# 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:** 33
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/644 "2023-10-29T16:57:46Z")
> [@Amia](#): > > I personally struggle with effect and affect continuously Also with “nannies” and “Nannie’s” , per your other post. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/645 "2023-10-29T16:57:53Z")
Bisexual: sexually or romantically attracted to both men and women, or to more than one sex or gender Buy sex, you-all: what a Southern prostitute says ---
**Author:** ![Amia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@Amia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/646 "2023-10-30T00:52:52Z")
Oh ouch. I was playing and didn’t have bad intentions thanks for pointing out my error. ---
**Author:** ![Amia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@Amia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/647 "2023-10-30T00:55:34Z")
Haha you’re right. I shouldn’t criticize anyone, even in jest. I am frequently wrong and make mistakes often. I feel really bad in hindsight. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/648 "2023-10-30T02:38:29Z")
> [@Amia](#): > > I am frequently wrong and make mistakes often. Yes, don’t we all! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/649 "2023-10-31T12:02:27Z")
**mite** : a tiny insect **might** : physical strength; past tense of “may” **persevere** : to continue steadfastly in a purpose, state, condition, or course of action, especially in the face of difficulties **perseverate** : to repeat a response after the cessation of the original stimulus ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/650 "2023-10-31T12:08:51Z")
**colophon** : a finishing touch, the note left by a printer or scribe **colophony** : rosin **rosin** : residue left after the distillation of oil of turpentine from crude turpentine **resin** : a viscous hydrocarbon secretion of many plants [e.g., turpentine] ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/651 "2023-10-31T12:17:16Z")
Here is a word one can easily misinterpret, and the socio/political results make it so it is never used at all! The “N-Word” - The meaning of which we all know and will not ever utter or even write. “Niggard” or it’s adjectival form, “niggardly” - The noun names a person who is very tight with money. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/652 "2023-10-31T12:42:20Z")
Something I see on travel messageboards: **sights** [in this context] the things/buildings/museums/galleries that people travel to see **sites** : the locations of buildings or events (usually where little or no trace remains of what might once have been a sight to see) ---
**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:** [October 31, 2023, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/653 "2023-10-31T12:48:51Z")
**cites** : what dopers demand if you make an extraordinary claim ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/654 "2023-10-31T13:02:52Z")
That reminds me of one I genuinely confused growing up: **Cited** : Of an inspection: issued a recorded document as being in violation of a code. **Sided** : Of a house: having its sides redone, installed, or worked on. My father said he had the house “sided” and I though that meant the village inspector came through and he failed some ordinance, but he meant the house was getting work done on it. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/655 "2023-11-03T18:37:05Z")
**haply** : by luck, by chance **happily** : with pleasure, fortunately, aptly, willingly, haply ---
**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:** [November 3, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/656 "2023-11-03T18:49:39Z")
Haptic: sensory feedback involving touch. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/657 "2023-11-03T19:49:58Z")
**bullion** : precious metals in bars or ingots **bouillon** : a kind of soup ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/658 "2023-11-06T12:15:55Z")
**personal** : of, or relating to, a person **personnel** : a body of persons ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/659 "2023-11-06T12:46:10Z")
**sax** : woodwind instrument **seax** : knife ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/660 "2023-11-06T14:00:43Z")
**sacks:** bags **sacs:** biological pouches ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/661 "2023-11-06T16:18:15Z")
**perspicacious** : having keen insight, said of people **perspicuous** : easy to understand, said of ideas or explanations ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/662 "2023-11-06T18:22:01Z")
**Saxon** - those guys who use the **seax** ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/663 "2023-11-06T19:00:04Z")
**Pacific** : peaceful. **Pacifistic** : Advocating for peace. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772.md?page=34)