Commonly Misused Words
Accept, Except:
Accept
is a verb meaning to receive. Except is usually a preposition meaning
excluding. Except is also a verb meaning to exclude.
Example:
- I will accept all the packages except that one.
- Please except that item from the list.
Affect, Effect:
Affect
is usually a verb meaning to influence.
Effect is usually a noun meaning result. Effect can also be a verb
meaning to bring about.
Example:
- The drug did not affect the disease, and it had
several adverse side effects.
- Only the president can effect such a dramatic
change.
Allusion, Illusion:
An
Allusion is an indirect reference. An illusion is a misconception or false
impression. Example:
- Did you catch my allusion to Shakespeare?
- Mirrors give the room an illusion of depth.
Capital, Capitol:
Capital
refers to a city, capitol to a building where lawmakers meet. Capital also
refers to wealth or resources.
Example:
- The capitol has undergone extensive
renovations.
- The residents of the state capital protested
the development plans.
Climactic, Climatic:
Climactic
is derived from climax, the point of greatest intensity in a series or
progression of events. Climatic is derived from climate; it refers to
meteorological conditions.
Example:
- The climactic period in the dinosaurs' reign
was reached just before severe climatic conditions brought on the ice age.
Elicit, Illicit:
Elicit
is a verb meaning to bring out or to evoke. Illicit is an adjective meaning
unlawful. Example:
- The reporter was unable to elicit information
from the police about illicit drug traffic.
Emigrate from, Immigrate to:
Emigrate
means to leave one country or region to settle in another. Immigrate means to
enter another country and reside there.
Example:
- In 1900, my grandfather emigrated from Russia.
- Many Mexicans immigrate to the U.S. to find
work.
#Hints:
- Emigrate
begins with the letter E, as does Exit. When you emigrate, you exit a country.
- Immigrate
begins with the letter I, as does In. When you immigrate, you go into a country
Principle, Principal:
Principal
is a noun meaning the head of a school or an organization or a sum of money.
Principle is a noun meaning a basic truth or law.
Example:
- The principal taught us many important life
principles.
#Hint:
To
recognize the spelling of Principal first think of yourself as a greedy
opportunist. You definitely would want to be a pal of anyone who is in a
position of power or anything to do with money. This principal has pal in it.
Than, Then:
Than
is a conjunction used in comparisons; then is an adverb denoting time.
Example:
- That pizza is more than I can eat. Tom laughed,
and then we recognized him.
There, Their, They're:
There
is an adverb specifying place; it is also an expletive. Adverb: Sylvia is lying there unconscious.
Expletive: There are two plums left. Their is a possessive pronoun. They're is
a contraction of they are. Fred and Jane finally washed their car. They're
later than usual today.
#Hints:
If
you are using there to tell the reader where, both words have h-e-r-e. Here is
also a place. If you are using their as a possessive pronoun, you are telling
the reader what "they own. Their has h-e-i-r, which also means heir, as in
someone who inherits something. Both words have to do with ownership. They're
is a contraction of they are. Sound out they are in the sentence and see if it
works. If it does not, it must be one of the previous versions.
To, Too, Two:
To is
a preposition; too is an adverb; two is a number.
Example:
- Too many of your shots slice to the left, but
the last two were right on the mark.
#Hints:
If
you are trying to spell out the number, it is always t-w-o. Two has a w which is the first letter in
word. The opposite of word is number.
Too
is usually used as also when adding or
including some additional information. Whenever you want to include something
else, think of it as adding; therefore
you also need to add an extra o.
Your, You're:
Your
is a possessive pronoun; you're is a contraction of you are.
Example:
- You're going to catch a cold if you don't wear
your coat.
#Hints:
Sound
out you are in the sentence. If it works in the sentence it can be written as
you're.
If it sounds awkward, it is probably supposed to be Your.
You're
shoes are muddy. "You are shoes are muddy" does not work, so
it
should be written as: Your shoes are muddy.
Lie, Lay:
Lie is
an intransitive verb meaning to recline or rest on a surface. Its principal
parts are lie, lay, lain. Lay is a transitive verb meaning to put or place. Its
principal parts are lay, laid.
Example:
- Chickens lay eggs.
- I lie down when I am tired.
Set, Sit:
Set is
a transitive verb meaning to put or to place. Its principal parts are set, set,
set. Sit is an intransitive verb meaning to be seated. Its principal parts are
sit, sat, sat.
Example:
- She set the dough in a warm corner of the
kitchen.
- The cat sat in the warmest part of the room.
Who, Which, That:
Do not
use which to refer to persons. Use who instead. That, though generally used to
refer to things, may be used to refer to a group or class of people.
Example:
- I just saw a boy who was wearing a yellow
banana costume.
- I have to go to math next, which is my hardest
class.
- Where is the book that I was reading?
Confusing words
Borrow, Lend:
Borrow
is a verb meaning to take a loan. Lend is a verb meaning to give a loan.
Example:
- Can I borrow $100 from you please?
- I will lend you $100.
Say, Tell:
Say is
a verb meaning to report someone’s words or to ask about how to use a language.
Tell is a verb to instruct or to narrate.
Example:
- Did she say anything about me?
- How do you say “hello” in Korean?
- Tell him to stop the car.
- He’s telling a good story.
Do, Make:
Do is
a verb meaning to carry out activities or tasks. Make is a verb meaning to cause
to happen and to create or build something.
Example:
- He needs to do his homework.
- Don’t make him angry.
- Don’t forget to make a list.
Can, May:
Can is
a verb meaning to show ability, to request (informal). May is a verb meaning to
express a possibility, to request (polite).
Example:
- I can contact the company if you would like me
to.
- Can I help you?
- I may see you later at the party.
- May I help you?
Meet, Know:
Meet is
a verb meaning to come into contact with someone, to be introduced to someone,
to arrange to see someone. Know is a verb meaning to be familiar with someone,
to understand a fact or truth.
Example:
- He met her for the first time yesterday.
- I will meet you in front of the main building.
- I’ve known Sheila for a long time.
- He knows a lot about geography.
Waste, Spend:
Waste is
a verb meaning to fail to use something valuable in an effective way. Spend is
a verb meaning to pay out, to pass time.
Example:
- Don’t waste your time watching too much TV.
- Don’t waste water! We don’t have enough of it.
- I spent a lot of money at the shop yesterday.
- He spends much of his time at the beach.
Bring, Take:
Bring is
a verb meaning to carry towards someone or somewhere. Take is a verb meaning to
carry away from someone or somewhere.
Example:
- He brings me flowers every week.
- He always takes his brother to hockey games.
Adopt, Adapt:
Adopt is
a verb meaning to take or claim as one’s own. Adapt is a verb meaning to get
used to, or to change.
Example:
- They adopted a child from Vietnam last year.
- John adapted to the weather in the East quite
quickly.
- That company adapts and resells the ideas of
others.
Rise, Raise:
Rise is
a verb meaning to get up, or to go up. Raise is a verb meaning to make higher.
Example:
- He rises at 5:00 every morning
- Gas prices are steadily rising.
- The government is raising the price of fuel.
