Commonly Confused Words, Grades 9–10: List 9

Auntie Harrigan had altered her hair again; this time it was dyed bright red and cut super short and spiky. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

I would take the Bible with me to the church, and some flowers for the altar in spring and summer. Z for Zachariah

Frank didn’t want to assume that Conor had taken Jason’s mitt. The Missing Mitt (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #2)

I did not want to presume too much, did not want to offend her or embarrass myself. The Name of the Wind

Naomi stepped off of the path, leaned against the smooth trunk of an ash tree, and slid down to sit at its base. Out of Darkness

“Tenors are higher than basses,” she says, “which is easy to remember because basses are in the basement.” Muffled

The bazaar is the best place we've gone so far—a narrow street with fruits and vegetables and all sorts of other food stalls on either side. Born Behind Bars

I was dreaming something bizarre and twisted, but I couldn’t wake up. Summer of the Mariposas

Down the street lives an aspiring rock band composed of four middle schoolers. Wishtree

The attic comprised the entire third floor, the floor above where the family lived in Daffodil Manor. Ophie's Ghosts

If he lives and becomes conscious again—should I ask him about it? Z for Zachariah

My sisterly conscience kicks in and I’m suddenly wishing I could take back my words. Dry

The meeting was like a war council with donuts. The Mark of Athena

It was better, they counseled, to stay put with friends and family and the familiar life of the sunny South. A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919

How and when did you arrive at the title “Just Us,” which of course is also a homonym for “justice”? Los Angeles Times

As you may remember from grade school, homophones are words that are pronounced the same way but ultimately have different meanings, and often, different spellings, like “be” and “bee” or “none” and “nun.” Salon

Words alike only in spelling but not in sound, e.g. “bow,” are sometimes called homographs; and words alike only in sound but not in spelling, e.g. “meat,” “meet,” homophones. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13

I felt such intense pride at that point, not as an African, but as a Xhosa; I felt like one of the chosen people. Long Walk to Freedom

The intensive press coverage of his mission and his arrival in Toronto had generated thousands of tips, all useless. The Devil in the White City

Briony suspected that behind her older cousin’s perfect manners was a destructive intent. Atonement