SSC MTS - Tricky & Confusing English Words that are COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS

 

SSC MTS - Tricky & Confusing English Words

1. COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS (Very Important!)

Accept vs Except

• Accept (verb) = to receive willingly
  • Example: I accept your apology.
• Except (preposition) = excluding, apart from
  • Example: Everyone came except John.

Affect vs Effect

• Affect (verb) = to influence
  • Example: The weather affects my mood.
• Effect (noun) = result, outcome
  • Example: The effect of the medicine was immediate.

Advise vs Advice

• Advise (verb) = to give suggestions
  • Example: I advise you to study hard.
• Advice (noun) = suggestion, recommendation
  • Example: Thank you for your advice.

Lose vs Loose

• Lose (verb) = to be unable to find, to be defeated
  • Example: Don't lose your keys.
• Loose (adjective) = not tight
  • Example: These pants are too loose.

Practice vs Practise

• Practice (noun) = the activity of doing something regularly
  • Example: Practice makes perfect.
• Practise (verb) = to do something repeatedly to improve
  • Example: I practise cricket daily. (British English)
  • Note: In American English, "practice" is used for both

Stationary vs Stationery

• Stationary (adjective) = not moving, still
  • Example: The car was stationary.
• Stationery (noun) = writing materials (pens, paper)
  • Example: I bought stationery from the shop.

Principal vs Principle

• Principal (noun) = head of school; (adjective) = main, most important
  • Example: The principal called a meeting.
• Principle (noun) = fundamental rule or belief
  • Example: He is a man of principles.

Compliment vs Complement

• Compliment (noun/verb) = praise
  • Example: She gave me a compliment.
• Complement (verb/noun) = to complete or enhance
  • Example: The wine complements the food.

Desert vs Dessert

• Desert (noun) = dry, sandy region; (verb) = to abandon
  • Example: The Sahara is a desert.
• Dessert (noun) = sweet dish after meal
  • Example: Ice cream is my favorite dessert.

Continuous vs Continual

• Continuous = without interruption
  • Example: There was continuous rain for 3 hours.
• Continual = repeated, intermittent
  • Example: I face continual problems with my phone.
    
    

2. TRICKY SPELLINGS (Commonly Misspelled)

Words with Double Letters

1. Accommodation (2 C's, 2 M's)
2. Committee (2 M's, 2 T's, 2 E's)
3. Occurrence (2 C's, 2 R's)
4. Necessary (1 C, 2 S's)
5. Embarrass (2 R's, 2 S's)
6. Possess (2 S's in middle, 2 S's at end)
7. Harassment (1 R, 2 S's)
8. Parallel (2 L's)
9. Millennium (2 L's, 2 N's)
10. Apparent (2 P's)

Tricky Silent Letters

11. Shepherd (silent 'h')
12. Yacht (silent 'ch' sound)
13. Pneumonia (silent 'p')
14. Psychology (silent 'p')
15. Receipt (silent 'p')
16. Doubt (silent 'b')
17. Subtle (silent 'b')
18. Scissors (silent 'c')
19. Rhythm (no vowels except 'y')
20. Colonel (pronounced "kernel")

Words ending in -ABLE vs -IBLE

21. Acceptable (-able)
22. Responsible (-ible)
23. Accessible (-ible)
24. Comfortable (-able)
25. Terrible (-ible)
26. Horrible (-ible)
27. Reliable (-able)
28. Visible (-ible)
29. Flexible (-ible)
30. Readable (-able)

Other Difficult Spellings

31. Separate (not 'seperate')
32. Definitely (not 'definately')
33. Government (not 'goverment')
34. Colleague (not 'collegue')
35. Beginning (not 'begining')
36. Quarantine (not 'quarentine')
37. Maintenance (not 'maintainance')
38. Pronunciation (not 'pronounciation')
39. Privilege (not 'priviledge')
40. Conscious (not 'concious')
    
    

3. HOMOPHONES (Same Sound, Different Meaning)

A-C

1. Aisle (passage) vs Isle (island)
2. Altar (religious table) vs Alter (to change)
3. Bare (naked) vs Bear (animal/to carry)
4. Brake (to stop) vs Break (to damage)
5. Buy (purchase) vs By (near) vs Bye (goodbye)
6. Capital (city/money) vs Capitol (building)
7. Cell (room/biology) vs Sell (to vend)
8. Cereal (grain) vs Serial (sequence)
9. Cite (quote) vs Site (location) vs Sight (vision)
10. Coarse (rough) vs Course (path/class)

D-L

11. Dear (beloved) vs Deer (animal)
12. Die (death) vs Dye (color)
13. Fair (just/festival) vs Fare (cost)
14. Flour (powder) vs Flower (plant)
15. Hear (listen) vs Here (this place)
16. Heel (foot part) vs Heal (cure)
17. Hour (60 minutes) vs Our (belonging to us)
18. Knew (past of know) vs New (fresh)
19. Knight (warrior) vs Night (dark time)
20. Know (be aware) vs No (negative)

