Which to use
“paddle” and “parole” are a confusable English pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #15,239
- “paddle” frequency rank
- #9,933
- “parole” frequency rank
- 25172
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | paddle | parole |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A two-handed implement consisting of a shaft with one or two blades attached to the end(s) used to propel a canoe, kayak or a small boat. A paddle is unattached to the boat and freely operated with the hands, compared with an oar which is attached to the boat at a pivot point. | Originally, one's oath or word of honour, given as a condition of release from custody; now specifically, describing the release of a former prisoner under certain conditions, especially the promise of good behaviour. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set paddle and parole apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. paddle (/ˈpædl̩/) and parole (/pəˈɹoʊl/) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 25172, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
paddle is recorded at frequency rank #15,239, classified as anoun, pronounced /ˈpædl̩/. parole is at rank #9,933, tagged as anoun, pronounced /pəˈɹoʊl/.
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 25172, this pair ranks #396,359 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of paddle vs parole
Shared letters: aelp. Private to "paddle": d. Private to "parole": or.
"paddle" · 6 letters · shape CVCCCV · "parole" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "paddle" and "parole" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "paddle" or "parole"?
Remembering paddle vs parole
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 “paddle” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable