TOP TEN WORDS MOST OFTEN CONFUSED/MISUSED

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TOP TEN WORDS MOST OFTEN CONFUSED/MISUSED

• These common errors should be avoided in ALL
  writing! Points will be deducted for each error.

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ERROR 1

• THEYRE
• THEIR
• THERE

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Theyre

• This is a contraction of they are. It should
  only be used when expressing they are.
• Example Theyre gone.
• In academic/formal writing one would avoid the
  use of contractions opting for They are instead,
  thus avoiding this error.

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THEIR

• This is a possessive word. It is only used to
  express ownership.
• Example their books

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THERE

• This is the most commonly used form. It expresses
  location.
• Example There are some students. Go there.

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ERROR 2

• YOUR
• YOURE

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YOUR

• This is a possessive word. It is only used to
  express ownership.
• Example Your books.
• WARNING Be careful when typing that you do not
  type you when you mean your.
• Example Be sure to bring you book to class.

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YOURE

• This is a contraction of you are. It should only
  be used when expressing you are.
• Example Youre friendly.
• In academic/formal writing one would avoid the
  use of contractions opting for They are instead,
  thus avoiding this error.

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ERROR 3

• TO
• TWO
• TOO

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TO

• This word is a preposition. It expresses
  direction.
• Examples
• Go to the store.
• Whom did you talk to?
• (Preferred academic would be-To whom did you
  talk?)
• Whom is used as the object form you is the
  subject of the sentence.

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TWO

• This word expresses the number two (2). It should
  only be used to express the number two.
• Example Pick up two cases of pop.

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TOO

• This word is an adverb. It expresses also,
  sufficiently, or extremely. It should only be
  used when these words could be substituted.
• Examples I am going too. (also)
• One can never have too much chocolate.
  (sufficient)
• I am too tired. (extremely)

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ERROR 4

• A LOT
• ALOT

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A LOT

• If you wish to express a lot, write it as two
  SEPARATE words.
• Example I have a lot of homework tonight.
• Alot-This is not a standard English word.
• DO NOT USE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

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ERROR 5

• ITS
• ITS

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ITS

• This word is a contraction of it is. It should
  only be used when expressing it is.
• Example Its cold outside.
• In academic/formal writing one would avoid the
  use of contractions opting for They are instead,
  thus avoiding this error.

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ITS

• This is a possessive word. It is only used to
  express ownership by something that is singular,
  and neither male nor female.
• Example Its cord is not plugged in.

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ERROR 6

• S
• S
• S

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S

• The letter s is the most common way to make words
  plural. It should be added to most words to
  indicate more than one.
• Examples schools, books, desks, teachers

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S

• The s is the most common method for showing
  possession. It MUST be used to make a singular
  noun show ownership.
• Examples
• The schools policies
• Jims car
• Americas flag

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S

• The s is used to show that the word is plural
  AND possessive. The s makes the word plural, and
  the apostrophe makes it possessive.
• Examples
• two schools policies
• three teachers desks

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ERROR 7

• THAN
• THEN

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THAN

• This word is used for comparisons. It should be
  used to show a difference between two or more
  items.
• Examples
• He is taller than the door.
• I did more work than they did.
• Jim is smarter than Sam.

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THEN

• This word is used to express time or next in
  order of sequence or place. It cannot be used to
  compare in any circumstance.
• Example
• I went to English class, then math.

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ERROR 8

• COULD OF
• MUST OF
• SHOULD OF
• WOULD OF
• These are not standard English
• DO NOT EVER USE!

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ERROR 8

• All should be expressed with the helping verb
  have.
• Could have
• Must have
• Should have
• Would have

• In academic/formal writing one would avoid the
  use of contractions opting for They are instead,
  thus avoiding this error

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ERROR 9

• WHO VS. THAT

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WHO

• WHO is used to indicate or in reference to a
  human.
• Example My grandma, who bakes delicious cookies,
  is coming over for Mothers Day.
• Additional notes
• A. a comma is used before and after the who
  clause because it describes grandma but is not
  necessary to the sentence because we know it is
  your grandma. This is called a nonessential
  clause.
• B. Notice the apostrophe in Mothers as it is
  possessing a particular day.

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THAT

• THAT is used to indicate nonhumans or inanimate
  objects.
• Examples
• The dog that bit me is at the pound.
• The rock that was found by the little boy,
  weighed 10 pounds.

