English is host to an endless list of confusing words that although eerily similar have different meanings.

Being at a loose end today, we decided to compile a list of 14 confusing pairs.

In compiling this list, we have relied heavily on the 879-page Garner’s Modern American Usage and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition).

Here they are:

* imprudent; impudent

imprudent = rash or indiscreet; impudent = insolently disrespectful

* emigrate; immigrate

emigrate = to migrate or exit from a country ; immigrate = to migrate or enter a country

* inapt; inept

inapt = not appropriate or not suitable; inept = clumsy

* continual; continuous

continual = intermittently, frequently recurring; continuous = unceasing

* incredible; incredulous

incredible = astounding; incredulous = disbelieving, doubting

* egoism; egotism

egoism = a doctrine that individual self-interest is the actual motive of all conscious action; egotism = exaggerated sense of self-importance

* indiscreet; indiscrete

indiscreet = lacking discretion; indiscrete = not divided into distinct or separate parts

* infest; infect

infest = to inhabit either as a parasite or in menacingly large numbers; infect = introduce a disease into an organism

* ingenious; ingenuous

ingenious = clever; ingenuous = innocent

* principal; principle

principal = main; principle = tenet

* prescribe; proscribe

prescribe = impose authoritatively; proscribe = prohibit

* complement; compliment

complement = supplement appropriately or adequately; compliment = praise

* pediatric; podiatric

pediatric = children; podiatric = feet

* prognosis; prognosticate

prognosis = forecast probable course of a disease; prognosticate = prediction or prophecy

Source: Garner’s Modern American Usage and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition)
Update (based on SI readers’ comments):

* brake; break (has multiple meanings but we will refer to the most common ones here)

brake = device to stop motion, to stop; break = to separate into parts, to violate, stroke of luck

* career; carrier

career = profession for which one trains, go at top speed; carrier = one that carries, bearer, container, individual or organization engaged in transporting people or goods for hire

* tortuous; torturous

tortuous = full of twists and turns; torturous = pertaining to torture