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Has someone ever told you that you used a wrong word? Well, you're not alone. Many people confuse terms without even knowing it. You might think that it's usually the English language learners who get the names of concepts or objects all mixed up, but it's not unusual for native speakers to get tangled up in misconceptions too.
The truth is, some terms seem so synonymous that people don't even bother to look them up. So, if you ever find yourself in an argument whether muffins have icing or whether tofu and panner are the same thing, it might mean that you need to do some research. But no worries. This time we've got you covered. Inspired by a Scoop Whoop post we dug around and collected some of the most confusing words to explain the differences between them.
Check out if you've made any of these mistakes and let us know in the comments.
(h/t)
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What do you think ?
Vlad Horobet 6 years ago
Pretty useful post, makes you understand the difference between things that look the same. But i'm pretty sure everybody can see the difference between Gorilla and Guerilla .
David Cahyo 6 years ago
Well these are really useful, especially since I don't speak english as my first language
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Daniel Losinger 6 years ago
You should have included chocolate chips and potato chips. I got those mixed up when I tried to make cookies.
monsoon cat 1 year ago
Chocolate chips go in cookies whereas potato chips go in biscuits.
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DannyG 6 years ago
Most important(!) - Things That Most People Don’t Know Are Actually Different your - you'r
Miguel Macedo 6 years ago
Wow! Some of them seem pretty obvious but other were real eye openers! Thanks.
Brenda Marshall 6 years ago
Cupcake and Muffin have different batters. The icing has nothing to do with the difference.
Michaela Robbins 6 years ago
Whether you're a native English speaker or not, I think a lot of these are actually helpful. Some are more what you'd call common knowledge, but I will admit that there are some that I've forgotten. Just my opinion!
Kodee Shane 6 years ago
I enjoyed this article. Some of the commenters were rather cynical. You're article was one of the most enjoyable things I've read online in a long time.
monsoon cat 1 year ago
I was looking forward to seeing 'Floor' and 'Ground'; a pet peeve of mine when I hear people [husband] use them interchangeably, whether they are inside or out.
Terilee Bruyere 3 years ago
The turtle vs tortoise bit is wrong. There are land turtles (box turtles for instance). A tortoise has thicker legs and is mostly vegetarian while a turtle has flipper-like legs and are generally omnivores.
Kerry Wallace 4 years ago
The only real difference is that guerrillas fight in small bands using unconventional methods while gorillas prefer to maintain standard military structures and tactics (citation needed).
Marcia Cash 4 years ago
The one about the cookies only correct from a British speaker's point of view. My oatmeal cookies are very crunchy, thank you, and the fluffy biscuits at breakfast are great with gravy.
Scott White 6 years ago
Kinda sad that some people don't know the difference between these things. Seeing as how the first giveaway would be the different names...
Okay Dokey 6 years ago
People also use mugs for tea and cups for coffee. Especially in Europe coffee is served in cups. The difference is only in size and shape, and not in the beverage you drink from it.
Jenni Smeltzer 6 years ago
'A winged monster of Thebes, having a woman's head and lion's body' *shows picture of an Egyptian Sphinx, which is wingless and, usually has a male face/head* And before anyone gets on me, yes they are different and yes, they could have found an image of a Grecian sphinx to show.
RiderAndKallen 6 years ago
There should be one with stockings and pantyhose. Stockings only cover from toe to thigh. Pantyhose covers from toe to waist.
Poor unfortunate soul 6 years ago
I actually thought most of these were incredibly obvious, and widely know.
Vanessica Bloxgirl 6 years ago
for Aussies there are 2 types of thongs that outsiders get confused by. thong can mean the type of underwear or the shoes
The Laugh Fan 6 years ago
You certainly don't want to muddle up which part of the anatomy you wear them on!!
Load More Replies...
Zoey 6 years ago
Sorry to say, but most of these are so simple and should know the difference between the 2. Wow
Kristel 6 years ago
True, though for people who do not have English as their first language, it can be hard to tell apart. Plus, some depend on the country where you live. Like cookies and biscuits. English is not my first language, but I knew the difference between all of them. Probably because I have quite some American friends. And speak/write in English a lot. And always writing (well, typing actually) in English over here.
Load More Replies...
Just Curious 6 years ago
Please replace "Mr. Madison" with "this article" in the following quotation: "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Sasy 6 years ago
In Australia always prawns, drives me nuts if they are called shrimp, but had no idea there was an actual difference. Most Americans I know only call all types shrimp also. I also even being an Aussie did not and had no need to know Crocodile vs Alligator based on snoit shape, so while everyone knows , some haven't needed to and if either one comes at me, I would not much care which was which, and will still never call any variety shrimp 😀
Prabha Khare 3 years ago
Prawn is favorite dish of Indians. My shrimp roll. Follow Us : https://prmtyms.com/
Load More Replies...
cbk111 6 years ago
Is this aimed at 2 year olds?! Who in their right mind would think any of these pairs are the same thing? The only people who may find this useful are non-native English speakers and only those at a lower level.
