Commonly confused words

    May Day (spring festival celebrated on the first day of May) We celebrate May Day for the rebirth of everything in nature. May Day is celebrated as labor’s official holiday in many countries.   mayday (an international radio distress that a ship or plane uses to ask for help) Mayday, Mayday, …

  wonder (to feel great surprise) We wonder you weren’t hurt in the plane crash.  I wondered how she came here. (to make a polite request) I wonder if you could help us. I wonder if you could tell me where the post office is.     wander (walk or move aimlessly) We wandered around the …

  literal (basic or original meaning, not figurative) The literal meaning of the word ‘individual’ is ‘something that cannot be divided. She always takes everything you say in its literal sense.   littoral (of or relating to a coastal or shore region) The city is located in a littoral area and …

  levy (a sum of money, usually paid as a tax) The government imposed a levy on oil imports. They will put a 10 percent levy on all pay.   levee (to embankment along a river) The levee was washed out by heavy thunderstorms. They sandbagged the levee in order to prevent …

  knotty (very difficult to solve or understand) We have faced a lot of knotty problems. That is obviously a knotty question.   naughty (badly behaved; not willing to obey) You naughty boy, stop pulling your sister’s hair. The boss treats us all like naughty schoolchildren. envocabulary.com