The words cereal and serial are homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings.

The noun cereal refers to a grain (such as wheat or oats) or a breakfast food prepared from one of these grains.

The noun serial refers to a work or activity that appears in parts at regular intervals. The adjective serial means arranged or occurring in a series.

Examples:

• In the United States, cereal is more heavily advertised to children than any other packaged-food.

• "The major distinction between television serials and television series is that in a serial, the narratives continue across episodes, often taking weeks, months, or even years to resolve, and the characters evolve and change over time."
  (Denise D. Bielby and C. Lee Harrington, Global TV: Exporting Television and Culture in the World Market. NYU Press, 2008)

Practice:

(a) America's morbid fascination with _____ killers has reached an all-time high.

(b) According to obesity researchers, a pre-sweetened _____ should not be part of a regular diet for children.

Answers to Practice Exercises

Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words