Which to use
“instances” and “instincts” are a confusable French pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #7,196
- “instances” frequency rank
- #21,358
- “instincts” frequency rank
- 28554
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | instances | instincts |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Pluriel de instance. | Pluriel de instinct. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set instances and instincts apart are highlighted. They share 7 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. instances (\ɛ̃s.tɑ̃s\) and instincts (\ɛ̃s.tɛ̃\) 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 28554, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
instances is recorded at frequency rank #7,196, classified as anoun, pronounced \ɛ̃s.tɑ̃s\. instincts is at rank #21,358, tagged as anoun, pronounced \ɛ̃s.tɛ̃\.
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 28554, this pair ranks #322,066 of 440,172 scored French confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of instances vs instincts
Shared letters: cinst. Private to "instances": ae. Private to "instincts": -.
"instances" · 9 letters · shape VCCCVCCVC · "instincts" · 9 letters · shape VCCCVCCCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "instances" and "instincts" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "instances" or "instincts"?
Remembering instances vs instincts
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 “instances” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable