CEO Doji Writes | May 14, 2025
English is one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet, serving as a global bridge for communication across cultures and continents. However, for non-native speakers—and even for native ones—English can be incredibly confusing. With its inconsistent rules, bizarre spelling, and words that contradict themselves, it’s no wonder many consider English the most confusing language in the world.
A Language Without Rules (Except When There Are)
English grammar is notorious for its contradictions and exceptions. For example, take the infamous “i before e except after c” rule. It seems helpful—until you come across words like “weird,” “height,” or “science.” The language is full of such half-rules that make sense only until they don’t.
Verb conjugation can also be maddening. The past tense of “go” is “went,” but for “do” it’s “did”—yet “doed” sounds like it should work in the same pattern. Then there’s “read” (present tense) and “read” (past tense), which are spelled the same but pronounced differently. Confused yet?
Spelling: A Puzzle in Itself
English spelling is a minefield of irregularities. Words like “though,” “through,” “thought,” and “thorough” are spelled similarly but sound completely different. Then there’s the classic example: “ghoti” could theoretically be pronounced “fish” if you pull the “gh” from “enough,” the “o” from “women,” and the “ti” from “nation.”
Many spelling quirks can be traced back to the language’s complex history. English borrows heavily from Latin, French, German, Norse, and many other languages, which contributes to its inconsistent and chaotic orthography.
Homophones, Homonyms, and Other Headaches
English is rich in homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Consider “their,” “there,” and “they’re,” or “two,” “to,” and “too.” Misusing these in writing is an easy way to confuse readers (and frustrate teachers).
Then there are contronyms, or auto-antonyms—words that are their own opposites. For example:
- Sanction can mean both a penalty and permission.
- Dust can mean to remove dust or to sprinkle something (like sugar).
- Left can refer to something remaining, or to having departed.
Contronyms: Some Expanded explanations
Common Contronyms in English
- Sanction
- To permit or approve (e.g., The government sanctioned the project.)
- To penalize or punish (e.g., The company faced sanctions for breaking the law.)
- Dust
- To remove dust from a surface (e.g., She dusted the shelves.)
- To apply a fine powder (e.g., He dusted the cake with sugar.)
- Left
- Remaining (e.g., Only a few cookies are left.)
- Departed (e.g., She left the party early.)
- Oversight
- Supervision or management (e.g., The project was under his oversight.)
- Failure to notice something (e.g., The error was an oversight.)
- Clip
- To attach or fasten (e.g., She clipped the paper together.)
- To cut or remove (e.g., He clipped the branches.)
- Cleave
- To adhere closely (e.g., She cleaved to her beliefs.)
- To split apart (e.g., The axe cleaved the log.)
- Fast
- To move quickly (e.g., The horse ran fast.)
- To be firmly fixed (e.g., The bolt was fast in place.)
- Seed
- To plant seeds (e.g., They seeded the garden.)
- To remove seeds from (e.g., She seeded the watermelon.)
- Screen
- To show or display (e.g., They screened the movie.)
- To block or hide (e.g., The trees screened the view.)
- Bolt
- To secure or lock (e.g., She bolted the door.)
- To run away suddenly (e.g., The rabbit bolted from the bush.)
- Weather
- To withstand or endure (e.g., The ship weathered the storm.)
- To wear away or erode (e.g., The statue weathered over centuries.)
- Trim
- To cut or reduce (e.g., She trimmed the hedge.)
- To decorate or add to (e.g., The dress was trimmed with lace.)
- Consult
- To seek advice (e.g., I will consult the expert.)
- To give advice (e.g., He consulted the client.)
- Bound
- Tied up or fastened (e.g., The books were bound in leather.)
- Heading for a destination (e.g., The train is bound for New York.)
- Dusting
- To apply a fine powder (e.g., Dusting sugar on a cake.)
- To remove fine particles (e.g., Dusting the furniture.)
Idioms: The Ultimate Confusion
Idiomatic expressions add another layer of complexity. Phrases like “kick the bucket,” “spill the beans,” or “break the ice” often make no literal sense. A new learner might imagine violence, food fights, or actual icebreaking when trying to understand these idioms without context.
Pronunciation Games
English pronunciation is unpredictable at best. Consider the words “colonel” (pronounced “kernel”), “bologna” (pronounced “baloney”), and “choir” (pronounced “quire”). And why is “knight” not pronounced the way it’s spelled? The silent letters in English often serve no clear purpose, confusing learners and readers alike.
Final Thoughts
Despite (or perhaps because of) all its quirks, English remains a fascinating and flexible language. Its global reach, adaptability, and rich vocabulary make it powerful—but also puzzling. For learners, patience is essential. For fluent speakers, a bit of humility helps: even native speakers stumble over its oddities.
In the end, English may be the most confusing language in the world—but it’s also one of the most expressive. And perhaps that’s part of its charm.
Come back soon please, part two is cooking.
SOURCES : CEO Doji | DBlog | www.digirefera.com
PHOTO & IMAGE CREDIT : CEO Doji | Digi Refera | MC MULTIMEDIA
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