A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- Dissatisfied or unsatisfied
- Much vaunted
- U.S. state demonyms
- Ubersuper or very. It works as a prefix and as a standalone adjective.
- Udder vs. utter
- Umbrage
- Unawares1. surprisedly or unexpectingly; 2. without awareness. It is an old adverb.
- Uncomparable adjectives
- Underwater vs. under waterIt is usually one word, but some still make it two words when it follows what it modifies.
- Underway vs. under wayIt is usually one word before what it modifies and two words when it follows what it modifies, but the one-word form is gaining ground in all uses.
- Undoubtably vs. undoubtedlyThey're both useful words with distinct meanings.
- UniqueIt is traditionally an uncomparable adjective, but many English speakers now use it to mean remarkable or unusual, making it comparable.
- United States (plural or singular?)It is singular.
- Unkempt, unkeptBoth describe things that are not well maintained, but unkempt usually describes people, and unkept usually describes things.
- Unknown quantitya person or thing who is unknown or unpredictable.
- Unputdownableso riveting it is difficult to put down.
- Untoward1. not favorable; 2. troublesome; 3. hard to guide or control; 4. improper.
- Up to dateIt is hyphenated only as a phrasal adjective preceding what it modifies.
- Upfront vs. up frontIt is one word when it precedes what it modifies. When it follows what it modifies, it is sometimes one word and sometimes two.
- Upmost vs. utmostUtmost: to the highest or greatest degree. Upmost: situated in the top or most upward position.
- UpshotIt traditionally refers to an outcome or conclusion, but it is now often treated as synonymous with upside or advantage.
- Used to 1. accustomed; 2. did.
- Usually alwaysIt is self-contradictory.
- Vacuous vs. vapidVacuous: empty or inane. Vapid: dull.
- Vagina vs. vulvaVagina: the passage leading from the opening of the vulva to the cervix. Vulva: the external genital organs of the female mammal.
- Vain, vein, and vaneVain: 1. excessively pleased with oneself; 2. not yielding a desired outcome; 3. pointless. Vein: a blood-carrying membranous tube in animals. Vane: short for weathervane.
- Vale, vail, or veil
- Vamoosedepart.
- Variety vs varietal
- Veracity vs. voracityVeracity: truthfulness or honesty. Voracity: eagerness to consume a great amount of food.
- Verbiagean excess of words.
- Verbs
- Verklempt
- Verses vs. versusVerses: the plural of verse. Versus: against.
- Vertex vs. vortexVertex: 1. the highest point; 2. the point at which two sides of an angle intersect. Vortex: a whirling mass of matter.
- VeryIt is often unneeded.
- Vested
- Vice president (capitalization and hyphenation)
- Vice versa
- Vice vs. viseFor the clamping tool, it's vice outside the U.S., and vise in the U.S. For all other senses of vice, the word has a c everywhere.
- Vicious vs. viscousVicious: mean or evil. Viscous: having high resistance to flow.
- Virgule
- Vis-a-visin relation to or compared with.
- Viz.namely or that is.
- VoicemailIt is now usually one word, except in the New York Times and a few other places.
- VoilàLook!
- Vouchsafeto condescend to grant something.
- Vox populi