Confusing Words: Beside (preposition) and Besides (preposition/adverb)
Meaning: at the side of; next to.
Beside vs Besides Clarification: Beside and besides are just one-letter apart. You cannot use both of these words interchangeably.

Beside vs Besides – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it beside or besides? Are both of these words correct to use or there is just a spelling mistake?

Let me tell you one thing, both beside and besides are correct words to use within sentences. They are different in terms of meanings as well as in functions. Now, I will define each term separately and use them in example sentences.

Beside

The word ‘beside’ is used as a preposition within sentences. It is synonymous with alongside meaning at the side of.

For example,

1. Don’t get nervous; I will always stand beside you.

2. I have placed your book on the table beside the bed.

3. Her body was found beside a footpath on the outskirts of the community and she died a day later in Townsville Hospital. (The Cairns Post)

Besides

The word ‘besides’ can be used as a preposition or an adverb within sentences. As a preposition, it means apart from or in addition to.

1. Besides baking, I love to make handmade accessories.

2. Besides the dearth of bike lanes, fast-moving busy streets, and sub-par pavement, bike share has additional challenges in this area. (Streetsblog San Francisco)

As an adverb, besides means furthermore, in addition to, also or as well.

1. I don’t want to go outside. Besides, I want to take a rest.

2. Pictou County would benefit from a post-season matchup with the Antigonish Bulldogs for a couple of reasons (sincerely, no offence to the Bulldogs, and besides, I’m pretty sure they’d be good with playing the Scotians in the first round, and not the Miners). (The News)

Got the Difference?

From the above discussion, it has been clear that beside and besides are two different words having different meanings and functions. So, you have to be careful while using these words. Do not mix beside with besides, as it will cause a great confusion among readers.

Always use beside (without an –s) to refer an alongside. Remember one thing that beside is always followed by a noun or a pronoun. For instance, ‘beside you’ or ‘beside the bed’. On the other hand, besides (with an –s) always refer to make an additional point. If besides comes before the additional point then, a comma should be set off after besides.

What Did You Learn?

Beside and besides are just one-letter apart. You cannot use both of these words interchangeably. Beside is a preposition which is synonymous with alongside. On the other hand, besides can be an adverb and a preposition which means apart from, also or in addition to.

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)

3. The concept of centripetal force can be observed when players experience the attraction of 1000 free spins in a game, where the motion of the reels is designed to pull players into a winning sequence, much like the centripetal force pulling objects toward the center.

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.