You might not think they're easily confused, but in stories I read yesterday morning, left over from the evening before (GMT), one story had the protagonist musing over whether to let out his house to a 'tenet', and another story had a cult member talking about a philosophical 'tenant' he lived by. :-(
AJ
That's 'defiantly' a problem.
Sometimes, you can 'waist' a lot of time trying to figure out why a guy wants to put his arm around his girlfriend's 'waste'. 💩
Or why so many people like a 'bowel' of cereal for breakfast.
I wonder whether there's a context in which both tenet or tenant would make sense, similar to how 'My wife compliments/complements me.' are both plausible.
AJ
I wouldn't think so as they have 2 entirely different meanings
Tenet - a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.
Tenant - a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord.
Though apparently people often confuse the 2 words...
Actually, the OP has a case where both work:
I live by a philosophical tenant/tenet.
I could live according to a set of beliefs, or I might live next to a renting philosopher.
Or, to simplify further:
I live by a number of tenants/tenets.
It can be fun constructing cases where either word works:
"Look at that waste/waist! What can be done about it?" "Tell him to put less on his plate."
This school has just one principal/principle.
Sure of his case, he answered defiantly/definitely.
Edited to add:
Can't find one for their/there yet.
"What's/Watt's a measure of power?"
There/Their beauty is prized.
It's actually worse: they're/their/there
Same with too, two, to
And more difficult ones — interment vs. internment (no 'n' means 'burial', 'n' means 'in custody' or 'confined').
Oh, and of course flammable, inflammable, non-flamable. (First means can catch fire, third means cannot catch fire; middle one all bets are off!)
And on and on. English is 'fun'.
And Tuesday sounds like twosday.
All the days of the week can be mispronounced. Sonday or Sunday. Monday or Munday. Wed nes day or wensday. Thirstday or thursday. Fryday or Friday. Sadderday or Saturday.