Words and Phrases Commonly Misused in IELTS
English learners often confuse words or phrases that look or sound similar — and in IELTS, this can affect both your Writing and Speaking band scores. Using the right word not only shows your accuracy but also your confidence in communication. Here are some of the most commonly misused words and phrases that every IELTS test taker should master.
Discuss:
Many candidates start essays with “Let’s discuss…” or “I will discuss about…”. The word discuss already means to talk about something — so avoid using about.
Correct: “This essay will discuss the effects of pollution.”
Incorrect: “This essay will discuss about the effects of pollution.”Affect vs Effect
Affect is a verb (action), and effect is a noun (result).
Example: “Pollution affects people’s health.”
Example: “The effect of pollution is serious.”
Remember: Affect = action, Effect = end result.Since vs For vs From
These three are often confused when talking about time.
- Since shows the starting point of an action: “I’ve lived here since 2015.”
- For shows the duration: “I’ve lived here for eight years.”
- From indicates the starting point, but it usually comes with to/till/until: “I’ll be away from Monday to Friday.”
TIP: Think of it this way: since = when it started, for = how long, from = between two points in time.
In the other hand vs On the other hand
The correct phrase is always on the other hand, not in the other hand.
Example: “Some people prefer online education. On the other hand, many enjoy classroom learning.”Stay vs Live
Use ‘stay’ for a short period and ‘live’ for a long-term residence.
Example: “I’m staying at my friend’s house this week.”
Example: “I live in Ahmedabad.”Go to bed vs Sleep
You ‘go to bed’ when you lie down; you ‘sleep’ when you actually rest.
Example: “I go to bed at 11 but sleep around midnight.”You and Me vs You and I
A quick trick to know what’s right: remove “you and” and see if the sentence still works.
- “You and I are going out.” (Correct, because “I am going out” makes sense.)
- “She called you and me.” (Correct, because “She called me” is right.)
TIP: If removing “you and” makes the sentence sound wrong, you’re using the wrong one!
Irregardless vs Regardless
“Irregardless” is incorrect. Always use regardless, meaning without considering something.
Example: “Regardless of the weather, the event continued.”Good vs Well
‘Good’ is an adjective; ‘well’ is usually an adverb.
Example: “She is a good teacher.”
Example: “She teaches well.”Disinterested vs Uninterested
‘Disinterested’ means neutral or impartial, while ‘uninterested’ means not interested.
Example: “A judge should be disinterested, not uninterested.”Borrow vs Lend
‘Borrow’ means to take something; ‘lend’ means to give.
Example: “Can I borrow your book?”
Example: “Sure, I’ll lend it to you.”
Another vs Other
‘Another’ means one more or an additional one: “I need another pen.”
‘Other’ refers to different things or people: “The other students are outside.”
Tip: Use another with singular countable nouns and other with plural ones or uncountable nouns.
Sometimes vs Sometime vs Some Time
- Sometimes = occasionally: “I sometimes go jogging.”
- Sometime = at an unspecified time: “Let’s meet sometime next week.”
- Some time = a period of time: “It took me some time to finish.”
Between vs Among
Use between for two things, among for more than two.
Example: “The money was divided between John and Mary.”
Example: “The teacher walked among the students.”In spite of vs Despite
Both mean the same, but the structure changes slightly.
Example: “In spite of the rain, they went out.”
Example: “Despite the rain, they went out.”
Never say “Despite of”.
Final Thoughts
Using English accurately isn’t just about memorizing grammar — it’s about understanding context. In IELTS, word choice can make a difference between Band 6.5 and Band 7.5, especially in Writing and Speaking.
At Focus Education, we ensure our students not only know the right words but also use them naturally. With detailed grammar sessions and speaking practice, our trainers help learners develop fluency and accuracy that truly stand out in the test.
