collins cobuild

What’s the difference between beside and besides?

This week we are looking at two words which may be confused by learners of English: beside and besides. beside function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } If one thing is beside another, it is next to it or at the side of it. Beside the… Read More

What’s the difference between souvenir and memory?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused by learners of English: souvenir and memory. souvenir function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } A souvenir /suːvəˈnɪə/ is an object that you buy or keep to remind you of a holiday, place, or… Read More

What’s the difference between title and headline?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused by learners of English: title and headline. title The title of a book, play, painting, or piece of music is its name. He wrote a book with the title `The Castle’. `Walk under Ladders’… Read More

What’s the difference between roll and role?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused by learners of English: roll and role. roll A roll is a very small loaf of bread. The soup is served with a roll and butter. A roll of something such as cloth or paper is… Read More

What’s the difference between quiet and quite?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused by learners of English: quiet and quite. quiet Quiet is an adjective. Someone or something that is quiet makes only a small amount of noise. Bal said in a quiet voice, `I have resigned.’ The… Read More

What’s the difference between industrious and industrial?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused by learners of English: industrious and industrial. industrious function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } An industrious person works very hard. She was industrious and always trying to improve herself. Michael was an intelligent, industrious man. industrial… Read More

What’s the difference between lucky and happy?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused by learners of English: lucky and happy. lucky You say that someone is lucky when something nice happens to them, or when they always seem to have good luck. The lucky winners were given… Read More

What’s the difference between high and tall?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused by learners of English: high and tall. high You use high to describe things which measure a larger distance than usual from the bottom to the top. For example, you talk about… Read More