Commonly Misused Words
Don’t you hate it when you cannot remember which word to use? I learned from experience in journalism that it is important to keep a list handy. After losing the paper several times, I figured it would be easier to save it on my blog – and share it, with proper credit.
These types of lists are everywhere – including the back of many calendars. My list included several words from several different sources. However, I found the best explanations and examples at WSU Online, some of which are below. Please click the link for the full list. These were sourced from Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference. This is a must-have book for any writer, no matter if you want to blog, do article marketing or write short stories or novels.
Accept, Except:
Accept is a verb meaning to receive. Except is usually a preposition meaning excluding. I will accept all the packages except that one. Except is also a verb meaning to exclude. Please except that item from the list.
Affect, Effect:
Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence. Effect is usually a noun meaning result. The drug did not affect the disease, and it had several adverse side effects. Effect can also be a verb meaning to bring about. Only the president can effect such a dramatic change.
Allusion, Illusion
An Allusion is an indirect reference. An illusion is a misconception or false impression. Did you catch my allusion to Shakespeare? Mirrors give the room an illusion of depth.
Capital, Capitol:
Capital refers to a city, capitol to a building where lawmakers meet. Capital also refers to wealth or resources. The capitol has undergone extensive renovations. The residents of the state capital protested the development plans.
Elicit, Illicit:
Elicit is a verb meaning to bring out or to evoke. Illicit is an adjective meaning unlawful. The reporter was unable to elicit information from the police about illicit drug traffic.
Principle, Principal:
Principal is a noun meaning the head of a school or an organization or a sum of money.Principle is a noun meaning a basic truth or law. The principal taught us many important lifeprinciples.
Hint:
To recognize the spelling of Principal first think of yourself as a greedy opportunist. You definitely would want to be a pal of anyone who is in a position of power or anything to do with money. This principal has pal in it.
Than, Then:
Than is a conjunction used in comparisons; then is an adverb denoting time. That pizza is more than I can eat. Tom laughed, and then we recognized him.
Hints:
Than is used to compare; both words have the letter a in them.
Then tells when; both are spelled the same, except for the first letter.
There, Their, They’re:
There is an adverb specifying place; it is also an expletive. Adverb: Sylvia is lying thereunconscious. Expletive: There are two plums left. Their is a possessive pronoun. They’re is a contraction of they are. Fred and Jane finally washed their car. They’re later than usual today.
Hints:
If you are using there to tell the reader where, both words have h-e-r-e. Here is also a place.
If you are using their as a possessive pronoun, you are telling the reader what
“they own. Their has h-e-i-r, which also means heir, as in someone who inherits something. Both words have to do with ownership.They’re is a contraction of they are. Sound out they are in the sentence and see if it works. If it does not, it must be one of the previous versions.
To, Too, Two:
To is a preposition; too is an adverb; two is a number. Too many of your shots slice to the left, but the last two were right on the mark.
Hints:
If you are trying to spell out the number, it is always t-w-o. Two has a w which is the first letter in word. The opposite of word is number.
Too is usually used as also when adding or including some additional information. Whenever you want to include something else, think of it as adding; therefore you
also need to add an extra o.
Your, You’re:
Your is a possessive pronoun; you’re is a contraction of you are. You’re going to catch a cold if you don’t wear your coat.
Hints:
Sound out you are in the sentence. If it works in the sentence it can be written as
you’re. If it sounds awkward, it is probably supposed to be Your.EXAMPLE: You’re shoes are muddy. “You are shoes are muddy” does not work, so
it should be written as: Your shoes are muddy.
Who, Which, That:
Do not use which to refer to persons. Use who instead. That, though generally used to refer to things, may be used to refer to a group or class of people. I just saw a boy who was wearing a yellow banana costume. I have to go to math next, which is my hardest class. Where is the book that I was reading?