Learn about the difference between the homophones: mussed and must

Definitions

mussed

Mussed is an adjective that means untidy or disheveled in appearance.

Example

She came in looking a little mussed after the long drive.

Example

His hair was all mussed up from playing outside.

must

Must is a modal verb that expresses obligation or necessity. It can also be used to indicate a strong likelihood or a conclusion based on evidence.

Example

You must arrive on time for the meeting.

Example

It must have rained last night because the ground is wet.

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

- To remember the difference between these two words, think of mussed as being related to appearance or physical state, while must is related to obligation or necessity. - You could associate mussed with 'messy' and must with 'mandatory'.