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10. SINGULAR VS. PLURALSVPS

• Singular versus plural can happen between
  subjects and verbs, subjects and pronouns and all
  three.
• The number is determined by the SUBJECT.

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• Anyone, Everyone, Someone, Anybody, Everybody.
• Most often people use their as the associated
  pronoun. For example,
• Everyone needs to bring their book to class.
• This is incorrect.

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POSSESSIVE PRONOUN

• The correct pronoun(s) to use with anyone,
  everyone, someone, anybody, everybody, is
  his/her.
• Everyone needs to bring his/her book to class.

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TOP TEN PLUSWORDS MOST OFTEN CONFUSED/MISUSED

• Now lets go further!
• 50 and counting!
• These common errors should be avoided in ALL
  writing! Points will be deducted for each error.

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11

• EVERYDAY
• vs
• EVERY DAY

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EVERYDAY

• This word is an adjective. It describes a noun.
• Example
• I wear my everyday jacket to school.

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EVERY DAY

• These words are an expression of time.
• Example
• She wears the blue jacket every day.

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12

• ALL READY
• vs
• ALREADY

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ALL READY

• All ready means prepared.
• Example John is all ready to go to school.

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ALREADY

• Already means previously.
• Example Mom was going to clean the house, but
  Dad already did it.

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13. ACCEPT vs. EXCEPT

• Accept means to agree to
• Except means with the exclusion of
• I will accept all the recommendations except the
  last one.

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14. ADVICE vs. ADVISE

• ADVICE (noun) counsel
• ADVISE (verb) to recommend
• If I ask for her advice, she may advise me to
  quit.

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15. AFFECT vs. EFFECT

• AFFECT (verb) to influence
• His performance affected me.
• EFFECT (noun) the result
• That drug has dangerous effects.
• (verb) to bring about
• The teacher effected certain changes.

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16. AISLE vs. ISLE

• AISLE a passage between sections of seats.
• The bride walked down the aisle.
• ISLE a small island
• He was stranded on the isle for 7 days before a
  plane rescued him.

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17. All Right vs. Alright

• NEVER USE ALRIGHT it is not standard English.
• ALWAYS use ALL RIGHT.

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18. Altogether vs. All together

• Altogether means entirely or on the whole
• All together means that all parts of a group are
  considered at once.

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19. AMONG vs. BETWEEN

• AMONG use when referring to THREE or more.
• BETWEEN use when referring to TWO.

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20. AMOUNT vs. NUMBER

• AMOUNT use to refer to money or to things that
  cannot be counted.
• NUMBER use to refer to things that can be
  counted.
• The amount of student interest was measured by
  the number of homework assignments turned in.

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21. ANY ONE vs. ANYONE

• Spell as two words when followed by of
• Spell as one word when the accent is on any
• Example Anyone is allowed to attend any one of
  the classes.

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22. BECAUSE

• Because and cause are two different words.
• Because (conjunction) for the reason that
• Cause reason, motive
• NEVER USE CUZ.

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23. CAN vs. MAY

• Can indicates ability
• May indicates permission
• Example I can finish the project on time if I
  may have someone help me.

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24. COMPLEMENT vs. COMPLIMENT

• COMPLEMENT (noun) something that completes
• Example A direct object is a sentence
  complement.
• Also a (verb) to make whole or bring to
  perfection.
• Example That color complements your eyes
• COMPLIMENT (noun) Expression of praise.
• Example Her hair receives many compliments.

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25. DESSERT vs. DESERT

• Id rather have two ss in dessert, sugar and
  sweets, than one s in desert, sand!

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26. DEFINITELY vs. DEFIANTLY

• DEFINITELY having distinct limits, fixed, clear
  in meaning
• DEFIANTLY bold, impudent, challenge, a
  disposition to resist.

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27. E.G. vs. I.E.

• e.g. means for example and is followed by a
  comma.
• i.e. means that is and is followed by a comma.
  Use i.e. as a transition and use it to introduce
  a restatement or explanation of a preceding
  expression.
• The assignment has merit e.g., (for example) it
  is helpful, forward-looking and educational.
• Unfortunately, it is also controversial i.e.,
  (that is) it will generate some unfavorable
  opinions.

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28. EMINENT vs. IMMINENT

• EMINENT means well-known.
• IMMINENT means about to happen.
• The arrival of the eminent teacher from Harvard
  is imminent.

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29. FARTHER vs. FURTHER

• FARTHER refers to distance
• FURTHER refers to extent or degree.
• Example We drove 10 miles farther while we
  discussed the matter further.

