Which to use
“parser” is a noun and “pause” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #45,572
- “parser” frequency rank
- #7,166
- “pause” frequency rank
- 52738
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | parser | pause |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A computer program that parses. | To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort. |
Where the eye mixes parser and pause
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 4 letters in sequence.
Look-alike desk: parser vs pause
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: parser is /ˈpɑː(ɹ).zə/ while pause is /pɔːz/. 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 (noun vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 52738, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
parser is recorded at frequency rank #45,572, classified as anoun, pronounced /ˈpɑː(ɹ).zə/. pause is at rank #7,166, tagged as averb, pronounced /pɔːz/.
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 52738, this pair ranks #154,617 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of parser vs pause
Shared letters: aeps. Private to "parser": r. Private to "pause": u.
"parser" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC · "pause" · 5 letters · shape CVVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "parser" for "pause" ever safe?
Which is more common, "parser" or "pause"?
After this comparison
Pronunciation already separates them, if the page still looks alike, the dictionary links below settle it.
- Full dictionary entry for "parser" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "pause" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #154,617 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "parser" and "pause" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "parley vs parser". Nearby pair
- Recorded mistypes exist for at least one side of this pair, useful when a spell-checker or OCR lands on the wrong form. See mistypes
Confusion rank #154,617 of 530,003 scored English pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.