When should I use...? Part 2

Friday, 25 September 2009 14:27 Written by Andrew Halloway

Continuing where I left off last time, here are some more similar sounding and similar spelt words that have different meanings... and when you should use which.

1. Practice or practise?

These two are very often confused. Practice is a noun, practise is a verb. Or, more simply, practice is a thing and practise is a doing word.

E.g. Josh liked football practice all apart from practising penalties. Or, I went to the doctor's practice because he practises what he preaches.

2. Compliment or complement?

A compliment is when you say something nice about someone; a complement is something that goes well with something else. Both can be either nouns or verbs.

E.g. Victoria complimented John on his tie; John said that was a kind compliment.

E.g. Victoria's long, brown boots complemented her long, brown hair; Victoria's boots were a fine complement to the rest of her outfit.

3. Discreet or discrete?  

Both of these words are adjectives, i.e. describing words. If you are discreet, it means you are being tactful, or can keep a secret, or being careful not to attract attention or give offence. On the other hand, if something is discrete, it means it is separate or different from something else. (And you'll find your spellchecker or grammar checker won't know the difference! Try it - type 'I am very discrete', select these words and then try your checker on it. It won't pick up the error.)

E.g. The hotel manager in Pretty Woman was discreet about the Julia Roberts character's real occupation.

E.g. There are four discrete parts to this seemingly simple-looking creature.

4. Lead and led 

Unfortunately, 'lead' is a noun that can mean two completely different things, and it is also a verb meaning something different again.

Lead is a soft metal and is pronounced liked 'led'. But a lead is a strap attached to a dog's neck that is pronounced 'leed' (rhyming with weed or deed). As a verb, to lead is to take that dog away from or towards something. Led is the past tense of 'to lead' - e.g. I led him towards the path.