Frequently Confused Word Pairs: Notes and Examples

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Frequently Confused Word Pairs Notes and
Examples

• SPI 3002.1.13 Select the appropriate word in
  frequently confused pairs (i.e., to/too/two,
  their/there/theyre, it/its, you/youre,
  whose/whos, which/that/who, accept/except,
  affect/effect, between/among, capitol/capital,
  principal/principle, stationary/stationery,
  who/whom, allusion/illusion, complement/compliment
  , cite/site/sight, counsel/council,
  coarse/course, farther/further, lose/loose,
  fewer/less, advice/advise, precede/proceed,
  adapt/adopt, eminent/imminent, assure/ensure/insur
  e).

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affect / effect

• Affect is a verb meaning to influence.
• Use affect in sentences meaning influences, such
  as, The prosecutors speech affected the jurys
  decision.
• The bright colors affect how the patients feel.

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• Use effect as a verb to mean to bring about or
  to accomplish.
• This word effect is used only for specific
  meaning, such as The treatment will effect a
  cure for the disease.
• Note This sentence came directly from a grammar
  book. However, the grammar checking program on
  Microsoft Word flags it as incorrect with
  affect as the correction. The grammar checking
  program is incorrect.

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affect / effect

• High gas prices did not effect a change in most
  peoples travel habits.
• Notice that effect as a verb usually has a
  specific direct object with it to focus attention
  on that which is focused or brought about.

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affect / effect

• Typically, effect is used as a noun to mean
  the result of some action.
• Example The bright colors have a beneficial
  effect on the patients.
• Example The hurricane had a devastating effect
  on Mississippis economy.

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off / off of

• Do not use off or off of to replace from.
• Heres the money I borrowed off you. (incorrect)
• Heres the money I borrowed from you. (correct)

7
kind of / sort of

• In formal situations, avoid using either of
  these expressions for the adverb rather or
  somewhat.
• The waves were sort of rough. (incorrect)
• The waves were rather or somewhat rough.
  (correct)

8
a while / awhile

• The noun while, often preceded by the article a,
  means a period of time.
• Awhile is an adverb meaning for a short period
  of time.
• I havent heard from your pen
  pal for a while.
• I usually read awhile before
  going to bed.

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all ready / already

• all ready (adjective) all prepared
• already (adverb) previously
• We were all ready to leave.
• We had already painted the sets.

10
suppose to / supposed to

• To express an intention or plan, use the verb
  form supposed before an infinitive.
• We were supposed to (not suppose to) meet Wendy
  at eight o clock.

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whos, whose

• Whos is the contraction of who is or who has.
• Whose is the possessive for of who.
• Whos who is the narrator of
  A Christmas Memory?
• Whose autobiography is
  titled Black Boy?

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which, that, who

• Who refers to persons only.
• Which refers to things only.
• That may refer to either persons or things.
• Isnt Walt Whitman the poet who or that wrote
  Leaves of Grass? person
• They decided to replace Miss Forestiers
  necklace, which they did not know
  was fake. thing
• The necklace that the Loisels bought
  cost thirty-six thousand francs. thing

13
who / whom

• Who (nominative case) is a pronoun used as a
  subject in sentences and subordinate clauses.
• Who gave Michelle the beautiful flowers?
• The man who gave Michelle the
  flowers is her husband.

14
who / whom

• Whom (objective case) is a pronoun used as a
  direct object in sentences and subordinate
  clauses.
• You baked these delicious cookies for whom?
• The teachers wondered whom the
  seniors selected as class president.

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your, youre

• Your is a possessive form of you.
• Youre is the contraction of you are.
• What is your opinion of General Zaroff?
• Youre you are my best friend.

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its, its

• Its is the possessive form of it.
• Its is the contraction of it is or it has.
• The bird has stopped its singing.
• Its it is an easy problem.
• Its it has been raining since noon.

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their, there, theyre

• Their is a possessive form of they.
• As an adverb, there means at that place.
  There is also used to begin a sentence.
• Theyre is the contraction of they are.
• Harry Pope lay there quietly.
• There is a conflict between Odysseus and the
  Cyclops.
• Their daughter, Juliet, was in love with a
  Montague.
• Theyre throwing pebbles at Miss Lotties flowers.

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counsel, council

• As a noun, counsel means advice.
• As a verb, counsel means give advice.
• Council is a noun meaning group called together
  to accomplish a job.
• Im grateful for your counsel. noun
• Did the doctor counsel her to
  get more rest? verb
• The city council will debate the issue.

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accept, except

• Accept is a verb that means to receive or to
  agree to.
• Except is usually a preposition meaning but.
• Except may also be a verb that means to leave
  out or exclude.
• Will accept our thanks?
• Everyone will be there except you.
• The government excepts people
  with very low incomes from paying taxes.

