Confusing Words: Brake (noun/verb) and Break (noun/verb)
Meaning:
Brake (a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, typically by applying pressure to the wheels.)
Break (separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.)
Brake vs Break Clarification: Brake and break are two different words with different meanings and functions within sentences.

Brake vs Break – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it brake or break?

The pronunciation of brake and break is exactly the same whereas, their spellings are quite close. This is the reason of the confusion between these two words. You should be careful with word choice as, you cannot mix these words.

I will define brake and break separately and use these words in example sentences. In this way, you will get the differences that keep them apart.

Brake

Brake is used as a noun or a verb within sentences. As a noun, brake is used to refer a device that is used to stop or to slow a vehicle.

As a verb, brake means to make a vehicle stop or slow by using a brake.

For example,

1. He applied the brake, but, unfortunately, the car did not stop. – (noun)

2. The drivers have one foot on the brake, one on the clutch and one on the throttle. (Bob Varsha) – (noun)

3. You have to brake when there is a curve comes on your way. – (verb)

Break

Break is used as a noun or a verb within sentences. As a verb, break means to divide or to separate something into parts. For example,

1. I know that one day, you will definitely break my most favourite dish.

2. The glass fell down and broke into small pieces.

In the above examples, break is related to the objects. You can also use break (as a verb) to mean to ruin or to destroy something; to stop or to overcome something. For example,

1. My friend will never break her promise.

2. I wished someone would shout at that moment to break the silence in the hall.

As a noun, break is used to refer an act of interruption of uniformity. For example,

1. The students were expecting a halftime break during the class.

2. I can see a break in the wall.

Check Out: The Difference Between Continually and Continuously.

Quiz

Here is a small quiz for you. Fill in the blanks by using brake or break.

1. Have you applied a ________ or did you act like Fast and Furious?

2. She did _________ my windows.

3. He will, for sure, ________ your heart; he’s a cheater.

4. _________ or else we’ll jump out of the car.

(answers at the end)

What Did You Learn?

Brake and break are two different words with different meanings and functions within sentences. Break is a noun or a verb. As a noun, it is an act of interruption whereas, as a verb, break means to divide, to separate or to destroy something. On the other hand, brake is used as a noun or a verb too. As a noun, it is a device used to stop or to slow down a vehicle whereas, as a verb, brake means to make a vehicle slow or stop by using a brake.

Answers: 1. Brake , 2. Break , 3. Break , 4. Brake

Confusing Words: Adjective
Meaning: (of hair) fair or pale yellow.
Blond vs Blonde Clarification: Both of these words are synonymous with fair or pale yellow.

Blond vs Blonde – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Most of the people think that one the above words is a spelling mistake but this is wrong. Both of these words are perfectly correct words to use within sentences. I will define each term with example sentences. In this way, the confused puzzle of blond and blonde will be solved.

Use of Blond and Blonde

Both of these words are synonymous with fair or pale yellow. These words are not originally from English language itself. The origin is from French which is the language where masculine and feminine forms are quite prominent. So, in English, a blonde is used to refer a fair or golden haired female whereas, a blond is used to refer a fair or golden haired male. For example,

1. I saw a beautiful girl who was a blonde.

2. I met a blond man.

Blond = Masculine

Blonde = Feminine

An Important Point

You can use blond (without –e) as an adjective for both males and females; but blonde (with –e) is only applicable for females not males. For example,

• The boy with blond hair. (Correct)

• The girl with blond hair. (Correct)

However,

• The blond thought to see himself in the picture. (male noun)

• The blonde smiled to see herself in the camera. (female noun)

American vs. British English

Most of the British publications use blond and blonde to highlight the masculine vs. feminine form. However, most of the American as well as Canadian English writers generally prefer to use blond for all purposes instead of blonde. The use of blond is more commonly seen in many American and Canadian publications.

For instance,

• The blonde bombshell revealed she had just finished getting a massage. (Daily Mail)

(The above example is taken from a British publication.)

Sexism Should be Avoided

Writers should be careful while writing because, sometimes, the text is considered to be sexist. For instance, if you use blonde as a noun and it is badly referring a woman which gives a bad interpretation of being sexist then, you should avoid it.

Check Out: What Are Compound Adjectives?

What Did You Learn?

Blond and blonde are synonymous with fair or pale yellow. A blonde is used to refer a fair or golden haired female whereas, a blond is used to refer a fair or golden haired male.

In British English, whether you are using nouns or adjectives, blond is always used for males and blonde for females.

On the other hand, in American English, blond is used for male nouns and blonde is used for female nouns. However, American English use blond as adjective for both males and females.

Confusing Words: Bring (verb) and Take (verb)
Meaning:
Bring (take or go with (someone or something) to a place.)
Take (lay hold of (something) with one’s hands; reach for and hold.)
Bring vs Take Clarification: They have slightly different contexts to be used in.

Bring vs Take – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Unlike homophones, there are many other words that are causing confusion among writers and speakers. Bring vs. take is the case for today’s discussion. Let me try to bring a clear explanation to solve this confusion.

Bring and take have no similarities in terms of spellings, meanings and functions. Though, both of these words are used as a verb and are related to the movement of something but they cannot be interchangeable. You have to be careful about the situation, as, these words have different situations to be used in.

Let me define these terms separately. In this way, it will be easy for you to get the differences between them.

Bring

Bring is used as a verb within sentences. It means to carry or to move someone or something toward the speaker.

