Ever paused mid-sentence, unsure if it’s feal or feel? You’re not alone. This tiny spelling difference can derail even the most confident writers, leaving you second-guessing your skillset. But here’s the good news: feal is a relic of the past, and feel is the word you need 99% of the time.
In this guide, we’ll crack the feel vs. feel mystery once and for all—and toss in pro tips for other sneaky word pairs like vicious vs. viscous and since vs. sense. By the end, you’ll write with clarity, avoid embarrassing mix-ups, and maybe even impress your grammar-nerd friends. Ready to conquer these confusions? Let’s dive in.
The Confusing Case of Feal vs Feel
Imagine you’re deep in the middle of writing, confidently typing away, when suddenly you pause. “Wait… is it feal or feel?” You’ve seen both words before, but now they’re staring back at you, daring you to choose the right one. No worries—this is a mix-up that happens more often than you’d think, and by the end of this section, you’ll never second-guess it again.
What Does Feal Mean? (And Why You’ll Probably Never Use It)
Let’s start with feal—a word so old it practically belongs in a medieval manuscript. Back in the day, knights and noblemen would swear to be feal to their lords, meaning loyal or faithful. It comes from an Old French word, and while it once had its place in the English language, today, it’s about as useful as a candle in a blackout—interesting to know about, but not something you’ll actually need.
Unless you’re writing historical fiction or quoting a centuries-old text, you can safely ignore feal for the rest of your life. It’s one of those words that might pop up in rare literature but has no place in modern communication.
Feel - The Word You Actually Need
Now, feel—this is a word you use every day, probably without even thinking about it. You feel emotions, you feel textures, and you feel the weight of choosing the right word in your writing.
It works as both a verb and a noun:
- Verb: “I feel excited about the trip.”
- Noun: “This fabric has a soft feel.”
No old-timey drama here—just a straightforward, modern English word that belongs in your skillset.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Now that you know when to use feel and why feal belongs in the past, let’s talk about the mistakes that sneak into writing more often than you’d think. Some are simple typos, others are misunderstandings, but they all have one thing in common: they can throw off the clarity of your message. Let’s break them down so you can sidestep them effortlessly.
1. Feal Happy Today? Not Quite
One of the most common slip-ups is using feal instead of feel in everyday writing. You might type something like, “I feal excited about my new job,” without realizing that feal hasn’t been a common English word for centuries. Since it’s not flagged as an error in some spell-check tools, it can sneak in undetected.
The fix? Simple. If you’re talking about emotions, sensations, or anything related to physical touch, feel is always the right choice. If you ever catch yourself typing feal, stop and ask: Am I a medieval knight swearing loyalty to a king? No? Then it’s feel.
2. Tweak, Not Tweek—Proofreading Saves the Day
Even the best writers make mistakes, but the real pros catch them before hitting send. One quick way to improve your writing? Tweak your wording by proofreading carefully. Not tweek, which isn’t even a word (unless you’re referencing a certain jittery cartoon character).
Running your work through spell-check or reading it out loud can help catch these slip-ups before they make their way into an important email, article, or post.
3. Idioms: Use Them on Purpose
You’ve probably heard the phrase “by hook or by crook,” meaning “by any means necessary.” It’s a handy expression, but if you’re using it, make sure it’s intentional. Tossing in idioms randomly or in the wrong context can confuse readers who aren’t familiar with them. If clarity is your goal, stick with straightforward language—unless you’re going for a certain tone or effect.
4. Scraped vs Scrapped—Two Very Different Actions
Here’s another easy mix-up: scraped and scrapped. They may sound similar, but they mean entirely different things.
- Scraped means to remove something or to graze a surface. (“She scraped the old paint off the door.”)
- Scrapped means to discard something entirely. (“They scrapped the original plan and started over.”)
Other Easily Confused Words
Even when you’ve mastered the difference between feal vs feel and cleaned up common mistakes, there are still plenty of tricky word pairs waiting to trip you up. Some of these are so close in spelling or pronunciation that they seem interchangeable—until you use the wrong one in the wrong context. Let’s break them down so you can spot the differences and use them correctly every time.
1. Since vs. Sense
You’ve probably used both of these words before, but their meanings aren’t the same.
- Since it refers to time or causation. (“I haven’t seen him since last summer.”)
- Sense refers to perception, awareness, or logic. (“That doesn’t make sense to me.”)
Mixing them up is rare, but it does happen—especially when writing quickly. If you’re unsure, ask yourself: Are you talking about time? Use since. If it’s about understanding or physical perception, go with sense.
2. Vicious vs Viscous
Here’s a fun one-word that sounds similar but couldn’t be more different.
- Vicious describes something cruel, violent, or aggressive. (“The boxer delivered a vicious punch.”)
