Would you seek shelter from the rain underneath a canape or a canopy? When you walk through a deep valley, do you walk through a cannon, a canon, or a canyon? Does a horse canter or cantor? Would you eat a carat, a caret, a carrot, or a karat?
Montreal Canadiens practice, wikimedia commons
Canadians, Canadiens
Canadians are citizens of Canada.
Most Canadians are fans of ice hockey.
Canadiens are members of the professional ice hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens.
Steven managed to buy the last available ticket for the Canadiens game.
canape, canopy
A canape is an appetizer, a savory topping or spread is usually put on a thin piece of bread or a cracker.
The waiter offered a canape to the hungry man.
A canopy is an ornamental awning or covering.
When the rain started, all of the guests ran underneath the canopy.
candied yams, www.cookingmamas.com
candid, candied
If a person is candid, then he is blunt, yet honest.
Melody knew Frank to be a candid man, so she would always ask his opinion on matters of importance.
If food has been candied, then it has been sweetened.
Candied yams are usually served with Thanksgiving dinner.
cannon, canon, canyon
A cannon is a mounted gun that fires heavy projectiles.
The cannon on display at the museum had been used in the Civil War.
A canon is set of rules and standards.
The canon handed out to new residents of the private subdivision was extremely thick.
A canyon is a deep valley. It usually has steep sides, and there is usually a stream flowing through it.
Tours were taken through the canyon each afternoon.
Bryce Canyon National Park, wikimedia commons
can’t, cant
Can’t is the contraction of cannot.
Delores can’t go to the movies without the permission of her parents.
Cant is the special phraseology of a particular class, group, or profession.
The cant of the nuclear scientist proved to be a challenge for the student.
canted, cantered
If something is canted, it is tilted or leaning.
The stability of the canted building was a worry to those who lived close to it.
Cantered means galloped.
The horse cantered through the woods.
horse galloping in water, wikimedia commons
canter, cantor
A canter is an easy gallop.
The gentle canter of the horse made her a favorite for beginning riders.
A cantor is an official who leads the music in a cathedral or parish church.
The cantor of the local church was on a long vacation.
canvas, canvass
A canvas is a rough cloth used as a foundation for embroidery stitches.
Maggie embroidered the intricate picture on the canvas.
One goes out to canvass when one wants to collect votes or examine something very closely.
Those supporting the candidate were sent out to canvass each door in his precinct.
United States Capitol, wikipedia
capital, capitol, Capitol
Capital and capitol are two words that I still frequently confuse. A capital is the official seat of the government in a country, state, etc.
The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort.
A capitol is the building used by a state legislature.
The capitol was given a new coat of white paint.
The Capitol is the building in Washington, D.C., where the U.S. Congress meets.
The class was going on a tour of the Capitol.
carrots, wikimedia commons
carat, caret, carrot, karat
A carat tells the weight of a precious stone, such as a diamond or sapphire.
Melody’s boyfriend presented her with a one-carat diamond ring when he proposed to her.
A caret is the mark used by a proofreader to show where something needs to be inserted.
A red ink pen was used to place a caret by each mistake.
A carrot is an orange root vegetable.
The determined rabbit pulled the carrot out of the ground.
A karat is the standard used when measuring the fineness of gold.
She was presented with a 24-karat gold engagement ring.
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