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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Commonly Confused Words Quiz: Which Word Doesn't Fit?

Quick, free word choice quiz to sharpen your usage. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Chrystle En Wayne GrayUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art word cards pencils on golden yellow background for commonly confused words quiz

This commonly confused words quiz helps you spot the odd word and pick the right term in tricky pairs. Try choose the correct word, check which sentence is correct, and test yourself with choose the correct spelling. You will get instant results and quick tips as you go.

Which word does not fit: Their, There, They're, Threw?
They're
Threw
Their
There
"Threw" is the only verb meaning to toss. The other three are homophones used for possession (their), location (there), and contraction (they're). This set illustrates common homophone confusion. Learn more at .
Which word does not fit: Your, You're, Yore, Yaw?
Yore
Your
Yaw
You're
"Yaw" means to turn on a vertical axis, while the other three are homophones relating to possession (your), contraction (you're), and old times (yore). This highlights homophone pitfalls in English. See more at .
Which word does not fit: Its, It's, Its', Itch?
Itch
Its
It's
Its'
"Itch" is a noun or verb meaning an irritating sensation. The others are possessive (its), contraction (it's), or an incorrect possessive (its'). These variations often cause confusion. More info at .
Which word does not fit: Accept, Except, Expect, Adapt?
Adapt
Expect
Except
Accept
"Adapt" means to adjust. The other three differ by only one letter and relate to taking in (accept), excluding (except), or looking forward to (expect). They are classic minimal-pair confusions. Read more at .
Which word does not fit: Site, Sight, Cite, Side?
Cite
Side
Sight
Site
"Side" refers to a flank or edge. The other three are homophones: location (site), vision (sight), and reference (cite). These are frequent sources of writing errors. Details at .
Which word does not fit: Complement, Compliment, Complimentary, Complex?
Complex
Complimentary
Compliment
Complement
"Complex" means complicated. The others derive from complement/compliment confusions: complement (complete), compliment (praise), and complimentary (free or praising). This group challenges subtle spelling distinctions. Learn more at .
Which word does not fit: Stationary, Stationery, Stationing, Contrary?
Stationary
Stationing
Contrary
Stationery
"Contrary" means opposite. The other three relate to being in a station: stationary (still), stationery (paper), and stationing (placing troops). These often trip up writers. See .
Which word does not fit: Rain, Reign, Rein, Rant?
Rant
Rain
Reign
Rein
"Rant" is a tirade or angry speech. The other three are homophones: weather (rain), rule (reign), and straps (rein). Homophone sets like these are common pitfalls. More at .
Which word does not fit: Fair, Fare, Fairy, Fear?
Fare
Fair
Fairy
Fear
"Fear" is an emotion. The other three are homophones: event (fair), cost (fare), and mythical creature (fairy). Such sets test ear and spelling. See .
Which word does not fit: Aloud, Allowed, Allude, Alien?
Alien
Allowed
Aloud
Allude
"Alien" means foreign or extraterrestrial. The others are homophones: spoken (aloud), permitted (allowed), and reference indirectly (allude). Homophone quizzes sharpen listening and spelling skills. Details at .
Which word does not fit: Council, Counsel, Cancel, Castle?
Castle
Cancel
Counsel
Council
"Castle" is a fortified building. The other three sound similar: advisory body (council), advice (counsel), and call off (cancel). This tests both vocabulary and pronunciation. More at .
Which word does not fit: Advice, Advise, Adviser, Advent?
Advise
Advent
Adviser
Advice
"Advent" means arrival. The others form a confused set: noun (advice), verb (advise), and person giving advice (adviser). These variations frequently appear in formal writing. See .
Which word does not fit: Discreet, Discrete, Discretion, Doctrine?
Discretion
Discrete
Doctrine
Discreet
"Doctrine" is a set of beliefs. The others share the same root but differ: careful (discreet), separate (discrete), and judgment (discretion). Homophones and near-homographs like these test precise usage. More at .
Which word does not fit: Ingenious, Ingenuous, Genius, Ingenue?
Ingenue
Ingenious
Ingenuous
Genius
"Genius" denotes exceptional intellect. The others revolve around naiveté (ingenuous), cleverness (ingenious), or a naive young woman (ingenue). Confusing these is a common vocabulary trap. See .
Which word does not fit: Eminent, Imminent, Attendee, Eminence?
Imminent
Eminence
Attendee
Eminent
"Attendee" is someone who attends. The rest are forms of the Latin root for 'stand out': famous (eminent), about to occur (imminent), or high status (eminence). This set often challenges non-native speakers. Details at .
Which word does not fit: Elicit, Illicit, Explicit, Implicit?
Explicit
Illicit
Elicit
Implicit
"Explicit" means stated clearly. The others are involved in confusion pairs: draw out (elicit), illegal (illicit), and implied (implicit). Distinguishing these is key for precise communication. More at .
Which word does not fit: Historic, Hysteric, Historical, Historian?
Hysteric
Historian
Historical
Historic
"Hysteric" relates to uncontrollable emotion. The others deal with the past: famous event (historic), relating to history (historical), or history expert (historian). These near-homophones test nuanced knowledge. See .
Which word does not fit: Moral, Morale, Morally, Motley?
Morale
Moral
Morally
Motley
"Motley" means varied or multicolored. The others relate to ethics or group spirit: lesson (moral), group confidence (morale), or ethically (morally). Mixing these up can alter meaning drastically. More at .
