Confusing Words Clarified Group O

Confusing Words Clarified Group O

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/4376/?letter=C&spage=21

O, oh, owe,
O (OH)
1. The fifteenth letter of the English alphabet: "What letter comes after O in the English alphabet?"
2. A design in the shape of a circle: "The bright blue O in the advertisement caught the buyers' attention."
3. This letter symbol is often incorrectly used to indicate a zero or no amount: "The final score in the game was 10 to 0; however, there is a significant difference between the letter 'oh' and the number 'zero' despite their similarities in format."
oh (OH)
1. Used to express emotion or to acknowledge information: "I was so startled when the runner bumped into me all I could say was, OH! in reaction."
"Oh, yes, I understand what you are saying."
2. Used to address or to speak to someone directly: "Oh sir, you forgot your change."
3. Used to express surprise, happiness, disappointment, or sadness: "Oh no! I forgot my glasses."
4. Often used verbally to indicate zero: "Half way through the game the announcer indicated the score was 'oh to oh' when technically she should have said 'zero to zero' because one is a letter and the other one is a number."
owe (OH)
1. To be responsible for the repayment of a debt or a loan to someone: "I owe the bank a significant sum of money by the end of the month because of the loan I negotiated last year."
2. To be indebted or under obligation for something: "I owe my good fortune as a writer to my English teacher when I was in school."
3. Used to say that something should be done for or given to someone: "You owe her an explanation and it is possible that you also owe her an apology."
 
oaf, oath
oaf (OHF)
An insult indicating someone who is regarded as unintelligent, clumsy, or uncultured: "Oh, quit making such blunders, you big oaf!"
oath (OHTH)
1. A solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on God, a god, or a sacred object as witness: "They were required to take an oath of loyalty."
2. A formal and serious promise to tell the truth or to do something: "When he joined the military service, he took an oath to defend the nation."
3. An irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or something held sacred: "She uttered an oath that was offensive and which was used to express anger and frustration."

Flubber Hall of Fame, Oaf of office

On Tuesday, January 20 (2009), Chief Justice John Roberts joined the Flubber Hall of Fame when he administered the presidential oath of office apparently without notes.
Instead of having Barack Obama "solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States," Roberts had him "solemnly swear that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully."
When Obama paused after "execute", the chief justice prompted him to continue with "faithfully the office of president of the United States."
Language pedants hew to an oral tradition of shibboleths that have no basis in logic or style, that have been defined by great writers for centuries, and that have been disavowed by every thoughtful usage manual.
Nevertheless, they refuse to go away, perpetuated by the Gotcha!Gang and meekly obeyed by insecure writers.
Among these fetishes is the prohibition against "split verbs", in which an adverb comes between an infinitive marker like "to", or an auxiliary like "will", and the main verb of the sentence; for example, when Captain Kirk of the starship "Enterprise" said, "to boldly go where no man has gone before"; it should have been "to go boldly where no man has gone before".
When Chief Justice John Roberts changed the oath of office from "solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States" to "solemnly swear that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully", he is accused of making the "oath of office" an "oaf of office".

Excerpted and compiled from an article titled
"Flubber Hall of Fame, Oaf of office" by Steven Pinker
(chairman of the English-usage panel of The American Heritage Dictionary);
International Herald Tribune, January 23, 2009; Editorials & Commentary; page 6.

 
oar, o'er, or, ore
oar (OR, OHR)
A long pole that is flat and wide at one end and more narrow at the other end as a handle all of which is used for rowing and steering a boat through the water of a lake, river, etc.: "Each of us gripped an oar and started rowing the boat to the shore."
"Oars are usually used in pairs with at least one oar on each side of the boat and utilized by one or more rowers."
o'er (OR, OHR)
An abbreviation for the word over: "The dance will be or soon and it will be time to go home."
or (OHR, UHR [when unstressed])
1. Used to indicate an alternative or choice between two possibilities: "Will you want tea or coffee for breakfast?"
2. To suggest an approximation or an uncertainty: "It will take five or six hours to drive from the city to our vacation site."
ore (OR, OHR)
1. A mineral of rocks, earth, etc. that can be mined, typically containing a valuable substance; such as, gold, silver, iron, etc.: "The iron ore was mined and then shipped to a smelter for processing."
2. A former coinage designation for Sweden, Denmark, and Norway: "I had several ore left from my Scandinavian vacation of several years ago which I saved to put in my coin collection."
 
