Confusing Words in English

Confusing Words: Attain (verb) and Obtain (verb)
Meaning:
Attain (succeed in achieving (something that one has worked for).
Obtain (get, acquire, or secure (something).)
Attain vs Obtain Clarification: Attain and obtain are used as verbs within sentences.

Attain vs Obtain – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

These words are two-letters apart. They are quite similar in terms of their meanings. Even, some people think that attain and obtain are interchangeable. This is wrong because you cannot think that these words are same in meanings. You should be careful in word choice in order to avoid errors in texts.

I will define each term with examples that will clear up all the confusions regarding attain and obtain.

Attain

Attain is used as a verb within sentences. Attain means to earn, win, acquire, achieve or accomplish something. You attain something through hard word and effort.

1. You should work hard to attain higher grades in final exams.

2. After several days of training, I attained the top rank that I desired the most.

3. Anything you really want, you can attain, if you really go after it. (Wayne Dyer)

Obtain

Obtain is also used as a verb within a sentence. Obtain is related to the things. Generally, it means that you only obtain physical things. However, obtain means to get something. Unlike attain, you do not have to make any effort to obtain something.

1. My friends were very excited to obtain the live concert’s entry tickets.

2. I obtained my most favourite novel from a nearby book shop.

3. Good people obtain pure joy not because they do great things but, because they do small acts of kindness with great love and with caring heart. (Unknown)

Got the Difference?

From the above discussion, it is clear that both attain and obtain are very similar in term of meanings. In fact, there is a minor difference to keep them apart. To attain is to achieve something with determination, hard work or effort.

To obtain, however, is to get something and you do not have to make so much efforts to obtain anything. For instance, you can obtain your favourite coloured dress from a super market. If you cannot afford to fulfill your desire and you are working so hard to make your lifstyle better. Then, after much hard work, you finally attain the things you desired for.

Attain = to win or to achieve through effort

Obtain = to get without much effort

What Did You Learn?

Attain and obtain are used as verbs within sentences. You cannot use these words interchangeably as they are slightly different in meanings. Attain means to earn or to achieve something through effort whereas, obtain means to get something without any hard work.

Confusing Words: noun
Meaning: a tool used for chopping wood, typically of iron with a steel edge and wooden handle.
Ax vs Axe Clarification: Ax and axe are two different spellings of the same word. There is no distinction in meaning as well as in pronunciation.

Ax vs Axe – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

The fact behind these two words is that ax and axe are two different spellings of the same word. The pronunciation of both of these spellings are exactly same and there is also no distinction in meanings.

The difference is only in their spellings. Actually, the two varieties of English language (American English and British English) keep them apart.
Let us find out which word is most suitable for style.

Ax

Ax is the preferable spelling in American English. This particular word is used as a noun or a verb within sentences. As a noun, ax means a tool with a sharp head and a handle used for cutting, chopping or splitting of trees or wood. Woodcutters usually have this tool.

1. The woodcutter cannot find out his ax to cut down the tree.

2. The man used an ax for his criminal activities.

3. An attitude can murder just as easily as an ax. (Woodrow M Kroll)

As a verb, ax means to trim, to chop or to remove something.

1. The company is about to ax a worker who is not working effeciently.

2. Do you want me to ax some grocery items?

Axe

For many years, this particular spelling (axe) was preferably used within both American and British writings. After the spelling ax, axe is no more standard for American English and is now left only for British English.

Axe is preferably used in British English and it is used in the same context as I mentioned above in the ax’s description.

1. If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first four hours sharpening the axe. (Abraham Lincoln)

Check Out: What Is Antithesis?

An Important Point

If you will see the spelling axe in an American text, do not get confused because many American writings still use axe instead of ax. It is just a general fact that the American English slightly prefers ax whereas, for British English, axe is the standard spelling.

American English = Ax

British English = Axe

What Did You Learn?

Ax and axe are two different spellings of the same word. There is no distinction in meaning as well as in pronunciation. This particular word is used as a noun or a verb within a sentence.

You can use both ax and axe in American English but in British English, axe is the only standard spelling.

Confusing Words: Are (verb) and Our (determiner)
Meaning:
Are (second person singular present and first, second, third person plural present of be.)
Our (belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more other people previously mentioned or easily identified.)
Clarification: The words are and our are not interchangeable. They have totally different meanings as well as functions.

Are vs Our – What is Difference, Definition & Meaning?

If you speak out these words, you will come to know that the pronunciation of both are and our is similar to each other. May be, this is the reason for their confusion. Otherwise, the meanings and the functions of both of these words are totally different. Are and our are not interchangeable.

These two words are very frequent words of English vocabulary. It is because of their functions within sentences that every person is used to say out these words many times in a day.

Let us explore the meanings and the functions of these words. I will explain them one by one.

Are

According to many dictionaries, are is the second person singular present and first, second and third person plural present of ‘be’. ‘Be’ is used as a verb within sentences.

1. “You are one of my most favourite friends”, I said to Betty.

2. We are all happy and excited to join you at the cinema.

3. The people of Turkey are so lovable and sweet in communication.

4. Embrace who you are and don’t make any apologies for being yourself. (Unknown)

As a helping verb, are has the same function in the formation of complete clause.

• They are going to finish the deal very soon.

• You are making fun of this little fellow.

• My friends are having an awesome party tonight.

Check Out: The Difference Between Bear and Bare.

Our

According to The Cambridge Dictionary, our is used as a determiner within sentences that means ‘of or belonging to us’. It is a possessive form of ‘we’. It means that our is a possessive determiner or it is used as an adjective pronoun. In this way, it points out a custody or an ownership.