M-W

21. Made (created) vs Maid (servant)
22. Mail (post) vs Male (man)
23. Meat (flesh) vs Meet (encounter)
24. Pain (hurt) vs Pane (glass)
25. Pair (two) vs Pear (fruit) vs Pare (to peel)
26. Peace (calm) vs Piece (part)
27. Plain (simple) vs Plane (aircraft)
28. Rain (water) vs Reign (rule) vs Rein (strap)
29. Read (past) vs Red (color)
30. Right (correct) vs Write (pen) vs Rite (ceremony)
31. Scene (view) vs Seen (viewed)
32. Sea (ocean) vs See (vision)
33. Son (male child) vs Sun (star)
34. Tail (rear end) vs Tale (story)
35. Their (belonging to them) vs There (place) vs They're (they are)
36. To (direction) vs Too (also) vs Two (number 2)
37. Waist (body part) vs Waste (garbage)
38. Wait (delay) vs Weight (heaviness)
39. Wear (clothing) vs Where (place)
40. Weather (climate) vs Whether (if)

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4. ONE WORD SUBSTITUTION (Very Important for SSC!)

People & Professions

1. Astronomer - one who studies stars and celestial bodies
2. Philanthropist - one who loves mankind and helps people
3. Misanthrope - one who hates mankind
4. Polyglot - one who speaks many languages
5. Ambidextrous - able to use both hands equally well
6. Optimist - one who looks at the bright side
7. Pessimist - one who looks at the dark side
8. Connoisseur - an expert judge in matters of taste
9. Atheist - one who doesn't believe in God
10. Agnostic - one who doubts the existence of God
11. Vegetarian - one who doesn't eat meat
12. Omnivore - one who eats everything
13. Carnivore - one who eats meat
14. Herbivore - one who eats plants
15. Feminist - one who supports women's rights

Places

16. Aviary - place where birds are kept
17. Apiary - place where bees are kept
18. Aquarium - place where fish are kept
19. Asylum - shelter for mentally ill or orphans
20. Arsenal - place where weapons are stored
21. Mint - place where coins are made
22. Brewery - place where beer is made
23. Bakery - place where bread is made
24. Granary - place where grains are stored
25. Library - place where books are kept
26. Laboratory - place where experiments are done
27. Mortuary - place where dead bodies are kept
28. Museum - place where historical objects are kept
29. Observatory - place to observe stars and planets
30. Orphanage - home for orphans

Actions & Events

31. Homicide - murder of a human being
32. Suicide - killing oneself
33. Genocide - killing of a race
34. Regicide - killing of a king
35. Patricide - killing of one's father
36. Matricide - killing of one's mother
37. Infanticide - killing of an infant
38. Fratricide - killing of one's brother
39. Autobiography - life story written by oneself
40. Biography - life story written by someone else

Conditions & Qualities

41. Inevitable - that cannot be avoided
42. Incredible - that cannot be believed
43. Illegible - that cannot be read
44. Inaudible - that cannot be heard
45. Invisible - that cannot be seen
46. Invincible - that cannot be defeated
47. Incurable - that cannot be cured
48. Incorrigible - that cannot be corrected
49. Inedible - that cannot be eaten
50. Inflammable - that can catch fire easily

Government & Systems

51. Democracy - government by the people
52. Monarchy - government by a king/queen
53. Autocracy - government by one person with absolute power
54. Plutocracy - government by the wealthy
55. Bureaucracy - government by officials

Time-Related

56. Annual - happening once a year
57. Biennial - happening once in two years
58. Centenary - 100th anniversary
59. Contemporary - belonging to the same time
60. Posthumous - happening after death

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5. DIFFICULT SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS

Synonyms (Advanced Level)

1. Abandon = Desert, Forsake
2. Abate = Decrease, Reduce
3. Abhor = Hate, Detest
4. Abundant = Plentiful, Ample
5. Adversity = Misfortune, Hardship
6. Alleviate = Relieve, Ease
7. Benevolent = Kind, Generous
8. Candid = Honest, Frank
9. Cautious = Careful, Wary
10. Conceal = Hide, Cover
11. Diligent = Hardworking, Industrious
12. Eloquent = Articulate, Fluent
13. Eminent = Famous, Distinguished
14. Enigma = Mystery, Puzzle
15. Enormous = Huge, Massive
16. Feeble = Weak, Frail
17. Genuine = Real, Authentic
18. Generous = Liberal, Charitable
19. Hostile = Unfriendly, Antagonistic
20. Immense = Vast, Enormous

Antonyms (Advanced Level)

1. Abundant ↔ Scarce
2. Accept ↔ Reject
3. Ancient ↔ Modern
4. Artificial ↔ Natural
5. Ascend ↔ Descend
6. Brave ↔ Coward
7. Broad ↔ Narrow
8. Candid ↔ Deceptive
9. Courage ↔ Cowardice
10. Cruel ↔ Kind
11. Decrease ↔ Increase
12. Defeat ↔ Victory
13. Generous ↔ Stingy
14. Guilty ↔ Innocent
15. Humble ↔ Proud/Arrogant
16. Majority ↔ Minority
17. Optimist ↔ Pessimist
18. Permanent ↔ Temporary
19. Poverty ↔ Wealth
20. Success ↔ Failure

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6. IDIOMS & PHRASES (Most Important!)

Common Idioms for SSC

1. A blessing in disguise = Something good that seemed bad at first
2. A piece of cake = Very easy
3. Beat around the bush = Avoid the main topic
4. Break the ice = Start a conversation
5. Burn the midnight oil = Study/work late at night
6. Call it a day = Stop working for the day
7. Cost an arm and a leg = Very expensive
8. Cut corners = Do something poorly to save money/time
9. Hit the nail on the head = Do or say something exactly right
10. In hot water = In trouble
11. Let the cat out of the bag = Reveal a secret
12. Miss the boat = Miss an opportunity
13. Once in a blue moon = Very rarely
14. Piece of cake = Very easy task
15. Pull someone's leg = Joke with someone
16. Raining cats and dogs = Raining heavily
17. Speak of the devil = Person appears just as you mention them
18. Spill the beans = Reveal a secret
19. The ball is in your court = It's your decision/turn
20. Under the weather = Feeling sick

Body-Part Idioms

21. Keep an eye on = Watch carefully
22. Lend a hand = Help someone
23. Face the music = Accept consequences
24. Turn a blind eye = Ignore something
25. All ears = Listening carefully
26. Costs an arm and a leg = Very expensive
27. Cold feet = Nervous about something
28. Break a leg = Good luck
29. Put your foot in your mouth = Say something embarrassing
30. Get something off your chest = Confess something

Color Idioms

31. Red-handed = Caught in the act
32. Green with envy = Very jealous
33. Once in a blue moon = Very rarely
34. Out of the blue = Unexpectedly
35. White lie = Harmless lie
36. Black and white = Very clear
37. Golden opportunity = Perfect chance
38. Red tape = Bureaucratic procedures
39. Grey area = Unclear situation
40. In the red = In debt

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7. CONFUSING PAIRS - USAGE

Beside vs Besides

• Beside = next to, by the side of
  • Example: Sit beside me.
• Besides = in addition to, moreover
  • Example: Besides English, I speak Hindi.

Between vs Among

• Between = for two things/people
  • Example: Between you and me
• Among = for more than two
  • Example: Among all students

Farther vs Further

• Farther = physical distance
  • Example: Mumbai is farther than Pune.
• Further = additional, more
  • Example: For further information, contact us.

Fewer vs Less

• Fewer = countable items
  • Example: Fewer students came today.
• Less = uncountable
  • Example: Less water in the tank.

Lay vs Lie

• Lay = to put or place (needs an object)
  • Example: Lay the book on the table.
• Lie = to recline (no object)
  • Example: I will lie down for a while.

May vs Might

• May = permission or strong possibility
  • Example: May I come in?
• Might = weak possibility
  • Example: It might rain today.

Than vs Then

• Than = comparison
  • Example: He is taller than me.
• Then = time/sequence
  • Example: First eat, then study.

Who vs Whom

• Who = subject (does the action)
  • Example: Who is calling?
• Whom = object (receives the action)
  • Example: To whom should I speak?

Its vs It's

• Its = possessive (belonging to it)
  • Example: The dog wagged its tail.
• It's = It is / It has
  • Example: It's raining.

Your vs You're

• Your = possessive
  • Example: Your book is here.
• You're = You are
  • Example: You're late today.

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PRACTICE EXERCISE

Fill in the blanks with the correct word:

1. The weather will _____ (affect/effect) the crops.
2. Everyone _____ (accept/except) Ravi attended the meeting.
3. I need your _____ (advise/advice) on this matter.
4. The _____ (principal/principle) of the school is very strict.
5. I bought some _____ (stationary/stationery) for the office.
6. Please _____ (complement/compliment) the dish with rice.
7. The train was _____ (stationary/stationery) for 10 minutes.
8. Don't _____ (loose/lose) hope.
9. This is a _____ (desert/dessert) area with no water.
10. The committee will meet _____ (farther/further) next week.

Answers:

1. affect 2. except 3. advice 4. principal 5. stationery
2. complement 7. stationary 8. lose 9. desert 10. further

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QUICK TIPS FOR EXAM DAY

✅ Read questions carefully - especially "NOT" type questions 

✅ In synonyms/antonyms, check if you need positive or negative meaning 

✅ For spellings, eliminate obviously wrong options first 

✅ In idioms, think about the context and literal meaning 

✅ Practice pronunciation mentally - helps with spellings 

✅ Don't spend too much time on one question 

✅ Trust your first instinct if you're unsure

Good Luck! 🍀