oath, minced oath
oath (OHTH)
1. A commitment to tell the truth; especially, in a court of law: "To lie under oath is to become subject to prosecution for perjury."
2. A solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future acts or behavior: "They took an oath of allegiance to their country."
3. A profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger: "She was heard screaming an oath of damn it! after she hit her finger with the hammer."
minced oath (MINST ohth")
1. A type of euphemism based on a profanity that has been altered to reduce or to remove the disagreeable or objectionable characteristics of the original expression: "One example of a minced oath is to use "heck" for hell."
2. The use of a word or phrase to replace another one which is considered less offensive or less vulgar than the word or phrase it replaces: "Another example of a minced oath is to say "dang it" or "darn it" instead of damn it."
 
object, object
object (AHB jikt), as a noun:
1. Something perceptible by one or more of the senses, especially by vision or touch; a material thing: "He placed the object on the table after it fell off the shelf."
2. The purpose, aim, or goal of a specific action or effort: "It is my object to win this game for my family."
object (ahb JEKT), as a verb:
1. To present a dissenting or opposing argument: "I object to the fact that some people will have to pay more than others for the same service."
2. To put forward in or as a reason for opposition; offer as criticism: "Many people object to the excessive violence and vulgarity on TV and in movies these days."
I didn't object to the object she put on my desk.
 
obscene, lewd
obscene (ahb SEEN, uhb SEEN)
Repulsive, suggestive of lust or depravity: "Pornographic pictures are considered obscene by many people."
lewd (LOOD)
Wicked; considered sexually suggestive: "His lewd remarks to his colleague were very inappropriate and resulted in a reprimand from his supervisor."
 
observance, observation
observance (uhb ZUR vuhns)
1. Paying close attention to something; such as, customs or rules: "As a driver, I am expected to maintain a close observance of posted speed limits."
2. A regular and accepted practice or rite: "The observance of the liturgical calendar was important to the members of the religious community."
observation (ahb" zuhr VAY shuhn)
1. The process of recognizing or noting information or a fact: "By close observation, we will note the change in the weather."
2. A statement based on information: "Based on how dark the clouds are in the sky, it is my observation that we will have a storm very soon."
 
obsolete, obsolescent, anachronism, archaic, archaism
obsolete (ahb" suh LEET, AHB suh leet")
Unfashionable, no longer current or useful: "The use of a horse drawn carriage for everyday travel is obsolete."
obsolescent (ahb" suh LES uhnt)
Being no longer useful or fashionable: "Gas lights in houses are now obsolescent and dangerous."
anachronism (uh NAK ruh niz'uhm)
1. Something that is chronologically out of place with the rest of a context: "Knights in armor are an anachronism in today's sporting events."
2. The representation of someone as existing or something as happening in other than chronological, proper, or an historical order: "The novel has one anachronism after the other."
archaic (ahr KAY ik)
Characteristic of or belonging to a former or earlier time: "There are some archaic expressions used in this book that are charming."
archaism (AHR kee iz" uhm, AHR kay iz" uhm)
Something that is characterized as old fashioned or no longer used: "Bloomers as an article of clothing are an archaism which belong in the history books."
 
obstacle, impediment
obstacle (AHB stuh kuhl)
Something that stands in the way of achievement or progress: "The rainy weather is an obstacle to our camping trip."
"The obstacle course in the race was well planned and challenging."
"Being short was never an obstacle to his success as a singer."
impediment (im PED uh muhnt)
That which is a hindrance or a bar to the successful achievement of something: "His sprained ankle should not be an impediment to his attending the ceremonies at school."
"She worked hard to overcome the impediment of a lisp in her speech."
 
