Confusing Words Clarified: Group G; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, etc. +

(lists of "G" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)

A great example of confusing words

Once upon a time in the unknown past, at a dinner party in Texas, a man from South America was telling about his country and himself, concluding with "And I have a sympathetic wife but unfortunately, no children. My wife, she is unbearable."

Those who were listening greeted his statement with puzzled glances, so he tried to explain: "My wife, she is inconceivable." Noticing from the bewildered looks of the guests that this didn't clarify the matter, he finally explained with a triumphant smile: "I mean, my wife, she is impregnable."

—Compiled from Humorous English by Evan Esar;
Horizon Press; New York; 1961, page 164.

Never use big words where a diminutive one will suffice.

—Anonymous

If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.

grate, great

grate (GRAYT)

1. To reduce to fragments, shreds, or powder by rubbing against an abrasive surface: "While the pasta boiled, I would grate the cheese for the sauce."
2. To make a harsh rasping sound by or as if by scraping or grinding: "Crickets grate their wings together to create their distinctive sounds."
3. A framework of lattice or parallel bars: "The water drain on the street was protected by a grate."

great (GRAYT)

1. Extremely large or big: "The great expanse of the forest was overwhelming to the hikers."
2. Of outstanding importance or significance: "She was a great author, famous for her short stories."

The great grate in the street was placed there because of the extreme flooding rains that often took place in that area.

grave, grave, grave

grave (GRAYV)

1. A hole in the ground for burying a dead body: "He was buried in a grave near his wife's grave."
2. Used as a reference to death: ""She took her secrets with her to the grave."

grave (GRAYV)

Requiring or causing serious thought or concern: "His carelessness could have grave consequences."

"They are placing themselves in grave danger when they sail in the Somalia piracy zone."

grave (GRAYV)

An accent mark over a letter, or letters, in certain words: "Examples of grave marks are the è's in such French words as Sèvres and père (which is used after a man's surname to distinguish a father from a son)."

The minister spoke in a grave tone, "May he rest in peace in the grave."

gray, grey

gray (GRAY)

The U.S. of American spelling, relating to an achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white: "She was wearing a gray sweater which closely matched her gray eyes."

grey (GRAY)

The British-English spelling of gray which is a color that is between black and white: "We woke up to a grey morning before the sun finally appeared."

Note the emphasis above on the differences of spelling: People in the U.S. of America normally use gray; while the preferable spelling of grey is the English or British format.

grease, Greece

grease (GREES)

1. A thick oily lubricant, vegetable, petroleum or animal fat based: "The auto mechanic used grease in the engine."
2. To apply an oily lubricant to a surface: "The chef had to grease the baking trays before he could bake the cookies."

Greece (GREES)

A peninsular country at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea: "We decided to go to Greece for our winter vacation."

greave, grieve

greave (GREEV)

A medieval reference to the piece of armor designed to cover the lower leg: "The greave was fastened to a knight’s leg with leather straps."

grieve (GREEV)

To cause distress or sorrow: "It will grieve me to tell you that your employment has been terminated."

grill, grille

grill (GRIL)

To cook using an arrangement of parallel bars over a source of heat; for example, an open fire: "We thought we would grill hamburgers tonight for dinner."

grille (GRIL)

A lattice or screen often used for ornamental purposes: "The blacksmith created a grille for the garden gate."

grip, gripe, grippe

grip (GRIP)

1. A tight hold; a firm grasp: "The drowning swimmer is now safely in the grip of a lifeguard."
2. An intellectual hold or understanding: "He had a good grip on how to operate his computer."

gripe (GRIGHP)

To complain naggingly or petulantly; to grumble: "Her constant petty complaints are beginning to gripe me."

"You could hear the students gripe that they had too much homework to do."

grippe (GRIP)

Influenza; an acute contagious viral infection characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by fever, chills, muscular pain, and prostration: "There is a mild epidemic of grippe in our town."

grisly, gristly, grizzly

grisly (GRIZ lee)

1. Inspiring repugnance because of its appalling crudity or utter inhumanity; gruesome: "The grisly scene of the mine explosion was carefully documented by the photographer."
2. Anything that suggests an appearance that causes someone to shudder with horror: "We had nightmares about the grisly scene of the cars crashing into each other on the highway as a result of the sudden ice storm."

gristly (GRIS lee)

Tough cartilage, especially in meat prepared for eating: "Before grilling the steak, the cook removed the gristly parts that would be difficult to chew."

grizzly (GRIZ lee)

1. A very large and powerful bear of western North America: "The grizzly bears fish in the streams where the salmon are swimming."
2. Streaked, flecked, or intermixed with gray; having gray or graying hair: "His grizzly hair was very distinguished looking and was set off by a black felt hat."

A grisly grizzly was having trouble chewing on the gristly meat of a very old buffalo.

groan, grown

groan (GROHN)

A sound expressing pain, distress, or disapproval: "There was a loud groan among the workers when assignments were handed out."

grown (GROHN)

To have increased in size as a result of age: "My aunt exclaimed, 'My how you have grown!' when she saw me after several years."

guarantee, guaranty

guarantee (gahr" uhn TEE)

A pledge that something is as represented and will be replaced if it doesn't meet specifications: "The hand vacuum cleaner she bought had a three-year guarantee."

guaranty (GAHR uhn tee)

A pledge by which a person commits himself/herself to the payment of another person's debt or obligation in the event of default: "My aunt signed the guaranty with me when I borrowed money from the bank."

guessed, guest, quest

guessed (GEST)

To come to an opinion or an answer based on very little evidence: "They guessed he was very rich based on the kind of car he drove."

guest (GEST)

An individual to whom hospitality is given, either in a private home or in an institution: "We will have a guest from out of town staying with us for two weeks."

quest (KWEST)

To seek, to look for, or to search for something: "They went on a quest to find the remote gardens."

The quest of the hotel was to make visitor estimates or to have a series of guessed guest data in order to prepare for the summer season.

guise, guys

guise (GIGHZ)

1. An outward appearance; an aspect: "Her guise appeared calm despite the shattering news."
2. A mode of dress; a garb: "What guise will you wear to the masquerade ball?"

guys (GIGHZ)

1. People in general: "What are you guys doing?"
2. Ropes, cords, or cables used for steadying, guiding, or holding: "The sailors used several guys to fasten the big crate to the deck."

gulp, gulp

gulp (GUHLP), verb

1. To eat or to swallow (something) quickly or in large amounts:"His mother told him not to gulp his food so fast and his father told him not to gulp down his dinner like that."
2. To take (air) into one's lungs quickly: "The exhausted runner had to lie on the ground as he tried to gulp for air."

"The exhausted and over heated racers were gulping for air."

3. To swallow as the result of some strong emotion; such as, fear or shock: "She could only gulp nervously before beginning her oral report."

"You could hear him gulp back tears as he thanked the rescuers for saving him from the river."

gulp (GUHLP)

1. A large and hurried swallow: "He finished it in a single gulp."
2. A spasmodic reflex of the throat made as if swallowing: "She took one gulp of air after the other at the dinner table because she was choking on a piece of meat."

Confusing Words: Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs; explained and demonstrated.

Confusing Words: Units, Groups A to Z.

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Confusing Words Clarified: Group G; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, etc. +

(lists of "G" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)

A great example of confusing words

If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.

If there are any numbers below, use them to see other pages in this unit.

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