1. Our home is a sweet home.

2. We should keep our places neat and clean in order to protect our families from dangerous diseases.

3. All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to persue them. (Walt Disney)

What Did You Learn?

The words are and our are not interchangeable. They have totally different meanings as well as functions. Are is used as a verb. It is the second person singular present and first, second and third person plural present of ‘be’. Our, on the other hand, is used as a possessive determiner. It can point out a custody or an ownership.

Confusing Words: Anytime (adverb) and Any Time (phrase)
Meaning:
Anytime (at any time; regardless of hour, date, etc.; whenever.)
Any Time (any amount of time.)
Anytime vs Any Time Clarification: The word ‘anytime’ and the phrase ‘any time’ are not interchangeable.

Anytime vs Any Time – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

English is an advance language. You can make choices between words that are used interchangeably. But, it is necessary to chooce most suitable words for your writing, otherwise, the critics will never leave you.

We hear the word ‘anytime’ almost daily. It is a frequent term. But there comes a question, is the correct word anytime or any time?

The main problem often comes for the writers who face difficulties in choosing the correct word which should be suitable for their writings.

If we observe our today’s case, we will come to know that there is a word (anytime) and a phrase (any time). In most of the formal writings, you can see the phrase, ‘any time’, has been used by the writers.

Let us discuss each term separately. In this way, you can easily get the differences between anytime vs. any time.

Anytime

According to The Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘anytime’ is a variant of omitted unresolving XREF to ‘any time’. On the other side, The Merriam Webster Dictionary says that the word ‘anytime’ is an adverb that means ‘at any time’ or ‘at any time whatever’.

It means that The Oxford Dictionary does not support the word ‘anytime’. It is said that this particular word is Americanism. Mostly, it can be seen in American texts.

1. I can go anytime I want.

2. You can call me anytime but not at night.

In short, you can use the word ‘anytime’ as an adverb only, that will give the meaning as ‘whenever’.

Any Time

This phrase is said to be more formal than the word ‘anytime’. You can use this term without any hesitation because it can give the most authentic meaning to your text.

The phrase ‘any time’ is a noun phrase. Most of the dictionaries define any time as ‘at whatever time’. If you want to refer a particular amount of time, your choice should be the noun phrase ‘any time’.

1. Can we go any time today to the China Mall for shopping?

2. You have to find out any time for your friends.

3. Don’t forget to call me any time you want.

Check Out: The Difference Between Anymore and Any More.

An Important Point

I want to tell you one very important point. If you want to make a prepositional phrase, then the phrase ‘any time’ should be used. In this way, any time always followed by the preposition ‘at’. You cannot use ‘at’ with the word ‘anytime’. If you want to use the word ‘anytime’, then you have to remove the preposition ‘at’ from the sentence.

For example,

1. You can call me at any time you choose. (Correct)
2. You can call me at anytime you choose. (Wrong)
3. You can call me anytime you choose. (Correct)

What Did You Learn?

The word ‘anytime’ and the phrase ‘any time’ are not interchangeable. Anytime is used as an adverb which is a variant of ‘any time’.

The phrase ‘any time’ is a noun phrase which is used to refer any particualr amount of time. It is always followed by the preposition ‘at’ when used adverbially.

Confusing Words: Avenge (verb) and Revenge (verb/noun)
Meaning:
Avenge (to take vengeance for or on behalf of.)
Revenge (the action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.)
Clarification: Avenge and revenge are likely to say two words depicting two different ideas.

Avenge vs Revenge – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

As you can see that the above words are not completely homophones. However, they have –avenge as a common sound. The initial sounds are different in both of these words. Besides pronunciations, meanings of these words also differ.

So, why people feel confusion in getting avenge and revenge?

The answer is their meanings. The meanings of both avenge and revenge are similar enough to create confusion. It is important for the writers to keep these words apart because they do mean same things but with a slight difference.

Let us remove the confusion by defining each term separately and correctly.

Avenge

This particular word is used as a verb within sentences. Avenge means to punish someone in order to enact justice.

1. The man was seeking to avenge the murder of his only sister.

2. He was avenged his friend’s discomfort by seeing that the naughty boys got expelled from school.

3. A cheated husband does not need to avenge his wife. Her lover will do that. (Etienne Ray)

So, you see that avenge is to seek justice. You have heard or watched the film ‘The Avengers’. There is a team of superheroes who gives their services to everyone to make peace on Earth. You can remember the verb ‘avenge’ from The Avengers.

Revenge

This particular word is used as a verb or a noun. Revenge means retaliation, reprisal or vengeance. Revenge can be taken as more personal. It has nothing to do with justice. The only intention is to pay back by giving harm to someone.

1. He was seeking revenge for his sister’s murder and he wished to give same pain to the killer. (as a noun)

2. His way to revenge his discomfort was so lethal. (as a verb)

3. Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, blood and revenge are hammering in my head. (William Shakespeare) (as a noun)

Got the Difference?

So from the above discussion, the difference between avenge and revenge has been cleared. You avenge to punish someone but your intention is to seek justice. You want to teach a lesson to someone who hurt someone else. Revenge can be dangerous sometimes. It is more like a personal satisfaction because it has no concerns with justice.

Avenge = To Enact Justice

Revenge = A Personal Satisfaction

What Did You Learn?

Avenge and revenge are likely to say two words depicting two different ideas. To keep the writings clear and understandable, you have to be excellent in word choice. Avenge means to punish someone in order to enact justice whereas, revenge means retaliation, reprisal or vengeance.