15 Things That We Think Are the Same but They’re Actually Not

We all have those days when someone corrects us for mistaking one thing for another. And it’s perfectly fine. After all, there are certain pairs of objects, animals, or even foods that leave people scratching their heads in confusion. Check the article to see if one of these has baffled you in the past!

1. Mosquito vs Crane fly

• Mosquito — They are much smaller than crane flies, since they only grow up to 0.4 inches. They have hairy antennae, 2 pairs of wings, and are known to pass on diseases by feeding on blood.
• Crane fly — These insects grow to about 1.5 inches long, and their antennae don’t have hairs. Crane flies only have one pair of wings, and are generally harmless since they neither bite nor sting.

2. Ladybug vs Bean beetle

• Ladybug — Although there are over 5,000 different species of this insect, the most common one is the 7-spotted ladybug, which has a shiny red back with black spots.
• Bean beetle — They are typically 1/4 inch long and grow slightly larger than a ladybug. These insects have yellow or copper backs, with 16 black spots, and normally spend their adult life feeding in their chosen canopy.

3. Venomous vs Poisonous

• Venomous — Venomous organisms, like certain snakes and spiders, actively inject other organisms with toxins through their stingers or fangs.
• Poisonous — Poisonous animals, like pufferfishes and some species of frogs, eject toxins defensively. Think of it as their defense mechanism against predators.

4. German flag vs Belgian flag

• German flag — Although it shares the same flag colors as the Belgian flag, the German flag’s stripes are horizontal, with black being on top, red in the middle, and yellow on the bottom.
• Belgian flag — This flag is composed of the same colors as the German one, but the stripes in it are vertical.

5. Australia vs Austria

• Australia — Considered the 6th biggest country in the world, Australia is both an island and a continent. It’s the home of diverse, endemic wildlife which includes kangaroos, koalas, and Tasmanian devils.
• Austria — The much smaller country of Austria is part of continental Europe, and is known for being the home of renowned composers such as Liszt and Mozart.

6. Eau de toilette vs Eau de parfum

• Eau de toilette — An eau de toilette has less concentration of fragrance oil at about 15%, compared to the more powerful eau de parfum. The scent typically lasts on one’s body for about 3 hours.
• Eau de parfum — This type of fragrance boasts of a 15-20% concentration of oil. That’s why it can keep you smelling nice for up to 8 hours.

7. Fedora hat vs Panama hat

• Fedora hat — Fedoras are typically made from felt or wool, and they usually come in black or brown.
• Panama hat — Authentic Panama hats are made out of woven straw, which make them more breezy, breathable, and perfect for warm summer getaways!

8. Sports jacket vs Blazer

• Sports jacket — A sports jacket is more casual and laid-back, and its fit and material are meant to look more rugged than a suit jacket or blazer.
• Blazer — Think of the blazer as a step below a suit. With a hopsack or flannel blazer, you can look dressed up for a formal occasion without having to necessarily wear a suit.

9. Iced coffee vs Cold brew

• Iced coffee — This beverage is quite literally what its name implies — it’s coffee served over ice.
• Cold brew — This one is a bit more complicated. Cold brew actually refers to a brewing process where coarse ground coffee is steeped in cold water for about 12 to 24 hours. This is in contrast to the normal espresso brew or French press that uses hot water.

10. Macaroon vs Macaron

• Macaron — French macarons are those airy, colorful meringue sandwiches mostly made of almond flour, egg whites, and confectioner’s sugar. The perfect macaron is crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
• Macaroon — This confection has shredded coconut as its main ingredient, and is often enjoyed with a drizzling of chocolate.

11. Jam vs Jelly

• Jam — If you’re the type who likes fruit chunks or pulp in their spread, then go for a jam.
• Jelly — A jelly spread typically does not have crushed fruits, as it is mainly composed of cooked fruit juice and sugar. That’s why jelly spreads are also more translucent in color than jam.

12. Dates vs Prunes

• Dates — The fruit itself comes from the date palm tree, and dates are much sweeter compared to prunes with a softer, gooier texture.
• Prunes — These are basically dried plums. Compared to dates, prunes are chewier and the flesh has a bit of stretchiness.

13. Honeydew melon vs Cantaloupe

• Honeydew melon — If you’re looking for something sweeter and with firmer flesh for that satisfying bite, then go for the green-colored honeydew melon.
• Cantaloupe — Prefer a softer flesh and a bright-orange color? Then cantaloupe is your best bet.

14. Crocheting vs Knitting

• Crocheting — Hobbyists agree that if you’re a beginner, you’re better off starting with crocheting over knitting. That’s because crocheting uses only a single hook to, well, hook the loops together.
• Knitting — On the other hand, with knitting, you’ll need to use a pair of long needles to form the loops, which makes it more difficult for newbies.

15. Virtual reality vs Augmented reality

• Virtual reality — VR or virtual reality normally requires the use of special gear like headsets, gloves, or sensors to be able to immerse a person into a computer-generated world.
• Augmented reality — You only need a smartphone to experience AR or augmented reality. Instead of creating an entirely different world, AR is more about integrating cool techie features into the real world with the help of your smartphone camera.