Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
TAUGHT / TAUT
The word taught, a verb, serves as either the past tense or past participle of the infinitive to teach while the word taut, usually used as an adjective, often means tight; having no give or looseness. It can also mean tense (his nerves were taut as he readied himself for the race) or neat and orderly (the captain runs a taut ship).
INCORRECT: Our math teacher taut us algebra.
CORRECT: Our math teacher taught us algebra.
INCORRECT: Pull the rope taught.
CORRECT: Pull the rope taut.
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