ESEN
Which one to use?Advancednounnoun
KernelvsColonel
'Kernel' is the inner part of a seed or the central part of something; 'colonel' is a senior military officer rank.
Side-by-side comparison
Kernel
noun"Kernel" is the core or inner part of something: the edible seed of a nut or grain, the essence of an argument, or in computing the core of an operating system.
Each kernel of corn on the cob is technically a separate fruit and seed.
The kernel of her argument was that cost savings should never come at the expense of quality.
The Linux kernel is the core component shared by all Linux-based operating systems.
Colonel
noun"Colonel" is a high-ranking military officer above a lieutenant colonel. Despite the very different spelling, it is pronounced exactly the same as "kernel".
The colonel addressed the troops before they deployed to the training exercise.
Colonel Mustard is one of the classic suspects in the board game Cluedo.
She was promoted to colonel after twenty years of distinguished military service.
Common mistake
- •"The colonel of the argument" when meaning the core is wrong: the core or center is "kernel".
- •"Colonel" (pronounced exactly like "kernel") is the military rank.
Trick to remember it
- •"Kernel" sounds like it looks: KERN-el.
- •The core of corn, the core of a computer system.
- •"Colonel" has COL at the start: the COLonel commands a COLumn of soldiers.
Quick rule
- •Is it the grain, core, or computing kernel? "Kernel".
- •Is it the military rank (pronounced "kernel")? "Colonel".
Did you know?
"Colonel" is considered the word with the greatest gap between spelling and pronunciation in modern English, an extreme case that has confused learners for centuries. The history: the word entered English in the 16th century with TWO simultaneous forms. "Coronel" (Spanish/French pronunciation: /kəˈrɒnəl/) and "colonel" (Italian form: /ˈkɒlənəl/). For over a century both forms coexisted. For spelling, the Italian form (colonel) won. For pronunciation, the French/Spanish form won, which then evolved to /ˈkɜːrnəl/. The result: a word written like Italian but sounding like French. Harland Sanders, KFC founder, used the honorary title "Colonel Sanders", a distinction the state of Kentucky grants to notable civilians.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She added a pinch of salt and a _____ of corn to the salad.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The _____ gave orders to his soldiers before they entered the town.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
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One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
AdvicevsAdvise
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
AffectvsEffect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy