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Introduction
Introduction
Some words in English cause trouble for speakers and writers because these words share a similar pronunciation, meaning, or spelling with another word. These words are called commonly confused words.
For example, read aloud the following sentences containing the commonly confused words new and knew:
I liked her new sweater.
I knew she would wear that sweater today.
These words may sound alike when spoken, but they carry entirely different usages and meanings. New is an adjective that describes the sweater, and knew is the past tense of the verb to know.
New and knew are just two of the words that can be confusing because of their similarities. Familiarize yourself with the following list of commonly confused words. Recognizing these words in your own writing and in other pieces of writing can help you choose the correct word.
Here is the accompanying worksheet for the video above.
Commonly Misused Homonyms
Commonly Misused Homonyms
Homonyms are words that sound like one another but have different meanings. Check-out some examples below:
Threw, Through
Threw (verb): The past tense of throw.
She threw the football with perfect form.
Through (preposition): A word that indicates movement.
She walked through the door and out of his life.
Are, Our
Are (verb): A conjugated form of the verb to be.
My cousins are all tall and blonde.
Our (pronoun): Indicates possession, usually follows the pronoun we.
We will bring our cameras to take pictures.
By, Buy
By (preposition): Means next to.
My glasses are by the bed.
Buy (verb): Means to purchase.
I will buy new glasses after the doctor’s appointment.
Its, It’s
Its (pronoun): A form of it that shows possession.
The butterfly flapped its wings.
It’s (contraction): Joins the words it and is.
It’s the most beautiful butterfly I have ever seen.
Know, No
Know (verb): Means to understand or possess knowledge.
I know the male peacock sports the brilliant feathers.
No: Used to make a negative.
I have no time to visit the zoo this weekend.
Principle, Principal
Principle (noun): A fundamental concept that is accepted as true.
The principle of human equality is an important foundation for all nations.
Principal (noun): The original amount of debt on which interest is calculated.
The payment plan allows me to pay back only the principal amount, not any compounded interest.
Principal (noun): A person who is the main authority of a school.
The principal held a conference for both parents and teachers.
Where, Wear, Ware
Where (adverb): The place in which something happens.
Where is the restaurant?
Wear (verb): To carry or have on the body.
I will wear my hiking shoes when go on a climb tomorrow morning.
Ware (noun): Articles of merchandise or manufacture (usually, wares).
When I return from shopping, I will show you my wares.
Lead, Led
Lead (noun): A type of metal used in pipes and batteries.
The lead pipes in my homes are old and need to be replaced.
Led (verb): The past tense of the verb lead.
After the garden, she led the patrons through the museum.
Which, Witch
Which (pronoun): Replaces one out of a group.
Which apartment is yours?
Witch (noun): A person who practices sorcery or who has supernatural powers.
She thinks she is a witch, but she does not seem to have any powers.
Your, You’re
Your (pronoun): A form of you that shows possession.
Your book bag is unzipped.
You’re (contraction):Joins the words you and are.
You’re the girl with the unzipped book bag.
Right, Write
Right (adjective): Means proper or correct.
When bowling, she practices the right form.
Right (adjective): Also means the opposite of left.
The ball curved to the right and hit the last pin.
Write (verb): Means to communicate on paper.
After the team members bowl, I will write down their scores.
Passed, Past
Passed (verb): To go away or move.
He passed the slower cars on the road using the left lane.
Past (noun): Having existed or taken place in a period before the present.
The argument happened in the past, so there is no use in dwelling on it.
Lessen, Lesson
Lessen (verb): To reduce in number, size, or degree.
My dentist gave me medicine to lessen the pain of my aching tooth.
Lesson (noun): A reading or exercise to be studied by a student.
Today’s lesson was about mortgage interest rates.
Patience, Patients
Patience (noun): The capacity of being patient (waiting for a period of time or enduring pains and trials calmly).
The novice teacher’s patience with the unruly class was astounding.
Patients (plural noun): Individuals under medical care.
The patients were tired of eating the hospital food, and they could not wait for a home-cooked meal.
Sees, Seas, Seize
Sees (verb): To perceive with the eye.
He sees a whale through his binoculars.
Seas (plural noun): The plural of sea, a great body of salt water.
The tidal fluctuation of the oceans and seas are influenced by the moon.
Seize (verb): To possess or take by force.
The king plans to seize all the peasants’ land.
To, Two, Too
To (preposition): Indicates movement.
Let’s go to the circus.
To: A word that completes an infinitive verb.
to play, to ride, to watch.
Two: The number after one. It describes how many.
Two clowns squirted the elephants with water.
Too (adverb): Means also or very.
The tents were too loud, and we left.
Who’s, Whose
Who’s (contraction): Joins the words who and either is or has.
Who’s the new student? Who’s met him?
Whose (pronoun): A form of who that shows possession.
Whose schedule allows them to take the new student on a campus tour?
Peace, Piece
Peace (noun): A state of tranquility or quiet.
For once, there was peace between the argumentative brothers.
Piece (noun): A part of a whole.
I would like a large piece of cake, thank you.
Their, They’re, There
Their (pronoun): A form of they that shows possession.
The dog walker feeds their dogs everyday at two o’clock.
They’re (contraction:. Joins the words they and are.
They’re the sweetest dogs in the neighborhood.
There (adverb): Indicates a particular place.
The dogs’ bowls are over there, next to the pantry.
