Confusables

Choose the right word or phrase by comparing the job each does in a sentence.

147 source-checked guides

Agree with / Agree to / Agree onAgree with expresses the same view; agree to expresses consent; agree on identifies a matter jointly decided.Open guide
In view of / With a view toIn view of gives the reason or relevant circumstance; with a view to gives the intended purpose.Open guide
On time / In time / Just in timeOn time concerns the schedule; in time means early enough for a purpose; just in time means only narrowly early enough.Open guide
Seek / Search forSeek normally takes its object directly: seek approval, seek advice or seek clarification. Use search for when you mean actively try to locate something.Open guide
Lack (verb) / Lack of (noun) / Lacking inAs a verb, lack takes a direct object: the paper lacks evidence. As a noun, use lack of evidence. Use lacking in when describing a deficiency in a quality or feature.Open guide
As at / As of / With effect from / effective fromUse as at for a snapshot at a date, and with effect from or effective from for the commencement of a change. As of is standard but can mean either at or from a date, so choose a more explicit expression where the distinction matters.Open guide
Open (adjective) / Opened (verb)Use open as the adjective for a current state or operating hours. Use opened for the completed action of opening something.Open guide
Subsequently / ConsequentlySubsequently expresses sequence; consequently expresses result. Use consequently only when you intend to assert a causal or logical consequence.Open guide
Incur / OccurAn event occurs; a person or organisation incurs a cost, liability, loss or penalty. Occur does not take a direct object, while incur normally does.Open guide
A few / Few / A little / LittleUse few and a few with countable nouns, and little and a little with uncountable nouns. Adding a changes the usual meaning from hardly any to some.Open guide
In hindsight / With hindsight / On hindsightUse in hindsight or with hindsight. Avoid on hindsight in formal Singapore workplace writing.Open guide
Sometime / Some time / SometimesSometime means at an unspecified point; some time means a period or amount of time; sometimes means on some occasions.Open guide
Lead / LedLead is the base and present-tense verb; led is its past tense and past participle. Write has led to, not has lead to.Open guide
Vice versa / The converse / ConverselyVice versa asserts that the reversed relationship is also true. The converse names that reversed proposition without confirming it. Conversely introduces the reverse or opposing case.Open guide
Consider something / Consider doing something / Consideration of / give consideration toUse consider something or consider doing something. Do not write consider about or consider to do. The related noun constructions include consideration of and give consideration to.Open guide
Update someone on something / Inform someone of / about something / Notify someone of somethingUpdate someone on the latest position; inform someone of or about facts; notify someone of something when communicating formally or officially.Open guide
On the contrary / By contrast / in contrast / On the other handOn the contrary contradicts a preceding statement. By contrast and in contrast compare different cases. On the other hand introduces another side or consideration.Open guide
Accept / ExceptAccept concerns receiving, agreeing or approving; except excludes something. Confusing them can reverse the effect of a rule or instruction.Open guide
Proceed / PrecedeProceed means continue or go ahead; precede means come before. Use precede when describing a required order of events.Open guide
Formally / FormerlyFormally means officially or according to an established form; formerly means previously.Open guide
Irrespective of / Regardless of / regardless / Irrespectively / IrregardlessUse irrespective of or regardless of. Avoid irrespectively and irregardless in formal Singapore workplace writing.Open guide
Improve / Worsen / Deteriorate / Regress / DeproveImprove means become or make better. Use worsen for the general opposite, deteriorate for progressive decline, and regress for a return to an earlier or worse state. Do not use deprove as the opposite of improve in formal workplace writing.Open guide
Do the needful / Take the necessary action / state the actionDo the needful is established regional English, not simply bad grammar. In formal or cross-agency writing, state the required action when the recipient might otherwise have to infer what 'needful' means.Open guide
At the earliest / At your earliest convenience / As soon as possible / By a stated deadlineAt the earliest sets a lower time boundary; it does not mean as soon as possible. Use an exact by-deadline when lateness has consequences.Open guide
Deadline / DatelineA deadline is a time limit; a dateline belongs to news or journalistic attribution.Open guide
Turnaround / TurnoverUse turnaround for response or completion time; turnover usually concerns revenue, stock or workforce replacement.Open guide
As such / Therefore / soAs such should normally refer back to what something or someone has just been described as. Use therefore or so for a general cause-and-effect link.Open guide
For your information / For your review / For your action / For your perusalThese labels signal different expectations. Information is normally passive; review asks for examination; action asks for a next step; perusal means reading or examination but does not by itself request approval.Open guide
As requested / As per your request / As per requestedUse as requested, or the more formal as per your request. Do not combine the two as as per requested.Open guide
I would appreciate it if … / I would be grateful if …Appreciate is a verb and normally needs an object in this construction: appreciate it if. Grateful is an adjective after be, so would be grateful if is complete without it.Open guide

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