Little Menace 6 years ago
My first language isn't English but I knew all of these differences. I think it is literally the uneducated or the lazy who never check up on anything that would get any of these wrong. I mean look at native English speakers mixing up 'their', 'there' and 'they're' or simple things like burgundy spelled as burgandy [rolls eyes] and many, many more. My English boss used to give me his correspondence to check too and I found lots of mistakes.
Load More Replies... Vlad Horobet 6 years ago
Pretty useful post, makes you understand the difference between things that look the same. But i'm pretty sure everybody can see the difference between Gorilla and Guerilla .
David Cahyo 6 years ago
Well these are really useful, especially since I don't speak english as my first language
Load More Replies... Daniel Losinger 6 years ago
You should have included chocolate chips and potato chips. I got those mixed up when I tried to make cookies.
monsoon cat 1 year ago
Chocolate chips go in cookies whereas potato chips go in biscuits.
Load More Replies... DannyG 6 years ago
Most important(!) - Things That Most People Don’t Know Are Actually Different your - you'r
Miguel Macedo 6 years ago
Wow! Some of them seem pretty obvious but other were real eye openers! Thanks.
Brenda Marshall 6 years ago
Cupcake and Muffin have different batters. The icing has nothing to do with the difference.
Michaela Robbins 6 years ago
Whether you're a native English speaker or not, I think a lot of these are actually helpful. Some are more what you'd call common knowledge, but I will admit that there are some that I've forgotten. Just my opinion!
Kodee Shane 6 years ago
I enjoyed this article. Some of the commenters were rather cynical. You're article was one of the most enjoyable things I've read online in a long time.
monsoon cat 1 year ago
I was looking forward to seeing 'Floor' and 'Ground'; a pet peeve of mine when I hear people [husband] use them interchangeably, whether they are inside or out.
Terilee Bruyere 3 years ago
The turtle vs tortoise bit is wrong. There are land turtles (box turtles for instance). A tortoise has thicker legs and is mostly vegetarian while a turtle has flipper-like legs and are generally omnivores.
Kerry Wallace 4 years ago
The only real difference is that guerrillas fight in small bands using unconventional methods while gorillas prefer to maintain standard military structures and tactics (citation needed).
Marcia Cash 4 years ago
The one about the cookies only correct from a British speaker's point of view. My oatmeal cookies are very crunchy, thank you, and the fluffy biscuits at breakfast are great with gravy.
Scott White 6 years ago
Kinda sad that some people don't know the difference between these things. Seeing as how the first giveaway would be the different names...
Okay Dokey 6 years ago
People also use mugs for tea and cups for coffee. Especially in Europe coffee is served in cups. The difference is only in size and shape, and not in the beverage you drink from it.
Jenni Smeltzer 6 years ago
'A winged monster of Thebes, having a woman's head and lion's body' *shows picture of an Egyptian Sphinx, which is wingless and, usually has a male face/head* And before anyone gets on me, yes they are different and yes, they could have found an image of a Grecian sphinx to show.
RiderAndKallen 6 years ago
There should be one with stockings and pantyhose. Stockings only cover from toe to thigh. Pantyhose covers from toe to waist.
Poor unfortunate soul 6 years ago
I actually thought most of these were incredibly obvious, and widely know.
Vanessica Bloxgirl 6 years ago
for Aussies there are 2 types of thongs that outsiders get confused by. thong can mean the type of underwear or the shoes
The Laugh Fan 6 years ago
You certainly don't want to muddle up which part of the anatomy you wear them on!!
Load More Replies... Zoey 6 years ago
Sorry to say, but most of these are so simple and should know the difference between the 2. Wow
Kristel 6 years ago
True, though for people who do not have English as their first language, it can be hard to tell apart. Plus, some depend on the country where you live. Like cookies and biscuits. English is not my first language, but I knew the difference between all of them. Probably because I have quite some American friends. And speak/write in English a lot. And always writing (well, typing actually) in English over here.
Load More Replies... Just Curious 6 years ago
Please replace "Mr. Madison" with "this article" in the following quotation: "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Sasy 6 years ago
In Australia always prawns, drives me nuts if they are called shrimp, but had no idea there was an actual difference. Most Americans I know only call all types shrimp also. I also even being an Aussie did not and had no need to know Crocodile vs Alligator based on snoit shape, so while everyone knows , some haven't needed to and if either one comes at me, I would not much care which was which, and will still never call any variety shrimp 😀
Prabha Khare 3 years ago
Prawn is favorite dish of Indians. My shrimp roll. Follow Us : https://prmtyms.com/
Load More Replies... cbk111 6 years ago
Is this aimed at 2 year olds?! Who in their right mind would think any of these pairs are the same thing? The only people who may find this useful are non-native English speakers and only those at a lower level.
Little Menace 6 years ago
My first language isn't English but I knew all of these differences. I think it is literally the uneducated or the lazy who never check up on anything that would get any of these wrong. I mean look at native English speakers mixing up 'their', 'there' and 'they're' or simple things like burgundy spelled as burgandy [rolls eyes] and many, many more. My English boss used to give me his correspondence to check too and I found lots of mistakes.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
