Commonly confused words

callous vs. callus callous (uncaring, unfeeling) She is callous about the safety of other people. He was a selfish and callous man.   callus (a hard and thickened area of skin) His hands were rough and also covered with calluses. On the sole of my foot, I have a callus. …

calendar vs. colander calendar (a chart showing days, weeks, and months of a year) Do you have a 2024 calendar?  I will mark the date on the calendar.   colander (a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for washing or draining food) Pour the pasta into a colander …

cache vs. cash cache (a hidden store of things) The police discovered a huge cache of weapons in the woods. He lives in the forest and has stored a great cache of food.   cash (money in the form of coins or bills) I don’t have much cash on me. The …

cacao vs. cocoa cacao (bean-like seeds of a tropical tree) Chocolate comes from the tropical cacao tree. The island is fertile for cacao.   cocoa (a brown powder made from cacao) Add three tablespoons of cocoa. I like to have a mug of cocoa in the morning.   cacao vs. …

  discreet (careful about what you say or do) She is very discreet in giving her opinions. We followed him at a discreet distance. discrete (separate, distinct) We’ll break down the issue into discrete categories. The data is stored on computer systems in discrete units, known as files.   discreet vs. discrete – …