Which to use
“scoff” is a noun and “scour” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #38,151
- “scoff” frequency rank
- #30,216
- “scour” frequency rank
- 68367
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | scoff | scour |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach. | To clean, polish, or wash (something) by rubbing and scrubbing it vigorously, frequently with an abrasive or cleaning agent. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set scoff and scour apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: scoff is /skɒf/ while scour is /ˈskaʊə/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 68367, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
scoff is recorded at frequency rank #38,151, classified as anoun, pronounced /skɒf/. scour is at rank #30,216, tagged as averb, pronounced /ˈskaʊə/.
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 68367, this pair ranks #59,172 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of scoff vs scour
Shared letters: cos. Private to "scoff": f. Private to "scour": ru.
"scoff" · 5 letters · shape CCVCC · "scour" · 5 letters · shape CCVVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "scoff" and "scour" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "scoff" or "scour"?
Remembering scoff vs scour
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “scoff”; for a verb, it's “scour”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “scoff” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable