Which to use
“add” is a verb and “as” is an adverb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #840
- “add” frequency rank
- #18
- “as” frequency rank
- 858
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | add | as |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | To join or unite (e.g. one thing to another, or as several particulars) so as to increase the number, augment the quantity, or enlarge the magnitude, or so as to form into one aggregate. | To such an extent or degree; to the same extent or degree. |
Where the eye mixes add and as
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 1 letter in sequence.
Why the eye confuses add with as
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: add is /æd/ while as is /əz/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs adverb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 858, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
add is recorded at frequency rank #840, classified as averb, pronounced /æd/. as is at rank #18, tagged as anadv, pronounced /əz/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 858, this pair ranks #528,634 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of add vs as
Shared letters: a. Private to "add": d. Private to "as": s.
"add" · 3 letters · shape VCC · "as" · 2 letters · shape VC
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "add" for "as" ever safe?
Frequency check: "add" vs "as" - which ranks higher?
After this comparison
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "add" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "as" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #528,634 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "add" and "as" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "add vs amb". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #528,634 of 530,003 scored English pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.