English Grammar
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So vs Very
Commonly Confused WordsSo means ‘to a great extent or degree.’ Very emphasizes the degree of something that belongs to or is part of a particular person or thing.
Scarcely vs Rarely
Commonly Confused WordsScarcely means ‘almost nothing’ or ‘almost not’. Rarely means ‘almost never’.
Recently vs Shortly
Commonly Confused WordsRecently refers to the time which has just passed. On the other hand, Shortly means within ‘a short amount of time’.
Late vs Lately
Commonly Confused WordsLate refers to coming or remaining after the due, usual, or proper time. Lately means the recent period of time. It usually takes a Present Perfect Tense.
Just Now vs Right Now vs Presently:
Commonly Confused WordsJust now, right now and presently are often confusedly replaced with each other, while they don't mean exactly the same, though they have similar connotations.
Hard vs Hardly
Commonly Confused WordsHard and hardly are often confusedly used as similar words. However, they do differ. While hard has a positive connotation, hardly has a very negative impact in a sentence.
First vs Fast
Commonly Confused WordsFirst refers to someone or something or someone’s actions which happen before everything else. Fast can both be an adjective and adverb which means quick or quickly.
By And By vs Gradually
Commonly Confused WordsBy and by means ‘after a short and/or undetermined period of time.’ Gradually refers to something happening in a gradual way; slowly; by degrees.
Before vs Ago
Commonly Confused WordsBefore refers to ‘at any time past now/then’ counting back from a past moment. Ago is used to refer a time expression to count back from the present.