Confusing Words in English

Confusing Words:
Meaning:
Clarification:

Don’t make mistakes! If you are an English writer, be aware that there are many confusing words in English vocabulary. For instance, there are words that sound interchangeable but have different meanings. Unorganized vs. disorganized is such a case that many people are unaware of the differences between them. In this post, I will discuss both of these words with their definitions and I will also use the terms ‘unorganized’ and ‘disorganized’ in example sentences.

Unorganized vs. Disorganized – Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Is it unorganized or disorganized?

‘Un’ in unorganized and ‘dis’ in disorganized are both negative prefixes. Many people think that both of these words are interchangeable but they are quite different in terms of meaning. Let me define these terms one by one. Read their definitions carefully to mark the differences between them.

Unorganized

Unorganized is used as an adjective within a sentence. It is synonymous with messy.

Unorganized is used to describe such thing which is not organized or lacks a specific order from the beginning.

See the example sentences below;

1. The industry is much interested to hire a few unorganized workers.
2. Public sentiment is not observed. The wealthy and powerful gain a ready hearing, but the plodding, suffering, unorganized complaining multitude are spurned and derided. (James B. Weaver)

Disorganized

Disorganized is also used as an adjective within a sentence. It is used to describe such thing which has been demolished or which has been badly controlled.

Disorganized is synonymous with badly organized or badly controlled.

See the example sentences below;

1. This is because of the non-serious attitude of employers that we are, now, facing a disorganized meeting.
2. I don’t know about you, but I practice a disorganized religion. I belong to an unholy disorder. We call ourselves Our Lady of Perpetual Astonishment. (Kurt Vonnegut)

What is the Difference?

It has been clear from the above definitions that if something is disorganized, it means that it was properly organized before. However, if something is unorganized, it means that it was a mess from its beginning.

What Did You Learn?

Do not be confused!

Though, both ‘disorganized’ and ‘unorganized’ are adjectives but they are not interchangeable. Disorganized is something which was organized before and, now, it is badly organized. Unorganized, on the other hand, is something which is a mess from its beginning.

Confusing Words: Prognosis (noun) and Diagnosis (noun).
Meaning:
Prognosis (the likely course of a medical condition.)
Diagnosis (the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.)
Prognosis vs Diagnosis Clarification: Prognosis and diagnosis are totally different terms in terms of their meanings.

Prognosis vs Diagnosis – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Word choice may confuse many writers and speakers as well.

Medical field is known to have a very difficult vocabulary. Apart from the medical specialists, every person may not be able to remember hundreds of difficult medical terms.

As you can see that both prognosis and diagnosis are a few letters apart.

Though, they are related to the same field but you cannot use them interchangeably. Prognosis and diagnosis are totally different terms in terms of their meanings. Let me define these terms one by one.

Prognosis

The word ‘prognosis’ is used as a noun within a sentence. It is used to refer to a medical forecast or an opinion, usually by a doctor, about an illness or a medical condition.

1. The doctors are not willing to make a prognosis for this type of serious illness.

2. The family was very upset to hear a very weak prognosis from specialists.

3. [After a poor prognosis for recovery from her doctor following her 1990 bus accident] I said if it is up to me, I’m going to be OK. (Gloria Estefan)

Diagnosis

Like prognosis, diagnosis is also used as a noun within a sentence. It is used to refer to an act of discovery or an identification of an illness by examining the nature of the disease i.e. the symptoms. This term is only used in the field of medical.

Let us find out how you can use this term within sentences.

1. The doctors were not telling me the diagnosis of my disease.

2. She should be careful now; give her healthy and light foods because her final diagnosis is pneumonia.

3. If you can make the diagnosis, the treatment is easy and the damage can be reversed. But making the diagnosis is tricky. (Ralph Green)

Check Out: The Difference Between Illusion and Delusion.

Did You Get The Difference?

From the above discussion, you got to know that both prognosis and diagnosis are the terms that are related to the fields of medical or psychology.

However, people also use these terms outside the medical field as well. For instance, prognosis is synonymous with forecast, prediction, or prophecy. Diagnosis, on the other hand, is synonymous with discovery, recognition, or detection.

Prognosis = Prediction

Diagnosis = Identification

What Did You Learn?

Do not mix up the two medical terms ‘prognosis’ and ‘diagnosis’ as, both have totally different meanings from each other.

Though both of these terms are used to refer to a condition like disease but prognosis is the prediction of that disease and diagnosis is the detection of the disease.

Confusing Words: Criteria (noun) and Criterion (noun)
Meaning:
Criteria (a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided.)
Criterion (a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided – plural.)
Criteria vs Criterion Clarification: The two words carry the same meaning. The term, Criteria is simply the plural for criterion.

Criteria vs Criterion – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

From the above two words, criterion is perhaps not a commonly used word. However, the word ‘criteria’ is a commonly used word. As a writer or a speaker, you use criteria more often than criterion. Let me first define the word ‘criteria’ then, I will reveal a truth behind criteria vs. criterion.

Criteria

‘Criteria’ is used as a noun or a word within a sentence. It is used to refer to a basis or a principle through which one can evaluate or test something. It is synonymous with standard, measure, or a scale.

1. You should meet the following criteria otherwise; you will not be selected for the sports competition.

Criterion

Criterion has the same definition as of criteria. The fact is that criterion is the singular form of criteria.

