# Words one can get confused **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772 "2022-09-18T20:10:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/464 "2023-06-21T02:56:04Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > The root of “craw” means neck, More ignorance fought! Yes, these three words confusingly overlap in idiomatic espressions. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/465 "2023-06-29T12:00:53Z")
**fjord** : a long, narrow, steep-sided inlet of the sea carved by a glacier **ford** : (1) a shallow place in a stream or river, or (2) to cross a stream or river at such a place A couple of hours ago I read a _Wall Street Journal_ article that said “to fjord a stream.” Somebody must have complained, because it looks like the article has already been corrected online. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/466 "2023-06-29T13:09:42Z")
Then there’s **fnord**. Which you didn’t see and therefore cannot compare to **fjord** or **ford**. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/467 "2023-06-29T13:58:06Z")
I didn’t read every post, so these may have already been posted. **Diffuse** **Defuse** I see these mixed up all the time, and it pisses me off. I most recently saw it last night on a promo for the series _The Diplomat_ on Netflix. The description mentioned how a diplomat had to **diffuse** international tensions. I don’t think that would be a very good diplomat. Also, **EDT** **EST** Which stands for Eastern Daylight Time and Eastern Standard Time, respectively. As I write this, it is June, which is during Daylight Saving Time, and I am in the Eastern Time Zone of the US, so it is EDT. I see so many people using EST during EDT that it drives me up a wall. It’s so simple to check, but even that’s too much work for some people. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/468 "2023-06-29T14:07:43Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Pica: disorder that compels one to eat inedible substances > Pica: 1/6 of an inch, 12 points: used in typography Also: > **[Pika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pika)** > > See text > A pika is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears. The large-eared pika of the Himalayas and nearby mountains lives at elevations of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft). > Pikas prefer rocky slopes and graze on a range of plants, primarily grasses, flowers, and young stems. In the autumn they pull hay, soft tw... ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/469 "2023-06-29T16:43:24Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > **EDT** > **EST** > Which stands for Eastern Daylight Time and Eastern Standard Time, respectively. As I write this, it is June, which is during Daylight Saving Time, and I am in the Eastern Time Zone of the US, so it is EDT. I see so many people using EST during EDT that it drives me up a wall. Smarter folks simply use “ET” for “eastern time”. Assuming of course we’re talking about setting a meeting or event in the near future, not at some long-future date where the DST changeover is between now when we’re talking and later when the event will be. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/470 "2023-07-01T16:29:34Z")
**consolation** : the act of comforting someone **consultation** : the act of seeking advice or discussion; or, a meeting or conference held for that purpose I wouldn’t have thought they’re so easy to confuse, but today I spotted in the wild the error of using _consolation_ where _consultation_ seems to make a lot more sense: [Policy 713: LGBT school policy change causes political turmoil in Canada](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66061514) > Initially passed in 2020 after a decade of consolations, Policy 713 in its original form asked for parental consent in order to formally change students’ names or pronouns, but made it mandatory to use a student’s preferred name if it is not possible to get permission from a parent. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/471 "2023-07-01T18:13:36Z")
**predicted** : stated or estimated as likely to happen in the future; forecast. **predicated** : founded or based on something. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/472 "2023-07-02T04:20:32Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > On a related note, when did **‘woah’** become an acceptable spelling of this word? If you ever find out, let me know, so I can lament that day. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/473 "2023-07-02T20:24:56Z")
The first time I came across “whoa” in print (in a book of riddles, long ago), I pronounced it in my head “who-a”. I think the question was “what did Paul Revere say at the end of his ride?” ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/474 "2023-07-02T20:44:29Z")
“Woe!”, because he was captured by the British? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/475 "2023-07-02T23:05:57Z")
**cupola** : a dome-shaped structure **copula** : a linking verb or device ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/476 "2023-07-02T23:42:32Z")
**copulate** : Err … umm … blush. **carapace** : shell of an insect or other creepy-crawly. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2023, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/477 "2023-07-03T10:11:38Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > **consolation** : the act of comforting someone > **consultation** : the act of seeking advice or discussion; or, a meeting or conference held for that purpose council: a body of people elected/appointed to manage the affairs of an organization. consul: a diplomatic official. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/478 "2023-07-03T14:12:54Z")
Counsel: either an attorney or some advice. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/479 "2023-07-03T14:26:56Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > council: a body of people elected/appointed to manage the affairs of an organization. > consul: a diplomatic official. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Counsel: either an attorney or some advice. Cowsill: Member of sibling singing group that inspired the TV show The Partridge Family ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/480 "2023-07-03T15:21:07Z")
Codicil - a supplement to a will, containing an addition, explanation, modification, etc., of something in the will. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/481 "2023-07-03T15:26:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Cowsill: Member of sibling singing group that inspired the TV show The Partridge Family They were contemporaries but I’d never heard that the Cowsills “inspired” The Partridge Family. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/482 "2023-07-03T16:09:55Z")
Several sources indicate this. The Cowsills were around for several years before the Partridge Family began. [from IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2042520/): > [@](#): > > The Partridge Family was loosely based on the true life story of the Cowsills, who were a family rock group in the late 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/483 "2023-07-03T16:17:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > **copulate** : Err … umm … blush. > **carapace** : shell of an insect or other creepy-crawly. Seems like an unlikely pair to confuse but on the other hand, one time I began to search youtube for “turtles happy together” and it autocompleted to “turtles having sex”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772.md?page=25)