Which word does not fit: Personal, Personnel, Personable, Persnickety?
Personable
Personnel
Personal
Persnickety
"Persnickety" means fussy. The others relate to individuals: private (personal), staff (personnel), or charming (personable). This question tests fine distinctions in similar-looking words. Details at .
Which word does not fit: Envisage, Envision, Environ, Invision?
Envisage
Envision
Invision
Environ
"Environ" means to surround. The others relate to mental imagery: contemplate (envisage), imagine (envision), and an alternate spelling (invision). These tricky variations often appear in advanced writing. Learn more at .
Which word does not fit: Alibi, Ad lib, Advisor, Alias?
Alibi
Alias
Advisor
Ad lib
"Alias" means false name. The others derive from Latin 'at' or 'away' roots: excuse (alibi), improvisation (ad lib), and counselor (advisor). This set challenges etymological awareness. See .
Which word does not fit: Peak, Peek, Pique, Peal?
Peek
Peal
Peak
Pique
"Peal" refers to a ringing of bells. The other three are homophones meaning top (peak), glance (peek), and arouse (pique). Bell sounds versus homophones can trick even skilled writers. More at .
Which word does not fit: Discreet, Discrete, Discreetly, Discrepancy?
Discreet
Discrete
Discrepancy
Discreetly
"Discrepancy" means a lack of agreement. The other forms are from Latin discr?re: secretive (discreet), separate (discrete), or in a covert way (discreetly). These subtle differences frequently appear on advanced tests. See .
Which word does not fit: Emigrant, Immigrant, Migrant, Egret?
Egret
Emigrant
Migrant
Immigrant
"Egret" is a type of bird. The others describe people moving: leaving (emigrant), entering (immigrant), or moving generally (migrant). This group tests both biology and vocabulary. More at .
Which word does not fit: Persecute, Prosecute, Persecution, Perspective?
Prosecute
Perspective
Persecution
Persecute
"Perspective" refers to viewpoint. The others derive from Latin persequi or prosequi: harass (persecute), legally charge (prosecute), or act of harassing (persecution). This set appears on high-level vocabulary lists. See .
Which word does not fit: Affect, Effect, Impact, Inflict?
Affect
Inflict
Impact
Effect
"Inflict" means to impose something unpleasant. The others are related to cause and result: verb (affect), noun (effect), or collision (impact). Differentiating these is key in formal writing. More at .
Which word does not fit: Altar, Alter, Allot, Altercation?
Alter
Altar
Altercation
Allot
"Altercation" means a heated argument. The rest are homophones or near-homophones: sacred table (altar), change (alter), and distribute (allot). This set is common on vocabulary exams. More at .
Which word does not fit: Compliment, Complement, Complimentary, Complaisant?
Complement
Complimentary
Complaisant
Compliment
"Complaisant" means eager to please. The others stem from the complement/compliment pair: praise (compliment), complete (complement), or free/flattering (complimentary). These distinctions appear on advanced English tests. See .
Which word does not fit: Elicit, Illicit, Explicit, Implicit?
Illicit
Elicit
Explicit
Implicit
"Explicit" means fully and clearly expressed. The others form another tricky set: draw out (elicit), illegal (illicit), and implied (implicit). This can trip up advanced writers. More at .
Which word does not fit: Insure, Ensure, Assure, Secure?
Insure
Assure
Ensure
Secure
"Secure" means to fasten or guarantee safety. The others specifically relate to promises: guarantee by insurance (insure), make certain (ensure), and reassure (assure). These are tested on professional exams. See .
Which word does not fit: Stationary, Stationery, State, Statuary?
Stationery
State
Statuary
Stationary
"State" means a condition or government. The others share a root with station: unmoving (stationary), writing supplies (stationery), or sculpture (statuary). This set is a common tricky quartet. More at .
Which word does not fit: Allude, Elude, Illusion, Include?
Include
Illusion
Elude
Allude
"Include" means to contain or comprise. The others are often confused: refer indirectly (allude), avoid (elude), and deceptive perception (illusion). These subtle differences appear in high-level English usage. See .
Which word does not fit: Climatic, Climactic, Automatic, Grammatic?
Climatic
Grammatic
Climactic
Automatic
"Automatic" means self-operating. The others relate to climate (climatic), peak (climactic), or grammar (grammatic). This set often appears in specialized vocabulary sections. More at .
Which word does not fit: Adverse, Averse, Advertise, Advent?
Advent
Adverse
Advertise
Averse
"Advertise" means to promote. The others are often confused: harmful (adverse), opposed (averse), and arrival (advent). These nuance distinctions are tested on professional exams. See .
Which word does not fit: Capitol, Capital, Capitolize, Capacitance?
Capacitance
Capitol
Capitolize
Capital
"Capacitance" is an electrical term. The others relate to a city or uppercase letter: building (capitol), city or wealth (capital), and to make uppercase (capitolize). This set is tested in technical and legal writing. See .
Which word does not fit: Censor, Sensor, Censure, Sensorium?
Censure
Sensorium
Censor
Sensor
"Sensorium" refers to the sensory apparatus. The others form a common confusion set: suppress (censor), detect (sensor), and express disapproval (censure). These distinctions appear in advanced English tests. More at .
Which word does not fit: Wary, Weary, Weir, Weird?
Weir
Wary
Weary
Weird
"Weird" means strange. The others are often confused: cautious (wary), tired (weary), and dam on a river (weir). This tests advanced homophone knowledge. See .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Odd Words -