oculist, optician, ophthalmologist, optometrist
oculist (AHK yuh list)
An individual who may be a medically trained individual whose specialty is to test someone's vision and to prescribe corrective lenses: "The office for my oculist is very convenient to where I work so I can get my eyes tested during my lunch break."
optician (ahp TISH uhn)
1. An individual who makes or sells equipment for the assessment, etc. of eyes: "His new job is as an optician, working for a large company which makes optical equipment."
2. An individual who grinds the lenses for eye glasses according to a prescription: "To be an optician requires a careful and steady hand when operating the equipment to grind the lenses for eye glasses."
ophthalmologist (ahf" thuhl MAHL uh jist, ahp" thuhl MAHL uh jist)
A medical doctor who specializes in the diseases, functions, and structures of the eyes: "My cousin was inspired to be an ophthalmologist after his mother lost her eyesight."
optometrist (ahp TAHM i trist)
An individual skilled and trained to test for defects in vision and to prescribe corrective spectacles: "The local optometrist hung his certificates of training and education in his office so people would feel confident in his abilities to properly examine their eyes."
 
ode, owed
ode (OHD)
A poem characterized by effusive expressions of feelings and complexity of stanza forms: "The Poet Laureate for the City wrote an ode to honor the workers who built the subway tunnels."
owed (OHD)
To have been indebted to another person for something or to have been under obligation to repay a debt: "He owed the bank a large sum of money to repay the loan he obtained to start up his new business."
I owed a great deal of gratitude to my English professor for introducing me to poetry including the famous ode which celebrated the Nordic heroes of ancient times.
 
official, officious
official (oh FISH uhl, uh FiSH uhl)
1. An individual who administers the rules for a game: "The official at the tennis tournament was a retired tennis pro."
2. Authoritative or authorized: "The document had the official seal from the office of the President."
officious (oh FISH uhs, uh FISH uhs)
Meddlesome or getting involved in an activity where one's help is neither asked for nor wanted: "She had a very officious manner, always trying to intrude herself into projects in the office."
 
omission, oversight
omission (oh MISH uhn)
Left undone or neglected: "The omission of the title page in her essay was quickly corrected."
oversight (OH vuhr sight")
1. Responsible care: "She maintained oversight of the project from start to finish."
2. An accidental error: "The fact that your name was left off the list was a complete oversight."
 
one, won
one (WUHN)
1. A single or an individual unit: "She asked for one boiled egg for breakfast."
2. Indicating something specifically or the only choice: "This was one glorious morning for going for a walk."
"When she met the man, her first thought was that he was the one for her."
3. United, combination of two or more elements: "When the two elements were fused, they created one new metal which was easy to use."
4. A member of a vaguely defined group or organization: "She was one of several hundred students enrolled at the college."
5. A third person pronoun used to indicate the first person: "I am tired but one does not wish to stop until it is time for lunch."
won (WUHN)
1. To have succeeded in a contest: "I won the tennis match against my cousin."
2. To have obtained by effort or good luck: "My uncle was a gambler who won his fortune in card games."
3. To have succeeded through personal endeavor: "He won his promotion by working hard and supporting his colleagues."
He only won this one ticket to the movie.
 
opaque, translucent, transparent
opaque (oh PAYK)
1. Difficult to understand: "His oral instructions were opaque and I had to ask for an explanation."
2. Not allowing light to pass through: "The windows were painted black so they would be opaque thus permitting the photographer to work in his photo-processing laboratory without unwanted light."
translucent (trans LOO suhnt, tranz LOO suhnt)
Not completely clear or transparent, but clear enough to allow light to pass through: "The frosted glass in the door was translucent."
transparent (trans PAIR uhnt, trans PAHR uhnt)
1. Allowing light to pass through: "The new window in the sunroom was transparent and let all the sunshine in."
2. Easy to notice or to understand; being obvious: "Her facial expression was so transparent you always knew what she was thinking."
The information from the lecture was completely opaque to me and I couldn't understand a thing.
After I read the text book, my mind felt more translucent, as if some light on the subject was getting through and the information was beginning to make sense, but not completely.
Then, after I asked for an explanation, the answer suddenly became transparent.

