Commonly Confused Words: Cent vs. Scent vs. Sent

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What does each word mean?

A cent is a fractional monetary unit used in several countries, worth one-hundredth of the value of the basic unit. For example, a euro is made up of a hundred cents. 

The plural of cent can be cent or cents. 

Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word.

Here is cent used in some example sentences:

  • The toy cost two euros and ninety nine cents or €2.99.
  • A euro is made up of a hundred cents. 
  • A dollar is made up of a hundred cent. 

A scent is a distinctive but pleasant smell. The word is also sometimes used to mean perfume.

Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word scent.  

Here is scent used in some example sentences: 

  • The scent of the flowers was heavenly. 
  • She spritzed some scent on her wrists before going out. 
  • The dog caught the scent of a squirrel. 

Sent is the past tense of send. If you send something, it means you cause it go somewhere. 

Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word send. 

Here is sent used in some example sentences: 

  • Have you sent the letter yet? 
  • They sent their children to stay with their grandparents over the summer. 
  • I sent you an email with the documents attached.


Where does each word come from?

Cent dates to the late-fourteenth century and comes from the Latin ‘centum’ meaning ‘hundred’. It evolved to mean ‘hundredth part’ in the seventeenth century (as in ‘percent’). It was chosen to name the US currency unit in 1786.

Scent dates to the late-fourteenth century was originally a hunting term meaning ‘to find the scent of’. Though the word used to be spelt ‘sent’, a ‘c’ was added in the seventeenth century. Scent comes from the Old French ‘sentir’, from the Latin ‘sentire’ meaning ‘to sense’.

Sent is the past tense form of send, which comes from the Old English ‘sendan’ from the Proto-Germanic ‘sond’.


Are there any tricks to help remember the difference between cent, scent, and sent?

Think of other words to do with a hundred – like century and percent – to help you remember that cent begins with a c. 

Think of a dog catching the scent of a sneaky cat to help you remember that sneaky c in scent. 

Use the word send to help you remember how to spell its past tense form sent. Only the last letter changes. 


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11 Mar 2021
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