    Discover the word that does not belong in each set of commonly confused words, sharpening your "which words does not fit trivia" skills.

  2. Differentiate Confusing Pairs -

    Distinguish between frequently mixed-up words such as affect/effect and principle/principal to avoid common grammar mistakes.

  3. Apply Correct Usage -

    Use each term accurately in context, reinforcing your ability through focused commonly confused words practice.

  4. Analyze Word Relationships -

    Evaluate groupings of confusing words to detect outliers and understand underlying usage patterns.

  5. Enhance Vocabulary Recall -

    Retain and recall tricky word pairs for long-term vocabulary growth and improved writing clarity.

  6. Assess Grammar Improvement -

    Measure your quiz performance to track progress and identify areas for further commonly confused words practice.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Affect vs. Effect -

    Use "affect" as a verb meaning to influence something and "effect" as a noun for the result. Remember the mnemonic RAVEN - "Remember Affect Verb, Effect Noun" - to spot the odd one out in which words does not fit trivia style puzzles (Purdue OWL).

  2. Their vs. There vs. They're -

    Differentiate "their" (possession), "there" (location), and "they're" (they are) to ace commonly confused words practice. A quick quiz trick is to replace "they're" with "they are" and see if the sentence still makes sense (Merriam-Webster).

  3. Lay vs. Lie -

    "Lay" requires a direct object (Lay the book down), while "lie" does not (I lie down). Use the egg mnemonic: birds lay eggs, so if you're placing something, you "lay" it (Oxford English Dictionary).

  4. Complement vs. Compliment -

    "Complement" means to complete or enhance, whereas "compliment" is praise. Remember C-O-M-P-L-I-M-E-N-T has an "i" for "I like your style," and C-O-M-P-L-E-M-E-N-T has an "e" for "enhance" (Grammarly).

  5. Principle vs. Principal -

    "Principle" refers to a fundamental rule or belief, and "principal" denotes a person or main amount. Use "the principal is your pal" to recall the school head, making this confusing words quiz challenge a breeze (Cambridge Dictionary).

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