How should I really use that word?
1. Accept/Except- Although these two words sound
alike (they're homophones), they have two completely different meanings. “Accept” means to willingly
receive something (accept a present.) “Except” means to exclude something
(I'll take all of the books except the one with the red cover.)
2. Affect/Effect-
The way you “affect” someone can have an “effect” on
them. “Affect” is usually a verb and “Effect” is a noun.
3. Alright-
If you use “alright,” go to the chalkboard and write “Alright
is not a word” 100 times.
4.
Capital/Capitol- “Capitol” generally refers to an official building. “Capital” can
mean the city which serves as a seat of government or money or property
owned by a company. “Capital” can also mean “punishable by death.”
5. Complement/Compliment- I often must compliment my wife on how her
love for cooking perfectly complements my love for grocery shopping .
6. Comprise/Compose- The article I'm composing comprises 32 parts.
7. Could Of- Of the 32 mistakes on this list, this is the one that bothers
me most. It's “could have” not “could of.” When you hear people talking,
they're saying “could've.” Got it?
8. Desert/Dessert- A desert is a hot, dry patch of sand.
Dessert , on the other hand, is the sweet, fatty substance you eat at
the end of your meal.
9. Discreet/Discrete- We can break people into two discrete (separate)
groups, the discreet (secretive) and indiscreet.
10. Emigrate/Immigrate- If I leave this country to move to Europe ,
the leaving is emigrating and the arriving is immigrating.
11. Elicit/Illicit- Some people post illicit things on message boards
to elicit outrageous reactions from others.
12. Farther/Further- Farther is used for physical distance, whereas
further means to a greater degree .
13. Fewer/Less- Use fewer when referring to something that can be counted
one-by-one. Use less when it's something that doesn't lend itself to
a simple numeric amount.
14. Flair/Flare- A flair is a talent, while a flare is a burst (of anger,
fire, etc.)
15. i.e/e.g- I.e. is used to say “in other words.” E.g. is used in place
of “for example.”
16. Inflammable- Don't let the prefix confuse you, if
something is inflammable it can catch on fire .
17. It's/Its- It's= it is. Its=a possessive pronoun meaning
of it or belonging to. Whatever you do, please don't use its'.
18. Imply/Infer- A reader infers what an author implies.
In other words, when you imply something, you hint at it. When you infer
something, you draw a conclusion based on clues.
19. Literally- If you say “His head literally exploded because he was
so mad!” then we should see brains splattered on the ceiling.
20. Lose/Loose- If your pants are too loose you may lose
them. That would be almost as embarrassing as misusing these two words.
21. Moral/Morale- Morals are something you want to teach your kids.
If your team's morale is low, you need to do something to boost their
confidence.
22. Percent/Percentage- The word “percent” should only be used when
a specific number is given. “Percentage” is more of a general term.
23. Stationary/Stationery- You are stationary when you aren't moving.
Stationery is something you write on.
24. Then/Than- “Then” is another word for “after.” Incidentally, the
word “then” makes for boring writing. “Than” is a comparative word (e.g.
I am smarter than you).
25. There/Their/They're- There are few things as frustrating as when
I look at my students' writing and they're misusing these words in their
writing.
26. Unique- Something can't be “kind of unique” or even “very unique.” It's
either one-of-a-kind or it isn't. There is no in between when it comes
to unique.
27. Your/You're- If I had a nickel for every time I saw this one… yeah,
you know the rest. “Your” shows ownership and you're is a contraction
meaning “you are.” Get it right.
28. To/Too/Two- Two is a number. “To” is used in instances such as, “I
am going to the store.” If you are supposed to use the word “too,” try
inserting the word “extra” or “also.” If one of those fits, you need
to also add the extra “o” to make “too.”
29. Lie/Lay- After you lay the books on the table, go lie down on the
couch .
30. Sit/Set- Set your drink on the table and sit in your chair. Got
it?
31. Whose/Who's- Whose is the possessive form of who. Who's is a contraction
meaning “who is.”
32. Allude/Elude- When someone alludes to something in conversation
(indirectly references), if you aren't paying attention the meaning may
elude you (escape you).
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