Commonly confused words

  lien (the right to keep a piece of property that belongs to someone who owes you money until the debt is paid) When you can’t pay anymore, we put a lien on the property. The court granted me a lien on my debtor’s house.   lean (to put your body or a thing …

  bight (a curve on a coast or a large river) There are no mountains behind the Great Australian Bight. (a curve or loop in a rope) There were many bights in the rope.   bite (to use your teeth to cut something) She bites her fingernails when she is …

  beech (a tree with smooth gray bark, or the wood from this tree) There are beech trees on both sides of the street. This chair is made of beech.   beach (an area of sand or small stones at the edge of the sea or a lake) I spent all day …

  rifle (a gun with a long barrel that you hold against your shoulder to fire) He leveled his rifle at the target. The soldiers hit the man with their rifle butts. (to search through something quickly in order to find or steal something) Jane rifled through her wardrobe looking for something suitable to …

  raze (to completely destroy a building, city, etc.) They will raze the old building to make more room for the park. These villages were razed to the ground during the war.   raise  must have an object (to increase the amount, value, or degree) They have raised their prices. Don’t raise your …