There (pronoun): Indicates the presence of something
There are more treats if the dogs behave.
Other Commonly Confused Words
Other Commonly Confused Words
Below are examples of even more words that are often mixed-up with each other:
A, An, And
A (article): Used before a word that begins with a consonant.
a key, a mouse, a screen
An (article): Used before a word that begins with a vowel.
an airplane, an ocean, an igloo
And (conjunction): Connects two or more words together.
peanut butter and jelly, pen and pencil, jump and shout
Accept, Except
Accept (verb): Means to take or agree to something offered.
They accepted our proposal for the conference.
Except (conjunction): Means only or but.
We could fly there except the tickets cost too much.
Affect, Effect
Affect (verb): Means to create a change.
Hurricane winds affect the amount of rainfall.
Effect (noun): Means an outcome or result.
The heavy rains will have an effect on the crop growth.
Of, Have
Of (preposition): Means from or about.
I studied maps of the city to know where to rent a new apartment.
Have (verb): Means to possess something.
I have many friends to help me move.
Have (linking verb): Used to connect verbs.
I should have helped her with that heavy box.
Use, Used
Use (verb): Means to apply for some purpose.
We use a weed whacker to trim the hedges.
Used: The past tense form of the verb to use
He used the lawnmower last night before it rained.
Used to: Indicates something done in the past but not in the present
He used to hire a team to landscape, but now he landscapes alone.
Loose, Lose
Loose (adjective): Describes something that is not tight or is detached.
Without a belt, her pants are loose on her waist.
Lose (verb): Means to forget, to give up, or to fail to earn something.
She will lose even more weight after finishing the marathon training.
Than, Then
Than (conjunction): Used to connect two or more items when comparing
Registered nurses require less schooling than doctors.
Then (adverb): Means next or at a specific time.
Doctors first complete medical school and then obtain a residency.
Set, Sit
Set (verb): Means to put an item down.
She set the mug on the saucer.
Set (noun): Means a group of similar objects.
All the mugs and saucers belonged in a set.
Sit (verb): Means to lower oneself down on a chair or another place
I’ll sit on the sofa while she brews the tea.
Suppose, Supposed
Suppose (verb): Means to think or to consider
I suppose I will bake the bread, because no one else has the recipe.
Suppose (verb): Means to suggest.
Suppose we all split the cost of the dinner.
Supposed (verb): The past tense form of the verb suppose, meaning required or allowed.
She was supposed to create the menu.
Quite, Quiet, Quit
Quite (adverb): Means really or truly.
My work will require quite a lot of concentration.
Quiet (adjective): Means not loud.
I need a quiet room to complete the assignments.
Quit (verb): Means to stop or to end.
I will quit when I am hungry for dinner.
The English language contains so many words; no one can say for certain how many words exist. In fact, many words in English are borrowed from other languages. Many words have multiple meanings and forms, further expanding the immeasurable number of English words. Although the list of commonly confused words serves as a helpful guide, even these words may have more meanings than shown here.
Tip: When in doubt, consult an expert--the dictionary!
Strategies to Avoid Commonly Confused Words
Strategies to Avoid Commonly Confused Words
When writing, you need to choose the correct word according to its spelling and meaning in the context. Not only does selecting the correct word improve your vocabulary and your writing, but it also makes a good impression on your readers. It also helps reduce confusion and improve clarity. The following strategies can help you avoid misusing confusing words.
Use a dictionary. Keep a dictionary at your desk while you write. Look up words when you are uncertain of their meanings or spellings. Many dictionaries are also available online, and the Internet’s easy access will not slow you down. Check out your cell phone or smartphone to see if a dictionary app is available.
Keep a list of words you commonly confuse. Be aware of the words that often confuse you. When you notice a pattern of confusing words, keep a list nearby, and consult the list as you write. Check the list again before you submit an assignment to your instructor.
Study the list of commonly confused words. You may not yet know which words confuse you, but before you sit down to write, study the words on the list. Prepare your mind for working with words by reviewing the commonly confused words identified in this chapter.
Tip: Commonly confused words appear in many locations, not just at work or at school. Be on the lookout for misused words wherever you find yourself throughout the day. Make a mental note of the error and remember its correction for your own pieces of writing.
Writing at Work
Writing at Work
All employers value effective communication. From an application to an interview to the first month on the job, employers pay attention to your vocabulary. You do not need a large vocabulary to succeed, but you do need to be able to express yourself clearly and avoid commonly misused words.
When giving an important presentation on the effect of inflation on profit margins, you must know the difference between effect and affect and choose the correct word. When writing an e-mail to confirm deliveries, you must know if the shipment will arrive in to days, too days, or two days. Confusion may arise if you choose the wrong word.
Consistently using the proper words will improve your communication and make a positive impression on your boss and colleagues.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
In order to write accurately, it is important for writers to be aware of commonly confused words.
Although commonly confused words may look alike or sound alike, their meanings are very different.
Consulting the dictionary is one way to make sure you are using the correct word in your writing. You may also keep a list of commonly confused words nearby when you write or study the chart in this book.
Choosing the proper words leaves a positive impression on your readers.
Section Completed -- Onto the Comprehension Quiz
Section Completed -- Onto the Comprehension Quiz
Congratulations! You are done with this lesson. You are now ready to check your understanding with this lesson's comprehension quiz, which can be found in our class's Canvas shell.
Be sure to review your notes and ask questions before hand for clarity if needed.
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