My Article on Confused Synonyms

                                       Confused Synonyms

Dear learners,

I want to let you know the importance of synonyms.

Def: A word having the same or nearly the same meaning is called a synonym.

Words often have many different synonyms. For example:

Drab, ebony, murky, dull and shady are all synonyms for “dark”.

 For example instead of saying “ His hair was dark”.  You can say “ His hair was inky”.

In writing , especially creative writing, repeating the same words numerous times can make writing dull or uninteresting. Replacing a word with an equivalent one it reveals your capability of writing.

One thing to be remember is some words have slightly different meanings and to be used in different ways.

Here is the list. Read them and use in appropriate place.

1.      Able --- Capable

Ø  Able= it conveys a general idea.

Eg: I shall be able to help you when I get money.

Ø  Capable = it conveys a particular idea.

Eg: She is capable of drafting letters.

2.      Abstain--- Refrain

Ø  Abstain =it is used with reference to a thing .

 Eg: Manoj  abstained from drugs.

Ø  Refrain = it is used with reference to an action.

Eg : We must refrain from criticizing others.

3.      Adapt --- Adopt

Ø  Adapt = adjust

Eg: We have to adapt ourselves to changing times.

Ø  Adopt = follow

Eg: I adopted a novel  technique in teaching.

4.      Assent --- Consent

Ø  Assent = it refers to an official agreement.

Eg: The chief Minister assented to the proposal.

Ø  Consent = it refers to a general agreement .

Eg: He expressed his consent to sell the house.

5.      Avenge --- Revenge

Ø  Avenge = to punish evil doers.

Eg: He avenged the death of her father.

Ø  Revenge = to punish someone to gratify one’s grudge.

             Eg: Rajesh took revenge with Raja for his misdeeds.

6.      Banish --- Exile

Ø  Banish = send away (somebody) out of country.

Eg: The King banished him after he was proved guilty.

Ø  Exile = it is sometimes voluntary.

Eg: The poet lived in exile for more years.

7.      Battle --- War --- Fight.

Ø  Battle = refers to a single fight.

Eg: The Kong was defeated in the battle.

Ø  War = a series of fights or battles.

Eg: The First World War took place in 1914.

Ø  Fight = a quarrel between two persons or a limited group.

Eg: The five brothers had a big fight among themselves.

8.       Blunder --- Mistake --- Error

Ø  Blunder = a serious or gross mistake in relation to action or policy.

Eg: The politician committed a political blunder in his foreign policy.

Ø  Mistake = refers to wrongs relating to mechanical nature.

Eg: I found several spelling mistakes in his essay.

Ø  Error = pertains to action or policy.

Eg: He collected a number of common errors from magazines and newspapers.

9.       Bring --- Fetch

Ø  Bring = to get something for someone

Eg: Please bring me a book from the library.

Ø  Fetch = to go and bring.

Eg: Could you please fetch me a cool drink?

10.   Ceiling --- Roof

Ø  Ceiling = The inner part of a roof.

Eg: We have to get the ceiling of our house repaired.

Ø  Roof = top covering of the house.

Eg: I saw a bird on the roof of my house.

11.   Change --- Alter

Ø  Change = replace one by another.

            Eg : My father changed his job.

Ø  Alter = to modify.

 Eg: She altered her dress.

12.   Compare --- Contrast

Ø  Compare = point out the similarities and differences.

Eg: Shakespeare compared the world to a stage.

Ø  Contrast = point out only differences.

Eg: I found a lot of contrast between Praveen and Naveen.

13.   Custom --- Habit

Ø  Custom = relates to society.

Eg: Shaking hands are a custom of the British.

Ø  Habit = refers to an individual.

Eg: He has a habit of reading books.

14.   Decrease --- Diminish

Ø  Decrease = due to unknown causes or reason.

Eg: Most of the Indian forests have decreased recently.

Ø  Diminish = due to known cause.

Eg : Her appetite for food diminished by over- eating.

15.   Disability --- Inability

Ø  Disability = physical deformity.

Eg: Raju’s disability obstructed his progress.

Ø  Inability = having no ability to do something.

Eg: She expressed her inability to speak in the public.

 Finally I want to conclude that if you want to improve upon your writing skills start by learning these synonyms. The correct use of synonyms can transform your writing boring to exciting or repetitive to imaginative.

                                        Thank you.