A quick shower

Lesson 49 – Confusing Words

We’ve already looked at a few pairs of confusing words, like end and finish, big and large, or fast and quick. Here are some additional verbs that are frequently confused by English learners, with their different collocations explained.

close / shut

Close and shut are the same for doors, windows, mouths, and eyes.


Close the door / Shut the door so that the mosquitoes don’t get in.
It’s cold in here; could you please close the window / shut the window ? She shut her eyes / closed her eyes as she began to meditate.

Dan’s mouth was closed / shut.

Note: The word "shut" can be used with a word that implies the action was noisy:


She slammed the door shut.
The wind made the gate bang shut.


Note: The phrase "Shut your mouth!" is a rude way to tell somebody to stop talking.


Close (not shut) is used for shops, banks, etc. as well as for airports and roads that are not open or available at a particular time:


What time does the bank close?
The roads are closed due to construction. The shop is closing in 30 minutes.
We use expressions with "close" to refer to the end of an event or process:


Let’s bring this meeting to a close.
It appears that the economic crisis is drawing to a close / coming to a close. Messi scored a goal in the closing moments of the game.

gain / win / earn

The word win means to be #1 in a competition, or to receive an award.


My soccer team won the game 3-1. I want to win the lottery!
John won a prize in the science competition.
You can win a game, win a race, win a competition, or win the lottery. You can also win a medal (like in the Olympics), a prize, or an award. In conflicts, you can win an argument, win a battle or win the war.

The word earn means to get something in exchange for your work or effort.

Sarah is a famous lawyer; she earns a lot of money. I’m not rich, but I earn a decent salary.
My bank account earns 2% interest per month.
The salesman earns a 10% commission on every sale he makes.

The word gain means to receive/obtain or to increase (it may or may not be the result of work or effort).

I’ve gained weight ever since I stopped exercising.
Jack’s car gained speed as he drove down the mountain.
This training has helped me gain insight into modern educational methods. In my last job, I gained a lot of experience.
He has gained a reputation for complete honesty in his business dealings.