LEGAL WRITING AND STUDY SKILLS I
LEVEL 100 LOWER, REGULAR 16 MARCH 2026
TOPIC: EASILY CONFUSED WORDS AND PHRASAL VERBS
EASILY CONFUSED WORDS
Many words in English sound and look alike but can have radically different
meanings. It is important to be aware of the more common of these false pairs –
the consequences of confusing them could be disastrous. If in doubt, consult a
good dictionary.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of the most common examples.
Advice is a noun that means guidance or recommendation about future action
(e.g. ‘friends always ask his advice’).
Advise is a verb that chiefly means to recommend a course of action (e.g. ‘we
advised him to go home’).
Affect is a verb that means to make a difference to (e.g. ‘the pay cuts will affect
everyone’).
Effect is used both as a noun meaning a result (e.g. ‘the substance has a pain-reducing
effect’) and as a verb meaning to bring about (a result), (e.g. ‘he effected
a cost-cutting exercise’).
Anonymous is an adjective which refers to a name that is not known or not
made known (e.g. ‘he wrote anonymously in the newspaper’) or which means
having no outstanding or individual features (e.g. ‘the building looked rather
anonymous’).
Unanimous is an adjective meaning to be fully in agreement (e.g. ‘the decision
was made unanimously’).
Ante means ‘before’ (e.g. ‘ante-meridiem’).
, Anti means ‘against’ (e.g. ‘anti-nuclear’).
Appraise means to assess something (e.g. ‘we appraised the services offered by
the company’).
Apprise is to inform somebody about something (e.g. ‘he apprised me of the
news’).
Assent means approval or agreement (e.g. ‘her proposal met/received the assent
of all present’).
Ascent means an instance of going up something (e.g. ‘the first ascent of the
Matterhorn’).
Aural refers to something which relates to the ear or sense of hearing.
Oral means spoken rather than written.
Biannual refers to something that occurs twice a year.
Biennial refers to something that occurs every two years.
Canvas is a type of material.
Canvass means to seek political support before an election or to seek people’s
opinions on something (e.g. ‘I canvassed her opinion on the matter’).
Complacent means uncritically satisfied with oneself; smug.
Complaisant indicates a willingness to please others or to accept their behaviour
without protest.
Compliment means politely congratulate or praise (e.g. ‘he complimented her on
her appearance’).
Complement means to add in a way that improves (e.g. ‘she selected a green
sweater to complement her blonde hair’).
Council means an assembly of people meeting regularly to advise on, discuss, or
organise something.
Counsel means (1) advice or (2) a barrister conducting a case.
Credible means convincing or believable.
LEVEL 100 LOWER, REGULAR 16 MARCH 2026
TOPIC: EASILY CONFUSED WORDS AND PHRASAL VERBS
EASILY CONFUSED WORDS
Many words in English sound and look alike but can have radically different
meanings. It is important to be aware of the more common of these false pairs –
the consequences of confusing them could be disastrous. If in doubt, consult a
good dictionary.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of the most common examples.
Advice is a noun that means guidance or recommendation about future action
(e.g. ‘friends always ask his advice’).
Advise is a verb that chiefly means to recommend a course of action (e.g. ‘we
advised him to go home’).
Affect is a verb that means to make a difference to (e.g. ‘the pay cuts will affect
everyone’).
Effect is used both as a noun meaning a result (e.g. ‘the substance has a pain-reducing
effect’) and as a verb meaning to bring about (a result), (e.g. ‘he effected
a cost-cutting exercise’).
Anonymous is an adjective which refers to a name that is not known or not
made known (e.g. ‘he wrote anonymously in the newspaper’) or which means
having no outstanding or individual features (e.g. ‘the building looked rather
anonymous’).
Unanimous is an adjective meaning to be fully in agreement (e.g. ‘the decision
was made unanimously’).
Ante means ‘before’ (e.g. ‘ante-meridiem’).
, Anti means ‘against’ (e.g. ‘anti-nuclear’).
Appraise means to assess something (e.g. ‘we appraised the services offered by
the company’).
Apprise is to inform somebody about something (e.g. ‘he apprised me of the
news’).
Assent means approval or agreement (e.g. ‘her proposal met/received the assent
of all present’).
Ascent means an instance of going up something (e.g. ‘the first ascent of the
Matterhorn’).
Aural refers to something which relates to the ear or sense of hearing.
Oral means spoken rather than written.
Biannual refers to something that occurs twice a year.
Biennial refers to something that occurs every two years.
Canvas is a type of material.
Canvass means to seek political support before an election or to seek people’s
opinions on something (e.g. ‘I canvassed her opinion on the matter’).
Complacent means uncritically satisfied with oneself; smug.
Complaisant indicates a willingness to please others or to accept their behaviour
without protest.
Compliment means politely congratulate or praise (e.g. ‘he complimented her on
her appearance’).
Complement means to add in a way that improves (e.g. ‘she selected a green
sweater to complement her blonde hair’).
Council means an assembly of people meeting regularly to advise on, discuss, or
organise something.
Counsel means (1) advice or (2) a barrister conducting a case.
Credible means convincing or believable.
