2.1 Word Confusion

Experienced writers know that deliberate, careful word selection leads to more effective writing. This chapter covers common word errors and how to correct them.

Frequently Misspelled Words

Spellcheckers are useful, but they cannot replace human knowledge and judgment.  Writers are responsible for the errors in their work.

Below is a list of words that are often misspelled.  Each word has a segment in bold type, which indicates the part of the word that is often spelled incorrectly.  Read through the list, noting words that are problematic for you.

Exercise 1 Instructions

• Find the 10 misspelled words in the following paragraphs.
• Note: “Lenapi” is not misspelled; it is the name of a native American tribe.
• “Breuckelen” is also not misspelled.
• Look for common words.
• The words you select will be highlighted.
• Select the Check button to check you work.

Exercise 1 – Activity

Commonly Confused Words

As you study this information, pay special attention to words that are challenging for you.

A, An, And

• A (article) is used before nouns that begin with a consonant: a key, a mouse, a screen
• An (article) used before nouns that begin with a vowel: an airplane, an ocean, an igloo
• And (conjunction) connects two or more words: peanut butter and jelly, pen and pencil

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 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:  Heavy rains will have an effect on crops.

Its, It’s

• Its (pronoun) shows possession:  The butterfly flapped its wings.
• It’s (contraction) joins the words “it” and “is”:  It’s a beautiful butterfly.

Loose, Lose

• Loose (adjective) describes something that is not tight or is detached:  Without a belt, his pants are loose at the waist.
• Lose (verb) means to forget, give up, or fail to earn something:  She will lose more weight while training for the marathon.

Of, Have

• Of (preposition) means from or about:  I studied maps of the city.
• Have (verb) means to possess something:  I have friends help me move.
• Have (linking verb) is also used to connect verbs:  I should have helped her.

Quite, Quiet, Quit

• Quite (adverb) means to a significant degree:  My work will require quite a lot of concentration.
• Quiet (adjective) means not loud:  I need a quiet room to study.
• Quit (verb) means to stop or to end:  I will quit when I am tired.

Than, Then

• Than (conjunction) is used to connect two or more items when comparing:  Registered nurses have less training than doctors.
• Then (adverb) means at a specific time:  Doctors first complete medical school and then open a practice.

Their, They’re, There

• Their (pronoun) shows possession:  The Townsends feed their dogs twice a day.
• They’re (contraction of a pronoun and a verb) 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, by the table.
• There (pronoun) is also used to introduce a sentence in which the verb comes before the subject:  There are more treats handed out if the dogs behave.   Often this kind of sentence is better if reorganized:  More treats are handed out if the dogs behave.

To, Two, Too

• To (preposition) indicates movement:  Let’s go to the circus.
• To also completes a certain type of verb:  to play, to ride, to watch.
• Two (adjective) is the number after one and it describes how many:  Two clowns squirted elephants with water.
• Too (adverb) means also or very:  The crowd was too loud, so we left.

Who’s, Whose

• Who’s (contraction) joins the pronoun “who” and the verb “is” or “has”:  Who’s the new student? Who’s met him?
• Whose (pronoun) shows possession:  Whose schedule allows them to take the new student tour?

Your, You’re

• Your (pronoun) shows possession:  Your book bag is unzipped.
• You’re (contraction) joins the pronoun “you” and the verb “are”:  You’re the girl with the unzipped book bag.

Exercise 2 Instructions

• Fill in the missing words.
• Review the word options after the blank.
• Refer to the rules in this chapter to help you select the correct word.
• Select the Check button to check you work.

Exercise 2 – Activity

Homonyms

Homonyms are words that sound like each other but have different meanings.  For example, a witch rides a broom, but the word “which” is a question word when choosing between options.

Following is a list of commonly confused homonyms.  Read through the list, paying particular attention to words you have found confusing in the past.

Lead, Led

• Lead can be used in several ways.  As a noun, is can name a type of metal:  The lead pipes in my home need to be replaced.  It can also refer to a position of advantage:  Our team is in the lead.  As a verb, it can mean to guide or direct:  The girl will lead the horse by its halter.
• Led (verb) is the past tense of “lead”:  The young volunteer led the patrons through the museum.

Lessen, Lesson

• Lessen (verb) means to reduce in number, size, or degree:  My dentist gave me medicine to lessen the pain of my aching tooth.
• Lesson (noun) is reading or exercise for a student:  Today’s lesson was about mortgage interest rates.

Passed, Past

• Passed (verb) means to move:  He passed slower cars using the left lane.
• Past (noun) means having taken place before the present: T he argument happened in the past, so there is no use in dwelling on it.

Principle, Principal

• Principle (noun) is a fundamental concept that is accepted as true:  The principle of human equality is an important foundation for peace.
• Principal (noun) has two meanings.  It can mean the original amount of debt on which interest is calculated:  The payment covered both principal and interest.  Or it can mean a person who is the main authority of a school:  The principal held a conference for parents and teachers.

Threw, Through

• Threw (verb) is the past tense of the word “throw”:  She threw the football with perfect form.
• Through (preposition) indicates movement:  She walked through the door and out of his life.  (Note: “Thru” is a non-standard spelling of “through” and should be avoided.)

Where, Wear

• Where (adverb) is the place in which something happens:  Where is the restaurant?
• Wear (verb) is to carry or have on the body:  I wear my hiking shoes when I climb.

Whether, Weather

• Whether (conjunction) means expressing a doubt or choice:  I don’t know whether to go to Paris or Hawaii.
• Weather (noun) is a quality of the atmosphere:  The weather could be rainy.

Exercise 3 Instructions

• Fill in the missing words.
• Review the word options after the blank.
• Refer to the rules in this chapter to help you select the correct word.
• Select the Check button to check you work.

Exercise 3 – Activity

The English language contains about 200,000 words.  Some are borrowed from other languages. Some have multiple meanings and forms.  When in doubt, consult an expert: the dictionary!