1. We surely need a valid criterion for this course.

It means that the word ‘criteria’ is a plural noun.

Criteria = Plural Noun

Criterion = Singular Noun

Most of the people do not use criterion as a singular noun; instead, they use ‘criteria’ in the plural as well as in singular contexts.

1. As a renowned organization, you should clear up this specific criteria. (Incorrect)

2. As a renowned organization, you should clear up this specific criterion. (correct)

3. As a renowned organization, you should clear up these criteria. (Correct)

4. As renowned organization, you should clear up these criterion. (Incorrect)

Check Out: Difference Between Convince and Persuade.

Other Examples

1. Our criteria for deciding what’s good and what’s bad is very fickle, especially in this country. (Roberta Flack)

2. A major criterion for judging the anxiety level of any society is the loss of its capacity to be playful. (Edwin H. Friedman)

What Did You Learn?

Criteria as a singular as well as a plural noun. In case you want your writing to be error-free then, make sure that ‘criteria’ is a plural noun form of the word ‘criterion’.

If you want to refer to a single basis or a principle through which one can evaluate or test something then, you should choose the word ‘criterion’.

If you want to refer to more than one criterion then, you can easily choose ‘criteria’ as a plural noun.

Confusing Words: Crawfish (noun) and Crayfish (noun)
Meaning:
Crawfish (another term for spiny lobster.)
Crayfish (a nocturnal freshwater crustacean that resembles a small lobster and inhabits streams and rivers.)
Crawfish vs Crayfish Clarification: Crawfish and crayfish are two different spellings of the same word, which is a small nocturnal freshwater animal

Crawfish vs Crayfish – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

Crayfish and crawfish are two different spellings of the same noun. They are also named as freshwater lobsters, crawdads, mudbugs, or yabbies.

Crawfish or crayfish is used as a noun within a sentence. It is used to refer a small nocturnal freshwater animal that lives in rivers and streams. It can be eaten as food.

See the following examples to see how you can use these words within sentences.

1. When you catch a crayfish, be careful to hold it.

2. Finally I got a perfect recipe of Louisiana Crawfish Boil recipe from Allrecipes.com.

Crawfish vs Crayfish?

There is no difference between crawfish and crayfish. The two different spellings are known because of the regional dialect. However, the spelling ‘crayfish’ is the popular term across the world and is most commonly used spelling than ‘crawfish’.

The name crayfish has been introduced by Thomas Huxley, who was an English scientist. Crawfish, on the other hand, was introduced by an American zoologist, Thomas Say.

In American English, the spelling Crawfish is much used in some contexts, like in regional dining. In most of the restaurants, people use crawfish instead of crayfish in their menu lists. For instance, one of the American publications says ‘the best tasting version is made with leftovers from a crawfish boil.’

Apart from the regional dining, the name crayfish is the preferred and the standard spelling for most of the contexts and is used as a standard spelling all across the world.

Check Out: What Are Collective Nouns?

What Did You Learn?

Crawfish and crayfish are two different spellings of the same word, which is a small nocturnal freshwater animal. The name crawfish is expected to use in the context like dining, mainly in American English. However, crayfish is used as the popular or the standard term all across the world and is used in most of the contexts.

Confusing Words: Dependant (noun/adjective) and Dependent (noun/adjective)
Meaning:
Dependant (a person who depends on another person, organization, etc, for support, aid, or sustenance, esp. financial support.)
Dependent (contingent on or determined by.)
Dependant vs Dependent Clarification: The spelling dependent has been the preferred spelling in American English and has always been used as an adjective in British English.

Dependant vs Dependent – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?

The two variants of English language, British English and American English, often create confusion among writers. Most of the times, writers come across such words that have two different spellings, i.e. one is preferred in American while the other one is preferred spelling in British English.

As I said above that dependant and dependent are the two different spellings of a same word.

However, you have to be careful of the situations because preferences are attached to these words. Before telling you which variant prefers which spelling, let me first define this particular term.

Check Out: Difference Between Despite and In-Spite

Definition of Dependant/Dependent

Dependent or Dependant is used as a noun or an adjective within a sentence. As a noun, it is used to refer to a person who depends or relies on someone else, especially for a financial support.

1. This job is eligible for such persons who have no dependents/dependants.

2. The government is helping females with at least three children as dependents/dependants.

As an adjective, dependent means depending or relying on someone or something for support.

1. My admission is dependent on my upcoming result.

2. Success is dependent on effort. (Sophocles)

Why Two Different Spellings?

In the above discussion, you have read the definition of dependant or dependent. Let me tell you that dependant is the older term than dependent.

Dependent is the preferred spelling in American English. In fact, Americans do not use the spelling ‘dependant’. So, it is easier for Americans to go with only one spelling ‘dependent’ as a noun or as an adjective. So, be careful with it; do not use dependant for American audiences.

However, it is the British English in which dependant was used as a noun whereas; dependent has been used as an adjective.

According to a research, I have now come to know that this distinction has been declined because, now, most of the British publications are using dependent as a noun as well as an adjective.

What Did You Learn?

Dependant and dependent are the two different spellings of a same word. As a noun, it is used to refer to a person who relies on someone else for a support. As an adjective, it means relying on someone or something for support.

It has been noticed that dependant is the older term than dependent which was preferably used as a noun in British English.

The spelling dependent has also been the preferred spelling in American English and has always been used as an adjective in British English.