

What Did You Learn?

Caramel and carmel are not interchangeable. Carmel is a proper noun which is used to refer a city in California and many other geographical locations. Caramel, on the other hand, is a common noun which is a brown sweet sugary syrup or cooked sugar.

Do not mix them up, as, both are different from each other.