Confusing Words in English

Confusing Words: Coworker and Co-worker (noun)
Meaning: a person with whom one works, typically someone in a similar role or at a similar level within an organization.
Coworker vs Co-worker Clarification: Coworker and co-worker are two different styles of the same word, which is used to refer a ‘colleague’.

Coworker vs Co-worker – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

There is just one difference between coworker and co-worker that is hyphen. Actually, both of these terms are correct to use. There is no difference in meaning, function and even in pronunciation. You can use any one of them as nothing is wrong with coworker and co-worker.

Definition

Coworker or co-worker is used as a noun within a sentence. It is synonymous with a colleague. It is used to refer a person with whom you work, like who has the same job like you do within an organization or an institute.

1. My coworkers/co-workers are very cooperative; this is the reason for our success.

2. One of my coworkers/co-workers got promoted. She is now the CEO of our company.

3. Join my organization and be my coworker/co-worker.

Check Out: The Difference Between Unorganized and Dis-organized.

But why there are two styles to write coworker?

The answer is preference. For instance, in AP Style, the hyphenated co-worker is much preferred than the unhyphenated coworker. In the same way, the Canadian Press style also prefers to use co-worker.

However, the Chicago Manual of Style, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association and American Medical Manual of Style prefer to use the unhyphenated term ‘coworker’.

If we see a preference in American and British English, we will come to know that coworker is favored in American English whereas, British English prefers to use co-worker.

On the other side, if you observe the overall view, you will come to know that the hyphenated term ‘co-worker’ is very much preferred in most of the areas. Actually, co-worker is said to be the traditional spelling, on the other hand, coworker is thought to be a spelling mistake.

But, as I said above that both of the spellings are correct to use.

So, you do not need to be confused. If you want to use coworker or co-worker, just check your publication’s style. For instance, if they are following AP Style then, must choose co-worker rather than coworker. Hence, it is important to keep an eye on the particular style guide to write something without any criticism.

What Did You Learn?

Coworker and co-worker are two different styles of the same word, which is used to refer a ‘colleague’. Both of these terms are acceptable to use. However, the hyphenated co-worker is much preferred worldwide.

Confusing Words: Continually (adverb) and Continuously (adverb)
Meaning:
Continually (repeated frequently in the same way; regularly.)
Continuously (without interruption or gaps.)
Continually vs Continuously Clarification: Continually and continuously are not interchangeable.

Continually vs Continuously – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

You can notice that the pronunciations of both of these words are quite similar. This is one of the reasons for the confusion between them. Apart from the pronunciation, their meanings are also very close to each other. Even, most of the people say that continually and continuously can be used interchangeably.

However, you should not think that these words can mean same because there is a difference that has to be understood.

Check out the following definitions of each of these words.

Continually

Continually is used as an adverb within a sentence. Its adjective form is continual. Both describe duration.

It can be used for the things that happen frequently or repeatedly within short time period.
For example,

1. I continually update my page to grow up my online business.

2. The department is also planning a new concept for intersections aimed at accommodating higher traffic volume and creating continual flow of traffic. (KTVB.COM)

Continuously

Continuously is also used as an adverb within a sentence. Its adjective form is continuous. Just like continually and continual, continuously and continuous also describe duration.

It can be used for the things that happen without any interruption i.e. there should be no gap in between the events.

1. She was continuously looking at the door and after some time, she started crying.

2. Fitbit today announced the Fitbit Alta HR, which the company is calling the “world’s slimmest fitness wristband” that has a continuous heart rate monitor. (Mac Rumors)

Check Out: The Difference Between Contiguous and Continuous.

Got the Difference?

I know that these words are still making confusion. If it is making trouble then, just remember that continually (continual) can have breaks or interruptions between events, but they keep happening after the breaks.

Continuously (continuous), on the other hand, does not afford any interruption between events. They are constant. For instant, in the above example (1), she was continuously looking at the door… it means that she did not take any break while her stare. She was constantly looking at the door.

What Did You Learn?

Continually and continuously are not interchangeable. It is important to keep them apart as, there is a difference in terms of their meanings. Both are used as adverbs within sentences.

Continually is used to describe things (i.e. events) that happen frequently but there can be a break between them.

Continuously is used to describe things (i.e. events) that happen without any interruption or more likely to say with no breaks.

Confusing Words: Conscience (noun) and Conscious (adjective)
Meaning:
Conscience (a person’s moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one’s behaviour.)
Conscious (aware of and responding to one’s surroundings.)
Conscience vs Conscious Clarification: Conscience and conscious are not interchangeable. They have totally different meanings from each other.

Conscience vs Conscious – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

There are thousands of confusing words in English vocabulary that, sometimes, make writers or speakers think twice, when to use which word. Today, I am coming up with two such words that are not actually homophones, but they are so close in terms of their pronunciations that drag them in the confusing category. The case is conscience vs. conscious.

Both of these words have quite similar pronunciations. This is the reason for the confusion between them. It is very important to keep these words apart. Conscience and conscious are not interchangeable. Let us check out their definitions and example sentences one by one.

