Some words look remarkably the same when you glance at them. When you look more closely, you notice they are actually spelt differently, and they mean different things.

These mistakes are common in the OET exam. Learn how to avoid them. 

  • Confusing complaint and compliant
  •  Compliant is an adjective. It means that somebody is cooperative and obedient. In medical terms, it means they follow the directions given to them about their care. e.g. ‘They are compliant with their medication.’ means they take their medication as directed without missing a day.

  • Complaint is a noun. It is a statement to advise somebody you are not happy about something. e.g. The main complaint was the dog barking all day.
  • In medical terms, complaint means an illness or medical condition.
Mistaking the phrase rule-out to mean confirm diagnosis
  • Rule-out means to eliminate something based on evidence. e.g x-ray ruled out a fracture. Means there was no fracture.
Confusing advice and advise
  • Advice is an uncountable noun. It is a recommendation that you do something to help a situation. In medical terms it’s to help you manage your medical issues.

e.g. The doctor’s advice was to stop smoking.

  • Advise is a verb. It means to give your opinion/recommendation about the best thing to do in a given situation.

e.g. The doctor advised me to stop smoking.

Confusing practise and practice

This is similar to advise and advice. It only applies in British English. In America it is spelt practice in all situations.

  • Practice is a noun countable and uncountable

Practice is a  countable noun. It’s  the business of a doctor or a lawyer or other professional person. 

Also means the act of doing something in order to get better at it. 

Also means a way of doing something. Especially as a result of habit, custom or tradition. E.G. It’s good practice to pay attention when you’re learning a new skill.

Practise is a verb. It means to do something in order to get better at it.

It also means to work in your chosen profession. e.g. He practised medicine for forty years.

You can use American or British spelling, but you must be consistent. You can’t use British spelling in one part of the exam and American in another. 

e.g. in British English, travel gets an extra ‘l’  (travelling) in the present continuous. 

I referred to the Macmillan dictionary for this article.