Commonly+Confused+Words

//a vs. an// Use ‘a’ when the first letter of the word following has the sound of a consonant. Keep in mind that some vowels sound like consonants when they’re sounded out as individual letters. Examples: a finger a hotel a U-turn (pronounced You-turn) a HUD program a NASA study

Use ‘an’ when the first letter of the word following has the sound of a vowel. Remember that some consonants sound like vowels when they’re spoken as individual letters. Examples: an FBI case (F is pronounced ef here) an honor (H is silent here) an unusual idea an HMO plan (H is pronounced aitch here) an NAACP convention (N is pronounced en here)

//accept vs. except// accept: to agree; to receive except: but, with the exception that

//aides vs. aids// aides: people who help; assistants aids: helps, assists

//adverse vs. averse// adverse: unfortunate; strongly opposed (refers to things, not people) Examples: an adverse reaction to the medication adverse weather conditions

averse: having repugnance (refers to people) Example: He is averse to a military draft.

//Advice vs. advise// advice (noun) recommendation advise (verb) the act of giving a recommendation

//affect vs. effect// Use effect when you mean bring about or brought about, cause or caused. Example: He effected a commotion in the crowd. Meaning: He caused a commotion in the crowd.

Use effect when you mean result. Example: What effect did that speech have?

Use the verb affect when you mean to influence rather than to cause. Example: How do the budget cuts affect your staffing?

Affect is used as a noun to mean emotional expression. Example: She showed little affect when told she had won the lottery.

//Aisle vs. isle// Aisle: passageway Isle: a small island

//all ready vs. already// all ready: all are ready Example: We are all ready to go. Already: refers to time Example: Is it summer already?

//All together vs. altogether// all together: refers to a group; all of us or all of them together Example: It is wonderful to be all together to celebrate your birthday. Altogether: entirely Example: It is not altogether his fault.

//Allude, elude, illude// Allude: to refer indirectly Example: He alluded to his past as a spy.

Elude: avoid capture Example: The fugitive eluded the police for a month.

Illude: mislead Example: He illuded her about his age.

//Allusion vs. illusion// Allusion: an indirect mention of something Illusion: false perception

//Ambiguous vs. ambivalent// Ambiguous: to have more than one meaning Example: The law was ambiguous. Ambivalent: to have mixed feelings Example: She is ambivalent about her wedding dress.

//Among vs. between// Among: involves three or more Example: Who among us has not lied?

Between: involves just two Example: She couldn’t decide between Chinese and Thai food.

//Amount vs. number// Amount: used for things not countable Example: We couldn't handle that amount of ill will.

Number: used for things that can be counted Example: The number of accidents increased by ten percent.

//Any more vs. anymore// any more: something additional or further Example: It didn’t rain any more this year than last year.

Anymore: any longer, nowadays Example: Harry doesn’t travel anymore.

//Ascent, assent, consent// ascent (noun) movement upward assent (noun or verb) enthusiastic agreement; to agree consent: agreement

//assumption vs. presumption// assumption: an idea not based on evidence presumption: an idea based on evidence

//can vs. may// can: able to may: permission to

//complement vs. compliment// complement: completing part of an order compliment: praise

empathy vs. sympathy empathy: to understand another's feelings sympathy: to feel compassion or sadness for another

//fewer, less, under// fewer: refers to a number that can be counted Example: Fewer days off Less: refers to an uncountable amount Example: Less rain, less fear. Under: used for direction Example: Under the mattress, not under $100.

//Imply vs. infer// Imply: to indicate without being explicit Infer: to conclude from evidence

//Irregardless vs. regardless// Irregardless: no such word exists Regardless: in spite of, without regard

//It’s vs. its//

it's: contraction for it is or it has Example: It’s for a good cause. its: possessive pronoun Example: The cat hurt its paw.

//lay vs. lie// lay: Lay is a transitive verb, which means that it must be used with a direct object. The past tense of lay is laid. Please lay the books on the table. I laid the books on the table.

Have you ever seen a chicken lay an egg? The chicken just laid two eggs.

"Now I lay me down to sleep..." He laid himself down to sleep.

Lie: Lie is an intransitive verb, which means it cannot have a direct object. The past tense of lie is lay. Lie down next to me. I lay down next to her.

I just want to lie in bed all day. Yesterday, he lay in bed all day.

Don't lie on the floor! I lay on the floor last week and you didn't say anything.

Lie (past participle lied) means to say something untrue. Don't lie to me. He lied about where he got the money.

//Set vs. sit// Set: one sets a thing Example: Please set the table. Sit: one sits oneself Example: Please sit down at the table.

//Than vs. then// Than: used for comparison Then: indicates time, answers when

//Their, there, they’re// Their: possessive pronoun There: location they're: contraction for they are

//waiver vs. waver// waiver: a relinquishment of some right waver: to feel indecisive; vary

//Who’s vs. whose// who's: contraction for who is Example: Who’s at the door? Whose: possessive case of who Example: Whose coat is this?