optimist, pessimist
optimist (AHP tuh mist)
1. Someone who puts a positive interpretation or spin on actions and events or one who looks for the best possible outcome: "I am such an optimist that I am sure the rain will stop before the parade begins."
2. A person who usually expects good things to happen: "Somehow he remained an optimist despite all that had happened to him."
pessimist (PES uh miz" uhm)
1. Anyone who tends to emphasize the negative or to expect the worst possible outcome: "It is discouraging to talk with my sister who is always such a pessimist because she is sure that something terrible is about to happen."
2. A person who usually expects bad things to happen: "Stop being such a pessimist! Believe it or not, there is still a very good chance that we will complete this project."
 
ordinance, ordnance
ordinance (OR duh nuhns)
1. Laws established by a governmental authority: "There is a municipal ordinance respecting dogs in the parks which are not on a leash."
2. Something that is fore ordained by fate or deities: "In mythology, the wreck of the ship was an ordinance from the gods."
ordnance (ORD nuhns)
1. Supplies, guns, tanks, and ammunition that are used for military purposes: "There was a large supply of military ordnance stored in the empty lot across the street."
2. A military officer whose responsibility it is to provide the supplies needed for the military: "His promotion involved being an Ordnance Officer"
He just received a citation for breaking the local ordinance against keeping ordnance in a residence.
 
orient, Orient, orientate
orient (OR ee uhnt, OR ee ent, OHR ee uhnt)
1. To determine one's bearings or sense of direction: "I use the tall spire as a landmark to orient myself to where I am in the city."
2. To face, to arrange, or to build in an easterly facing direction: "The builders of the church will orient it to the east to catch the morning light."
3. To inform someone of the facts of a situation: "The principal will orient the new teachers about the school premises."
Orient (OR ee uhnt, OR ee ent, OHR ee uhnt)
Of or relating to the countries of Asia: "We are going on a cruise to the Orient next year."
orientate (OR ee en tayt", OR uhn tayt")
To decide one's position by using another point as an object of reference: "They used the compass to orientate themselves before crossing the desert."
 
oscillate, osculate, vacillate
oscillate (AHS uh layt")
1. To move like a pendulum that goes back and forth: "The fan on the table was set to oscillate to keep the air fresh."
2. Changeable feelings varying from one extreme to the other: "When she heard the news of the accident, her reactions seemed to oscillate between hope and despair."
3. To move from above to below a mean value: "The stock market seemed to oscillate around the 2500 mark."
osculate (AHS kyuh layt")
To use one’s mouth to bestow a kiss: "At the end of the wedding ceremony, the couple decided to osculate in front of all their friends."
vacillate (VAS uh layt")
To fluctuate, to waver, or to hesitate: "After the break up with her boyfriend, she seemed to vacillate between being very angry and very sad."
 
outcast, outcaste
outcast (OUT kast")
A pariah or someone who is no longer welcomed in a typical society: "His long history of drug use makes him an outcast to his family and friends."
outcaste (OUT kast")
Anyone who has been rejected from a hereditary social caste or group: "When she chose to marry the person she loved instead of the person her parents and social group chose for her to marry, she became an outcaste."
 
overate, overrate
overate (oh" vuhr AYT)
To eat to excess, especially when habitual: "He overate so often that he had to keep expanding the sizes of his pants, shirts, and other clothing."
overrate (oh" vuhr RAYT)
To overestimate the merits of; to rate too highly: "The coach has a tendency to overrate the players on his team."
 
overdo, overdue
overdo (oh" vuhr DOO)
To exaggerate or to use to excess: "She had a tendency to overdo her compliments to the chef."
overdue (oh" vuhr DOO, oh" vuhr DYOO)
1. A responsibility that was not paid on time: "My book is overdue at the library."
2. Arriving late, after an appointed time: "Because the train was overdue by an hour, the passengers received a discount on their next ticket."
 
overseas, oversees
overseas (oh" vuhr SEEZ, OH vuhr seez")
Beyond or across the ocean or sea: "We lived overseas for several years because of my mother's job."
oversees (oh" vuhr SEEZ)
To supervise or to inspect: "She oversees the production of the toys to be sure they are safe for children."