Commonly confused words

slate  usually passive (to arrange or schedule) The meeting is slated for Monday afternoon. The project is slated for completion next month. (a dark grey rock that splits easily into flat thin layers) They covered the roof with slates.   slat (a thin flat piece of wood or plastic used to make floors, …

  spectre  UK English (something bad that people are afraid might happen in the future) The spectre of losing his job was always on his mind. The failure of the peace talks has raised the spectre of war. literary (a frightening ghost) US spelling specter You look like a spectre.   specter US English (something bad …

  ring (a circular piece of jewelry that you wear on your finger) She was wearing a wedding ring. (to make a sound)  The telephone was ringing all day. I rang the doorbell several times, but no one came. (to surround, or form a circle around) Armed forces ringed the …

  rabbit (a small animal with long ears and soft fur that usually lives in holes in the ground) The eagle dived down to catch a rabbit. We raise rabbits in our garden.   bunny (a rabbit, used by children or when talking to children) Daddy, this bunny looks cute, can …

  root (the part of a plant that grows underground, through which the plant gets water and minerals) She tied the boat to a tree root. You have to pull up weeds by the roots. (the main cause or source of) I’m trying to get to the root of this problem. …