List C

-cal/-cle	Adjectives end in -cal. Nouns end in -cle. e.g. critical article logical bicycle magical circle musical cubicle nautical cuticle physical miracle practical particle theatrical spectacle tropical uncle whimsical vehicle
callous or callus?	CALLOUS means cruel, insensitive, not caring about how others feel. CALLUS means a hard patch of skin or tissue. Interestingly, skin may be CALLOUSED (made hard) or CALLUSED (having calluses).
can or may?	Strictly speaking, CAN means ‘being able’ and MAY means ‘having permission’. It is best to preserve this distinction in formal contexts. However, informally, CAN is used to cover both meanings: You CAN go now (= are permitted).
caning or canning?	cane+ing=caning CANING is now banned in all schools. Can + ing = canning The CANNING factory is closing down.
capital punishment or corporal punishment?	CAPITAL PUNISHMENT =death CORPORAL PUNISHMENT = beating
cast or caste?	Use CAST for a group of actors in a play and for a plaster CAST and a CAST in an eye. Use CASTE when referring to a social group in Hindu society.
caster or castor?	Both caster sugar and castor sugar are correct. Both sugar caster and sugar castor are correct. Both casters and castors can be used when referring to the little wheels fixed to the legs of furniture. But castor oil, not caster oil.
censer, censor or censure?	A CENSER is a container in which incense is burnt during a religious ceremony. A CENSOR is a person who examines plays, books, films, etc. before deciding if they are suitable for public performance or publication. To CENSOR is to do the work of a CENSOR. CENSURE is official and formal disapproval or condemnation of an action. To CENSURE is to express this condemnation in a formal written or spoken statement.
centenarian or centurion?	A CENTENARIAN is someone who is at least 100 years old. A CENTURION is the commander of a company of 100 men in the ancient Roman army.
certain or curtain	CERTAIN means sure. Are you CERTAIN that he apologised? CURTAINS are window drapes. Do draw the CURTAINS. Note that the c sounds like s in certain and like k in curtain.
check or cheque?	Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: Always CHECK your work. May I pay by CHEQUE?(not ‘check’ as in the United States)
clothes or cloths?	CLOTHES are garments. CLOTHS are dusters or scraps of material.
compare to/ compare with	Both constructions are acceptable but many people still prefer to use ‘compare with’.
complement or compliment?	COMPLEMENT = that which completes Half the ship’s COMPLEMENT were recruited in Norway. To COMPLEMENT =togowellwith something Her outfit was COMPLEMENTED by well- chosen accessories. COMPLIMENT = praise, flattering remarks To COMPLIMENT =topraise.
complementary or complimentary?	Use COMPLEMENTARY in the sense of completing a whole: COMPLEMENTARY medicine COMPLEMENTARY jobs Use COMPLIMENTARY in two senses: (a) flattering (b) free of charge COMPLIMENTARY remarks COMPLIMENTARY tickets
compose/comprise	The report IS COMPOSED OF ten sections. (= is made up of) The report COMPRISES ten sections. (= contains) Never use the construction ‘is comprised of’. It is always incorrect grammatically.
connection or connexion?	Both spellings are correct, but the first one is more commonly used.
contagious or infectious?	Both refer to diseases passed to others. Strictly speaking, CONTAGIOUS means passed by bodily contact, and INFECTIOUS means passed by means of air or water. Used figuratively, the terms are interchangeable: INFECTIOUS laughter, CONTAGIOUS enthusiasm.
contemptible or contemptuous	A person or an action worthy of contempt is CONTEMPTIBLE. A person who shows contempt is CONTEMPTUOUS.
continual or continuous?	CONTINUAL means frequently repeated, occurring with short breaks only. CONTINUOUS means uninterrupted.
correspondent or co-respondent?	A CORRESPONDENT is someone who writes letters. A CO-RESPONDENT is cited in divorce proceedings.
council or counsel?	A COUNCIL is a board of elected representatives. COUNSEL is advice, also the term used for a barrister representing a client in court.
councillor or counsellor?	A COUNCILLOR is an elected representative. A COUNSELLOR is one who gives professional guidance, such as a study COUNSELLOR, a marriage COUNSELLOR, a debt COUNSELLOR.
credible or credulous?	If something is CREDIBLE, it is believable. If someone is CREDULOUS,theyare gullible (i.e. too easily taken in).
curb or kerb	To CURB one’s temper means to control or restrain it. A CURB is a restraint (e.g. a curb bit for a horse). A KERB is the edging of a pavement.
currant or current?	A CURRANT is a small dried grape used in cooking. A CURRENT is a steady flow of water, air or electricity. CURRENT can also mean happening at the present time (as in CURRENT affairs, CURRENT practice).