Conscience

Conscience is used as a noun within a sentence. It is used to refer an inner thought of a person to judge the morality i.e. to have an idea of good and bad behavior. Conscience can be synonymous with moral sense.

1. He had a clear conscience that is why he said, “I did not do anything wrong.”

2. From the end of the War for Independence, the conscience of the newly formed United States was marred by almost constant internal and external warfare. (The Battlefords News-Optimist)

Conscious

Conscious is used as an adjective within a sentence. It means aware of one’s surroundings. Conscious can be synonymous with awake, alert or responsive.

1. Doctors let him be conscious during his major operation.

2. Fernando Torres is now “stable and conscious” after suffering a horrific head injury in a collision with a defender. (Liverpool Echo)

Got the Difference?

Conscience and conscious are two different words in terms of meaning as well as in function. You have to be very careful with word choice as wrong choice can give a bad impression to your writing.

The confusion between conscience and conscious is because of their pronunciations that are quite similar. However, you cannot say that their pronunciations are identical. Conscience is pronounced as /kän-shəns/. If you remove an “n” from this pronunciation then, it will become the pronunciation of conscious i.e. /kän-shəs/.

What Did You Learn?

Conscience and conscious are not interchangeable. They have totally different meanings from each other.

Conscience is a noun, which is used to refer an awareness of morality i.e. idea of good and bad behavior.
Conscious, on the other hand, is an adjective meaning to be aware of one’s surroundings; or more likely to say to be awake or alert.

Confusing Words: Concave (adjective) and Convex (adjective)
Meaning:
Concave (having an outline or surface that curves inwards like the interior of a circle or sphere.)
Convex (having an outline or surface curved like the exterior of a circle or sphere.)
Concave vs Convex Clarification: Concave and convex are used to describe two different surfaces.

Concave vs Convex – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Concave and convex are a few letters apart. Most importantly, both of these words are used to refer lenses. This is the reason for the confusion between them. I, also, get confused sometimes, whether to choose concave or convex.

These words are used for the two different types of lenses that have different or, good to say, opposite functions from each other. Let us define them one by one.

Concave

Concave is used as an adjective within a sentence. It is used to describe a lens that rounds or curves inward like the inside of a ball.

1. The teacher said, “Can you see the inside surface of the glass? It is concave.”

2. The CV1 is a bold made-to-order street performance wheel that is notable for its muscular concave seven-spoke design and strong chamfered machining details around the spokes. (Tires & Parts News)

Convex

Like concave, convex is also used as an adjective within a sentence. But, unlike concave, convex is used to describe a lens that rounds or curves outward like the outside of any round object or a ball.

1. You can see that the lens is convex from the other side.

2. Last year, in fact, there were reports saying that the iPhone 7 will be accompanied by a convex screen. (Weekly Observer)

Some Examples of Concave and Convex Surfaces

Concave: cosmetic mirrors, telescopes, headlights, spotlights, etc.

Convex: Spoons, side mirrors of cars, sunglasses, etc.

Other Meanings

Both Concave and convex have one more function. These words are also used in the world of mathematics. Both are polygons in which concave has an internal angle greater than 180°. Convex, on the other hand, has angles that are less than or equal to 180°.

What Did You Learn?

Concave and convex are used to describe two different surfaces.

Concave rounds or curves inward.
Convex, on the other hand, rounds or curves outward. Both of these words are used as adjectives within a sentence.

Confusing Words: Colour or Color (noun/verb)
Meaning: the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light.
Color vs Colour Clarification: These are just two different spellings of the same word.

Color vs Colour – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

As I said above that there is no difference between color and colour in terms of function, meaning or definition. You can see that the difference is just in their spellings. The fact is that one spelling is preferred in American English whereas; the other one is preferred in British English.

Let us find out the preference of these words in different regions; but first let me define color or colour.

Color/Colour

Color/colour is used as a noun or a verb within a sentence. As a noun, it is used to refer to the appearance of something in terms of hue, brightness or saturation; it can help anyone to differentiate between various things. It can be synonymous with tone, shade, or hue.

1. I know that you will definitely love the color/colour of your shirt.

2. I will use all of my favorite colors/colours to turn this room into a dreamy land.

As a verb, it means to change the color/colour of something. You can change it by painting, or dyeing.

1. Please, don’t color/colour your hair.

2. I was busy coloring/colouring with kids.

Color or Colour?

Be careful about the intended audience. If you are writing for British audiences, go for the spelling “colour” because colour is the preferred spelling in British English.

On the other hand, choose color for American audiences because they use the spelling “color” preferably.

However, if you are not confirmed which one to choose then, ask your organization which spelling they’d like to use; or you can choose any one of these spellings. But, remember not to use both of these spellings in your writing. Just choose one spelling and stick to it till the end of your writing.

Apart from their spellings, do not get confused in terms of their meaning or usage as, there is not a single difference between them in meaning and function.

American English = Color

British English = Colour

What Did You Learn?

Color and colour are just two different spellings of the same word. Color is preferred in American English whereas; colour is the preferred spelling in British English.

There is no such difference in their meaning and function.

As a noun, it is used to refer to the appearance of something in terms of hue, brightness or saturation. As a verb, it means to change the shade or color/colour of something.