Commonly Confused Words

1
Commonly Confused Words

• Part 3

2
can, may

• Can expresses ability
• May expresses possibility or permission

3
cite, sight, site

• Cite- means to quote or to state
• ( must be followed by a noun)
• Sight- to see (verb) or something seen
• Site- location

4
continual, continuous

• Both of these words are adjectives
• Continual-frequently repeated
• Continuous- uninterrupted

5
different from

• Use this form instead of different than, however,
  this can be used informally when it is followed
  by a clause.
• Informal- Jean found life on her uncles ranch
  different than she had expected.
• Formal- Jean found life on her uncles ranch
  different from what she had expected.
• Standard- Her opinion about the political
  candidate is different from mine.

6
double negatives

• Words such as hardly, never, no, not and nobody
  are considered double negatives. Do not use two
  negatives to express one negative meaning.
• Nonstandard- I dont never eat lunch in the
  cafeteria.
• Standard- I dont ever eat lunch in the
  cafeteria.
• Standard- I never eat lunch in the cafeteria.

7
emigrate, immigrate

• Emigrate- to leave a country to settle elsewhere
• Immigrate- to enter a foreign country to live
  there.

8
eminent, imminent

• Eminent- well-known or famous.
• Imminent- threatening in the immediate future.

9
everyday, every day

• everyday- ordinary or common
• every day- day after day

10
Farther, further

• farther refers to distance
• further means additional or to a greater degree
  or extent