These words are '''''not''''' synonyms (but are often used as if they were):
	* massive: large
	* regular: frequent
	* digital: discrete
	* important: urgent [see also FourQuadrants]
	* more: many
	* fewer: less
	* quantum: large, significant
	* precision: accuracy
	* ultimate: best
	* ultimate: PenUltimate
	* classic: popular, best-selling ("instant classic" is an especially infuriating OxyMoron) ''no it is not. see below''
	* matrix: table
	* premier: best 
	* RealTime, fast
	* standards-compliant, open
	* free software, shareware
	* proprietary, commercial
	* OperatingSystem, kernel
	* leadership, management
	* responsibility, authority
	* ProjectManager, TechnicalLead
	* estimate, commitment
	* UML, RUP
	* principle, principal
	* complement, compliment (and complementary, complimentary)
	* effect, affect
	* ensure, insure, assure
		* According to Merriam-Webster, these are synonyms.
		* According to http://www.bartleby.com/64/C003/035.html they are not
		* Some authorities make no distinction between the first two, but surely all three are not synonyms?
		* http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-menuext&q=ensure%2C+insure%2C+assure
		* I think that "ensure" can mean either "insure" or "assure."
	* it's, its ''(see h''''''ttp://www.angryflower.com/itsits.gif -- not embedded due to size)''
	* there, their, they're
	* then, than
	* lose, loose
	* hopefully, I hope
	* amused, bemused
	* nauseous, nauseated
	* you, y'all, all y'all
	* Britain, GreatBritain, England, UnitedKingdom (see EnglishOrBritish)
	* I disagree, you are wrong [unless you are perfect *g*] (and other WikiIrregularVerbs)
	* character, byte, octet
	* old, obsolete. ''Easily confused when dealing with computer hardware or software.''
	* MS-DOS, Windows
	* Windows, X-Window System
	* cost, price
	* important, fundamental
	* important, urgent
	* significant: important, large
	* misspelled, believed to be a synonym
	* baud, bits per second
	* acronym, abbreviation (see AcronymVsAbbreviation)
	* simple, easy  ''Cause, IMHO, of much misconception regarding DoTheSimplestThingThatCouldPossiblyWork''

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	* premier: best

''premier is from the Latin "primus", meaning first, or principal. Therefore "premier" '''can''' mean "best", in the sense that "we're number 1!" means "we're the best".  Also, in orchestra's "first chair", "principal violinist" -- the best musician.''

<rebuttal>This is a word marketing copywriters use when they run out of useful things to write, which is to say nearly always.</rebuttal> 

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Really, this has to be the ultimate wiki page. I'm a regular visitor here and I have massive respect for what is expressed here. It's a quantum leap in wiki quality and is sure to become an instant classic.

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"Classic" means old. (And "No" means not yet, according to my cats.)

''Classic is not simply old.  It implies old and in some sense valued.''

No. According to http://www.m-w.com/ classic comes from latin ''classicus'' - of the highest class of Roman citizens, of the first rank, from ''classis'' and indeed its primary meaning is ''"serving as a standard of excellence, of recognized value"''. It also means enduring or traditional.

''Whatever the origins of the word, in modern usage, the term "classic" implies age.  Note that the acceptable values of "age" varies dramatically depending on context; a "classic" software development book is not judged in the same way as a "classic" of Western literature.''

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In Australia it's generally accepted that you're allowed to punch someone in the nose if they say something like "Less? I think you mean fewer.." -- LukeGorrie

''Several years ago I took to always correcting people's usage of the words less/fewer, whether they were correct or not. Most people just think "what a dick, who cares?", but some people find it funny. Ok, very few. And I particularly like the expression "one, some, or fewer" which when said quickly almost sounds like it means something.''

Now even express checkout lines at the grocery stores here in the US say "Ten Items or Fewer". I first heard this distinction mentioned about 25 years ago and never dreamed it would spread so far. -- RobertField

That's because all the guys named Les kept getting in line with several dozen items.

"Less people" is one that always gets me. "There were less people here last night". What, like there were guys here missing limbs or something?

''Many (US) newscasters have taken to using "up to X or more."  For example, a new government program will cost "up to $100 billion or more."  Thanks!  That cleared it up.''

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Not entirely related, but what gets my goat is "New and Improved!". Come on! It's either "new" ''or'' it's "improved" - you can't have it both ways, marketeers! -- DarrenIrvine

But "New or Improved!" doesn't have the right ring to it.

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There are too many cases where we, as software developers, let something have twelve different names because we can't decide what to call it.  And sometimes in so doing, we step on words that should be allocated for something else.  I'll remember this page next time I stumble upon an example of that.

''I think I know what you mean: words that have similar meanings, but are so overloaded that they may mean different things depending upon context.  How about these?''
	* ''signal, raise, throw''
	* ''package, assembly, installation, zipfile, tarball, module''
	* ''boolean, flag, switch, toggle''
	* ''interface, protocol, contract, signature''
	* ''function, procedure, subroutine, method, definition, message''
	* ''parameter, argument''
	* ''address, pointer, reference''
	* ''program, application, executable, script, code''
	* ''record, struct, tuple''  (record and tuple have generally well-defined meanings in set theory; struct seems to be term from C and similar languages)
	* ''logical, virtual, indirect''
	* ''process, thread, task, fiber/fibre''
Or even:
	* ''spreadsheet, table''
	* ''spreadsheet, database''
	* ''spreadsheet, accounting package'' [now we're digressing into PickTheRightToolForTheJob]
	* ''text editor, word processor''
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In a lighter vein, how about:
	* ''national interest, national interest''
	* ''religious right, religious right''
	* ''compassionate conservative, compassionate conservative''
	* ''coalition of the willing, minor nations seeking US backing'' no, wait -- those ''are'' the same...
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In the same vein: OrthogonalConcepts