Academic language useConfusing word pairs in academic writingConfusing word pairs in academic writing Ability vs Capability Accept vs Except Adapt vs Adopt Adverse vs Averse Advice vs Advise Affect vs Effect Allude vs Elude Alternate vs Alternative Ambiguous vs Ambivalent Assume vs Presume Assure vs Ensure Attribute vs Contribute Classic vs Classical Climactic vs Climatic Composed vs Comprised Consist in vs Consist of Continual vs Continuous Definite vs Definitive Discreet vs Discrete Effectiveness vs Efficacy Elicit vs Illicit Eminent vs Imminent Ensure vs Insure Estimation vs Estimate Explicit vs Implicit Farther vs Further Formally vs Formerly General vs Generic Human vs Humane Imply vs Infer Inverse vs Reverse Lead vs Led Lie vs Lay Lose vs Loose Moral vs Morale Number vs Amount Possible vs Plausible Practice vs Practise Precede vs Proceed Principal vs Principle Proscribe vs Prescribe Rational vs Rationale Relation vs Relationship Significant vs Important