Confusing Words from Assay to Avert

You are looking to hire some three people to help you with your work. Are you going to hire three assistance or three assistants? There is a paper you have to write for your history class. Is it an assay or is it an essay? These words are among those that often confuse people. Learn about these words and others in this article on confusing words.

assay, essay
To assay mean to analyze, to examine, or to test.
The detective is going to assay the situation before deciding whether or not to investigate.
When used as a verb, essay means to try or attempt. When used as noun, an essay is a literary composition.
Melissa had a 500-word essay due on the real reasons behind the Civil War for her history class.

assistance, assistants
Assistance is aid, help, or support.
Teresa needed assistance transporting all of the groceries to her house.
Assistants are ones who give assistance.
The head of the construction team is going to hire two assistants.

ate, eight
Ate means devoured or consumed.
Ronald ate the entire chocolate cake.
Eight is a number that means one more than seven.
The school basketball team welcomed eight new members.

attendance, attendants
Attendance is the act of attending or being present.
The attendance was down for the pep rally.
Attendants are those who attend to others to perform a service. It also means those who are present.
The attendants at the classical concert were a very relaxed group of people.

auger, augur, ogre
An auger is a tool used for boring.
Steven received a new auger as a gift.
An augur is a soothsayer or prophet.
The augur had some dire predictions for the new king.
An ogre is a monster.
The horrifying ogre terrified the land for many, many years.

aught, ought
Aught means anything whatever or any part.
For aught I know, the check has already been put in the mail.
Ought means should.
You really ought to see a doctor.

aural, oral
Aural means pertaining to the ear or the sense of hearing.
My father is scheduled for an aural examination at the end of the month.
Oral means pertaining to the mouth. It also means transmitted by speech.
Kendra developed stage fright as soon as she went to the front of the class to give her first oral book report.

auricle, oracle
The auricle is the outer portion of the ear.
The auricle of her ear was entirely covered with earrings of all shapes and sizes.
An oracle is a prophet or one who gives very wise answers.
During the famine, many went to the oracle seeking wisdom.

avert, evert, overt, revert
Avert means to turn away or prevent.
The lightning fast actions of the alert driver averted the accident.
Evert means to turn inside out.
Please evert all of your black shirts before you put them in the clothes hamper.
Overt means open to view or knowledge, not concealed or secret.
The lady was offended by the overt flirting of the complete stranger.
Revert means to go back to.
During a great moment of weakness, Astrid reverted to her former habit of biting her nails.