10WordsQStudy guides › Level 6 · Master
Tricky pairs
💡 The idea
These pairs sound the same or almost the same but mean different things. Each one has a trick for remembering which is which.
⚡ Handy ones
| Pair | Trick |
|---|---|
| principal / principle | The principal is your pal; a principle is a rule. |
| compliment / complement | A compliment says nice things; a complement completes. |
| stationary / stationery | stationary = standing still; stationery = envelopes. |
| council / counsel | A council is a group; counsel is advice. |
| capital / Capitol | The Capitol building has a dome. |
| advice / advise | advice is a noun (like ice); advise is the action. |
| farther / further | farther is usual for real distance; further means more. |
| already / all ready | all ready = all of you are ready. |
⚠️ Watch out
- Read the whole sentence before choosing: is it a thing, a person, or an action?
- Look-alike extras (like “prince” or “cancel”) are there to catch quick tappers.
🎯 Try these
- Honesty is my best (principal / principle).
- The car was (stationary / stationery) at the light.
- Can I (advice / advise) you to rest?
Answers: 1) principle 2) stationary 3) advise
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