1. Kindly, bring a glass of water for me!

2. If you bring your siblings with you then, we can’t enjoy the party.

3. Now the General Assembly has a chance to bring forfeiture activity and spending into the light of day. (The Denver Post)

Take

Like bring, take is also used as a verb within sentences. It means to carry or to move someone or something away from the speaker or from a place.

For example,

1. Here, take your pen and go away!

2. You can take one of my dresses with you for your farewell party.

3. “The U.S. Chamber applauds the president for fulfilling the campaign’s promise to take on the regulatory juggernaut that is limiting economic growth, choking small business, and putting people out of work,” Chamber president and C.E.O. Thomas J. Donohue said in a press release. (Forbes)

Notice the last sentence, take can also be used to mean ‘hold’.

Check Out: The Difference Between Bought and Brought.

Got the Difference?

Bring and take are often get confused but it is easy to remember the difference between both of these words. For instance, if a person wants you to bring something, you bring that thing toward the speaker. However, if a person wants you take away something, you take that thing away from the speaker.

The above example is just like adding or subtracting something or someone. You can imagine bring as to add something or someone whereas, take is just like subtracting something or someone.

To bring is to add

To take is to subtract

What Did You Learn?

Bring and take both function as verbs within sentences. However, they have slightly different contexts to be used in. Bring means to carry or to move someone or something toward the speaker. Take, on the other hand, is to carry or to move someone or something away from the speaker or from a place.

Confusing Words: Bought (past tense of verb – buy) and Brought (past tense of verb – bring)
Meaning:
Bought (the past tense and past participle of buy.)
Brought (past simple and past participle of bring.) 
Bought vs Brought Clarification: Both of these words are different in terms of meanings, spellings and functions.

Bought vs Brought – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

In this post, I will define each of the above terms and use these words in example sentences. Bought and brought are just one-letter apart. If you speak out these words together, you will not feel any difference in pronunciation.

This is the reason of the confusion between them. I hope that after reading the proper definitions with example sentences, you will never find any confusion again.

Bought

Bought is the past tense of the verb ‘buy’.

Definition of Buy: Buy means to obtain, get or to acquire something in exchange for money. For example,

1. I will buy these plates for $10 only.

2. She bought a brand new designer dress.

3. In October 2014, he bought his first home, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom investment property in Bracken Ridge, about 30km north of the CBD, for $378,500. (NEWS.com.eu)

Brought

Brought is the past tense of the verb ‘bring’.

Definition of Bring: Bring means to take or to carry someone or something from one to another place. For example,

1. Please, bring me a glass of water.

2. She asked me to bring a glass of water, but I <strongbrought a glass of fresh orange juice for her.

3. Amnesty International has revealed that just one unaccompanied child refugee has been brought to Northern Ireland under the Dubs scheme, introduced by the Government in response to a campaign fronted by Labour peer and former child refugee, Lord Dubs. (Amnesty International UK)

Quiz

Remember that bought is the past tense of buy whereas, brought is the past tense of bring ( i.e. brought and bring have –r in them).

Here is a small quiz for you. Fill in the blanks using bought or brought.

1. My friend ___________ me some chocolates.

2. I __________ a toy car from a nearby store.

3. She _________ a dinner set for $50.

4. Don’t worry, I have __________ the money.

(Answers at the end)

What Did You Learn?

Bought and brought are just one-letter apart. Both of these words are different in terms of meanings, spellings and functions. Bought is the past tense of buy meaning to obtain in exchange for money. Brought, on the other hand, is the past tense of bring meaning to carry someone or something.

Answers : 1. Brought , 2. Bought , 3. Bought , 4. Brought

Confusing Words: Burned (past tense) and Burnt (past participle)
Meaning: (of a fire) produce flames and heat while consuming a material such as coal or wood.
Burned vs Burnt Clarification: Burned and burnt are both correct spellings to be used within sentences.

Burned vs Burnt – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

There is a minor difference between burned and burnt in terms of pronunciation but there is no difference in meaning. Both of these words can be used interchangeably. The problem is with the region or people that you have to be careful about.

Define Burned/Burnt

Burned or burnt can be used as the past tense and the past participle form of the verb ‘burn’. Both burned and burnt are used to refer something that has been destroyed by fire or heat.

Note: Remember one thing, burned and burnt refer something that was happened in the past.

1. He burned his entire bookshelf for no reason.

2. Almost ten thousand papers were burnt infront of my house.

3. Cambridge college appeals for ‘calm’ over student who burnt £20 note in front of homeless man. (Cambridge News)

4. A fire broke out in Disneyland’s main parking structure that burned eight cars and forced seven people to be treated for smoke inhalation, authorities said. (Omaha World-Herald)

Burned and burnt can also be used as adjective within sentences. For example, burnt orange, burned car, burnt toast, burned house, etc.

Where to Use Burned or Burnt?

Though both of the spellings are acceptable as the past tense form of the verb ‘burn’, but, burned is more preferable than burnt. You will see burned in most of the worldwide publications.

In the same way, American English prefers burned than burnt. Only American English, most commonly, makes this distinction between burned and burnt. They want to go with the older version ‘burned’. However, you will see burnt used as adjective in many American publications.

Burned is more common than burnt

Beside the above discussion, burnt is the newer version and is favored by Britishers. It means that in British English, burnt is the more preferable spelling than burned.

Check Out: The Difference Between Assume and Presume.

What Did You Learn?

Burned and burnt are both correct spellings to be used within sentences. They are used to refer something that has been destroyed by fire or heat. Burned is more preferable spelling than burnt. However, burnt is used more commonly in British English.