- Viscous describes a thick, sticky liquid. (“The syrup was so viscous it barely dripped off the spoon.”)
The key to remembering this? If it’s something mean or dangerous, it’s vicious. If it’s something slow-moving and gooey, it’s viscous. And if you ever meet a vicious person covered in viscous mud, well… you’ve got a story on your hands.
3. Composed vs Comprised
This one trips up even experienced writers. The two words are related but work differently in a sentence.
- Composed of means “made up of.” (“The team is composed of experts.”)
- Comprised means “includes” or “consists of.” (“The book comprises 12 chapters.”)
The mistake comes when people say “comprised of,” which is incorrect. If you’re unsure, switch it around—if “includes” makes sense in the sentence, comprises is the right choice. If “made up of” works better, go with composed of.
4. I vs Me
Most people get confused when they have to choose between I and me, especially when another person is involved in the sentence.
- I is a subject pronoun—meaning it’s doing the action. (“My brother and I went to the store.”)
- Me is an object pronoun—meaning it’s receiving the action. (“She gave the gift to my brother and me.”)
A quick trick: Take the other person out of the sentence. You wouldn’t say, “She gave the gift to I.” You’d say, “She gave the gift to me.” Apply that logic when you add someone else into the mix, and you’ll always get it right.
5. Appendices vs Appendixes
Here’s a case where both words are technically correct, but one is preferred in certain contexts.
- Appendices are the more formal, academic plural of “appendix.” (“The research paper included several appendices with supporting data.”)
- Appendixes are more commonly used in general writing. (“The book had three appendixes at the end.”)
If you’re writing an academic paper, go with appendices. Otherwise, either option works.
Pro Tips for Remembering Differences
By now, you’ve tackled tricky word pairs, dodged common mistakes, and sharpened your understanding of easily confused words. But knowing the rules is one thing—remembering them when you need them is another. That’s where a few simple tricks can make all the difference.
1. Use Mnemonics
Ever find yourself hesitating between feal vs feel? Try this: You feel with your feet. Sure, you actually feel with your skin, but the homophone trick works—and once it’s in your head, it’s hard to forget.
The same strategy can help with other word pairs too. Need to remember the difference between vicious vs viscous? Picture a vicious dog snarling, while a viscous liquid oozes slowly. The images make it stick.
2. Context Matters
Some words look identical but act differently depending on the sentence. Take pickup or pick up, for example.
- Pick up is a verb phrase. (“I need to pick up groceries.”)
- Pickup is a noun. (“He bought a new pickup truck.”)
A quick test? If you can replace it with “collect” or “gather,” you need to pick up (two words). If you’re talking about a truck or a scheduled collection, pickup (one word) is your answer.
3. Check Spelling
Even small spelling tweaks can change a word’s meaning—or make it incorrect altogether.
- Tying is the correct spelling. (“She is tying her shoes.”)
- Tieing is just wrong. It might seem logical, but it’s not standard English.
The same goes for requestor vs requester:
- Requester is the everyday version. (“The requester asked for more information.”)
- Requestor is mostly used in legal or technical fields. (“The requestor of the contract must sign first.”)
Unless you’re writing legal documents, stick with requester—it’s the safer bet.
Final Note
Mastering feal vs feel isn’t just about spelling—it’s about sharpening your writing to communicate clearly and confidently. Remember: feal belongs in history books, while feel is your go-to for emotions, sensations, and everyday language. Along the way, you’ve also learned to dodge pitfalls like tweek vs tweak and scrapped vs scraped, ensuring your work stays polished and professional.
Whether you’re crafting an email, a blog post, or a novel, these tips will help you avoid errors that could muddy your message. Bookmark this guide, share it with a friend who struggles with I vs me, and keep refining that skillset. After all, great writing isn’t magic—it’s just knowing the right words to use.
frequently asked question
Almost never. Feal is an archaic term meaning “loyal” or “faithful,” primarily found in medieval texts or historical fiction. In contemporary writing, feel (emotions/sensations) is the correct choice. If you’re not roleplaying as a knight swearing allegiance to a king, stick with feel.
Vicious describes something cruel or aggressive (a vicious argument), while viscous refers to thick, slow-moving liquids (viscous honey). Remember: vicious for violence, viscous for viscosity.
Since it is used for time or causation (since yesterday; since you asked). Sense relates to perception or logic (a sense of smell that makes sense). Mixing them up? Ask: “Am I talking about time?” → since.
Tweak means to adjust slightly (tweak the design). Tweek is incorrect unless you’re referencing a hyperactive cartoon character. Always double-check spelling!
Scrapped means discarded (the project was scrapped). Scraped means rubbed or removed (she scraped her knee). One letter changes the meaning entirely!
Both are technically correct plurals of the appendix, but appendices are preferred in academic writing. Use appendixes for general contexts (the book’s appendixes).