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between, among

• In general use among to show a relationship in
  which more than two persons or things are
  considered as a group.
• The committee will distribute the
  used clothing among the poor
  families in the community.
• There was confusion among
  the players on the field.

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between, among

• In general, use between to show a relationship
  involving two persons or things, or to compare
  one person or thing with an entire group.
• Mr. and Mrs. Ito live halfway between Seattle
  and Portland. relationship involving
  two places.
• Emilo could not decide between
  the collie, the cocker spaniel, and
  the beagle. items within a
  group

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allusion, illusion

• An allusion is an indirect reference.
• An illusion is a false idea or appearance.
• Her speech included an allusion to one of Robert
  Frosts poems.
• The shimmering heat produced an
  illusion of water on the road.

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capital, capitol

• A capital is a city that is the seat of
  government.
• Capital can also mean money or property.
• As an adjective, capital can mean
  involving execution or referring to
  an uppercase letter.
• Capitol, on the other hand, refers only
  to a building in which a legislature
  meets.

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capital, capitol

• What is the capital of Vermont?
• Anyone starting a business needs capital.
• Capital punishment is not used in
  this state.
• Hester Prynne embroidered a capital A
  on her dress.
• The capitol has a gold dome.

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cite, site, sight

• To cite is to quote or refer to.
• Cite can also mean to summon to appear in a
  court of law.
• As a noun, sight means vision.
  As a verb, sight means to see.
• As a noun, site is a place or a
  location.

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cite, site, sight

• Consuela cited three sources of information in
  her report.
• The officer cited the driver for speeding.
• My sight is perfect. noun
• The board of education has chosen a site for the
  new high school. noun

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complement, compliment

• As a noun, complement means something that
  completes as a verb, it means to complete.
• As a noun, compliment means, a flattering
  remark as a verb, it means to praise.
• This purple scarf complements your
  outfit perfectly.
• Phyllis received many compliments
  on her speech.

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to, too, two

• To means in the direction of it is also part
  of the infinitive form of a verb.
• Too means very or also.
• Two is the number after one.
• John walks to school.
• She likes to read mystery books.
• We have two kittens.

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stationary, stationery

• Stationary means fixed or unmoving.
• Stationery is writing paper.
• This classroom has stationary desks.
• Rhonda likes to write letters on pretty
  stationery.

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principal, principle

• As a noun, principal means head of a school
  it can also mean a sum of money borrowed or
  invested.
• As an adjective, principal means main or
  chief.
• Principle is a noun meaning basic truth or
  belief or rule of conduct.
• Mr. Schneitman, our principal, will speak at the
  morning assembly. noun
• What was your principal reason for joining the
  club? adjective
• The principle of fair play is important in sports.

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lose, loose

• The adjective loose means free, not firmly
  attached, or not fitting tightly.
• The verb lose means to misplace
  or to fail to win.
• Dont lose that loose button on
  your shirt.
• If we lose this game, well be out of
  the tournament.

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farther, further

• Use farther in referring to physical distance.
• Use further in all other situations.
• San Antonio is farther south
  than Dallas.
• We have nothing further to discuss.

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• How much further is it to Grandmothers house?
• INCORRECT

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fewer, less

• Use fewer with nouns that can be counted.
• Use less with nouns that cant be counted.
• Less may also be used with numbers that are
  considered as single amounts or single
  quantities.
• There were few students in my math
  class than in my physics class.
• I used less sugar than the recipe
  recommended.
• I can be there in less than thirty minutes.

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coarse, course

• Coarse means rough, crude, not fine, of
  poor quality.
• Course can mean a school subject, a path or
  way, order or development, or part of a
  meal.
• To begin, I will need some coarse
  sandpaper for my project.
• Mrs. Baldwin wont tolerate coarse
  language.
• Are you taking any math courses this year?

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assure / ensure / unsure

• Assure means to state with confidence.
• Ensure means to secure or guarantee or to
  make sure or certain.
• Insure means to guarantee against loss or harm
  or to issue or procure
  an insurance policy.
• Joey assured his mother that his homework
  was finished.
• Diligent preparation will ensure your success
  in this class.
• The bank insists that I insure my new car before
  I drive it.

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eminent, imminent

• The adjective eminent means high in state or
  rank, lofty, high, or prominent.
• The adjective imminent means likely to occur at
  any moment.
• The Pope is an eminent figure in some
  religious circles.
• Since the storm was imminent, the
  baseball game was postponed.

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advice, advise

• Advice (noun) is an opinion offered as a guide
  to action.
• Advise (verb) is to give counsel to or to
  offer an opinion or suggestion.
• The Pope is an eminent figure
  in some religious circles.
• Since the storm was imminent,
  the baseball game was postponed.

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