Commonly Confused Words:  oral / verbal

   Oral is an adjective.  It can mean any of the following:

• that which is spoken rather than written

        Example

• relating to the mouth

        Example

• used in or taken through the mouth

        Example

• consisting of or using speech

        Example

    Oral is sometimes used as a noun, meaning "an examination that is spoken rather than written."

        Example

    Although the adjective verbal is sometimes used in place of oral to indicate that something is spoken rather than written, most linguists use verbal more specifically to mean

• related to or associated with words

        Example

• concerned with words only, rather than with content, ideas, or action

        Example

• relating to proficiency in the use and understanding of words

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    Thus, verbal may refer to that which is written rather than spoken.  It is, therefore, a good idea, in order to avoid confusion,  to use oral to indicate that something is spoken rather than written.

Link to exercise on oral / verbal.