Which to use
“carat” and “crit” are a confusable English pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #23,773
- “carat” frequency rank
- #38,793
- “crit” frequency rank
- 62566
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | carat | crit |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A metric unit of mass equal to exactly 200 mg, chiefly used for measuring precious stones and pearls. | Criticism. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set carat and crit apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. carat (/ˈkæ.ɹət/) and crit (/kɹɪt/) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 62566, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
carat is recorded at frequency rank #23,773, classified as anoun, pronounced /ˈkæ.ɹət/. crit is at rank #38,793, tagged as anoun, pronounced /kɹɪt/.
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 62566, this pair ranks #87,800 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of carat vs crit
Shared letters: crt. Private to "carat": a. Private to "crit": i.
"carat" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "crit" · 4 letters · shape CCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "carat" and "crit" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "carat" or "crit"?
Remembering carat vs crit
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “carat” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable