Here are some more confusing words. They all look very similar. You must look at the words closely to notice their differences.
Trough and tough are spelled nearly the same, and that makes them tricky. Can you see the one letter that is different?
Trough and tough do not rhyme, and they mean very different things.
Trough rhymes with off.
A trough is a long narrow container often used to hold food for barn animals.
The farmer threw our leftover food into the trough to feed the hogs.
Tough rhymes with puff.
Tough is an adjective. When something is tough, it is hard to chew or difficult to do.
The steak was tough and hard to chew.
Our teacher gave us a tough quiz.
Though and thorough are also often confused with each other. Though and thorough have the same sound but different meanings. Though is only one syllable, and thorough is two syllables.
Though rhymes with go. Though is a conjunction that joins two clauses. Though is a part of although or even though.
Though money is tight, Dad still takes us on a trip every year.
Thorough looks almost like though, except thorough has an extra or that adds an extra syllable. It sounds like thur-oh.
Thorough is an adjective that means carefully and completely.
Before we travel, Dad does a thorough inspection of the car so that we will be safe.
Trough and tough, though and thorough are confusing words. Remember these tips, and practice using the words so that you are comfortable with them.