ail

ale

to be ill; to cause pain or distress

malt beverage more bitter than beer

air

err
heir
what we breathe
make a mistake
one who inherits something
aisle
I’ll
isle
passageway
contraction for I will
a small island
all
awl
entire, everything

a tool
allot
a lot
to parcel out
always two words meaning many
allowed
aloud
gave permission to
said out loud; spoken
all ready
already
means all are ready
Example: We are all ready to go.
refers to time
Example: Is it summer already?
all together

altogether
refers to a group; all of us or all of them together
Example: It is wonderful to be all together to celebrate your birthday.
entirely
Example: It is not altogether his fault.
altar
alter
pedestal, usually religious
Example: They exchanged wedding vows at the altar of the church.
to modify
Example: Please don't alter your plans until we have the final schedule approved.
allude
elude
illude
to refer indirectly
Example: He alluded to his past as a spy.
avoid capture
Example: The fugitive eluded the police for a month.
mislead
Example: He illuded her about his age.
allusion
illusion
an indirect mention of something
false perception
ambiguous
ambivalent
to have more than one meaning
Example: The law was ambiguous.
to have mixed feelings
Example: She is ambivalent about her wedding dress.
amicable
amiable
friendly (refers to things, not people)
friendly (refers to people)
Example: The amiable couple had an amicable divorce.
among
between
involves three or more
Example: Who among us has not lied?
involves just two
Example: She couldn’t decide between Chinese and Thai food.
amount
number
used for things not countable
Example: We couldn't handle that amount of ill will.
used for things that can be counted
Example: The number of accidents increased by ten percent.
ant
aunt
a bug
the sister of a parent
ante
auntie
a bet placed before playing
affectionate term for a parent’s sister
anxious
eager
to have anxiety or worry
Example: She is anxious about taking the test.
excited
Example: She is eager to get a puppy.
any more
anymore
something additional or further
Example: It didn’t rain any more this year than last year.
any longer, nowadays
Example: Harry doesn’t travel anymore.
appraise
apprise
to put a value on something
to notify
arc
ark
arch, crescent, half moon
a vessel or a refuge
ascent (noun)
assent (noun or verb)
consent
movement upward
enthusiastic agreement; to agree
agreement
assistance (noun)
assistants (noun)
help
people who help
assumption
presumption
an idea not based on evidence
an idea based on evidence
assure
ensure
insure
to promise or say with confidence
to make sure something will/won't happen
to issue an insurance policy
ate
eight
past tense of eat
the number after seven
aural
oral
having to do with hearing
having to do with the mouth
averse (see adverse) awed
odd
in a state of amazement
unusual; opposite of even when referring to numbers
aye
eye
I
yes
organ one sees with
pronoun