Commonly Misused and Confusing Words

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.