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30. FEWER vs. LESS

• FEWER use fewer to refer to things that can be
  counted.
• LESS use less to refer to money or to things
  that cannot be counted.
• Alvin worked fewer hours on his homework and
  therefore generated a less interesting assignment.

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31. GOOD vs. WELL

• Good is an adjective
• Well is an adverb or an adjective when referring
  to health.
• Example Joe does a good job and performs well on
  tests, even when he does not feel well.

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32. IMPLY vs. INFER

• IMPLY (verb) suggest (speaker or writer)
• The lawyer implied that her client had been
  treated badly.
• INFER (verb) conclude (listener or reader)
• I inferred from your argument that you intend to
  win.
• A higher level thinking skill!

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33. KNEW vs. NEW

• Knew/new are two different words.
• Know/now are two different words
• Knew is the past tense of know.
• Know is Knowledge
• New not old
• Now at the present time, or in view of the fact.

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34. LAY vs. LIE

• Lay (laid, laying) means to put and requires an
  object to complete its meaning.
• Lie (lay, lain, lying) means to rest
• Examples
• Please lay the supplies on the shelf.
• I laid the folders in the drawer
• I lie on the couch when I get home from school.
• The report lay on his desk for two days.

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35. LOOSE vs. LOSE

• LOOSE not fastened
• LOSE to be unable to find
• Do not lose the loose change in your pocket.

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36. PASSED vs. PAST

• Passed is a verb meaning to move on or by.
• Past is an adjective, adverb or preposition
  meaning earlier
• Example
• That car has passed me in the past.

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37. PRINCIPAL vs. PRINCIPLE

• PRINCIPAL most important or leading person.
• The principal person in our school is our
  principal, Mrs. Bustard.
• The principal is my pal!
• PRINCIPLE rule or law
• He lives by his code of ethics, his principles.
• His principles would never allow him to cheat on
  the assignment.

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38. REAL vs. REALLY

• Real is an adjective. Do not use real to modify
  another adjective.
• Really is an adverb.
• Example
• She was really (not real) proud (to what extent
  was she proudadverb) that her necklace contained
  real pearls (what kind of pearlsadjective).

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39. SENSE vs. SINCE

• Sense is a noun meaning to perceive or having to
  do with any of the senses, understanding or
  common sense.
• Since means from that time or event until now.
• Example His sense was that the room had not been
  cleaned since the last family had moved out.

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40. SET vs. SIT

• SET (set, setting) to place
• SIT (sit, sat, sitting) to be seated
• Please set your papers on the table.
• She set the computer on the desk.
• I have set the computer there before.
• Please sit in the chair.
• She sat in the first-class section.
• I had not sat there before.

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41. SITE vs. CITE vs. SIGHT

• SITE (noun) a location
• He chose a wonderful site for his new house.
• CITE (verb) to refer to
• He cited several sources in his research project.
• SIGHT (noun/verb) the ability to see or
  something that is seen.
• He lost his sight when he was five.
• The nearly extinct bird was sighted flying over
  the jungle.

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42. STATIONARY vs. STATIONERY

• STATIONARY remaining in one place.
• STATIONERY writing paper.
• I used my personal stationery to write to them to
  ask whether the computer should remain
  stationary.

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43. SURE vs. SURELY

• Sure is an adjective. Do not use sure to modify
  another adjective.
• Surely is an adverb.
• Example Im surely (not sure) glad that she is
  running and feel sure that she will be nominated.

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44. Uninterested vs. Disinterested

• Uninterested means having no interest.
• Disinterested means neutral or unbiased

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45. WEATHER vs. WHETHER

• WEATHER (noun) general condition of temperature.
• Check the weather before you dress.
• Also a verb to get through safely
• We will weather any storm together.
• WHETHER (conjunction) if it be the case that
  either
• He asked whether we were going.

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46. WHOSE vs. WHOS

• Whose is a possessive pronoun.
• Whos is a contraction for who is.
• Example Whos going to let us know whose turn it
  is to pick up donuts.

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47. LED vs. LEAD
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48. QUIET vs. QUITE
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49. MORAL vs. MORALE
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50. PERSONAL vs. PERSONNEL
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• You are to write either a poem or a short story
  that incorporates at lease 10 items from the
  list. You are to use BOTH of the words from each
  of the 10 numbers. Use them both correctly in
  context.
• Please underline each of the words and write the
  error it matches.