Words like "Empathy"
The pairs and near-pairs that trip people up around Empathy. Start with the direct confusables — then follow the thread through the same tag.
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Feeling 'with' someone versus feeling 'for' someone.
Empathy vs. Pity
Feeling with someone (equal standing) versus feeling sorry for them (often condescending).
Sympathy vs. Empathy
Feeling for someone versus feeling with them.
Entries in the same category — pick one if the main cluster didn't land.
Accept vs. Except
To receive or welcome versus to exclude — near-opposite meanings.
ConfusablesAffect vs. Effect
The action versus the result — a verb and a noun most of the time.
UsageLess vs. Fewer
For things you measure versus things you count.
UsageWho vs. Whom
Subject versus object — the pronoun doing it versus the pronoun it happens to.
ConfusablesThen vs. Than
Time versus comparison — two different jobs, one letter apart.
UsageLay vs. Lie
You lay something down. You lie down yourself.
ConfusablesI.e. vs. E.g.
That is to say versus for example — one clarifies, the other illustrates.
UsageThat vs. Which
Essential versus extra — a comma decides.
ConfusablesImply vs. Infer
The speaker implies. The listener infers.
UsageComprise vs. Compose
The whole comprises the parts. The parts compose the whole.
UsageMe vs. I
When you’re the subject versus when you’re the object.
UsageIronic vs. Coincidence
A reversal of expectation versus two things happening to line up.
Looking for a specific mistake, not a word?