# tongs vs torts

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### tongs
*noun · IPA /tɒŋz/ · frequency rank #37,257*
An instrument or tool used for picking things up without touching them with the hands or fingers, consisting of two slats or grips hinged at the end or in the middle, and sometimes including a spring to open the grips.

### torts
*noun · IPA /tɔːts/ · frequency rank #43,969*
Synonym of tort law (“the area of law dealing with wrongful acts, whether intentional or negligent, regarded as non-criminal and unrelated to contracts, which cause injuries and can be remedied in civil courts, usually through the awarding of damages”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-torts