Download Using the right word

Using the
right word
A lot
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A lot (always two words) is a vague descriptive phrase that should
be used sparingly.
You can observe a lot just by watching.
He has a lot of friends in Texas.
1
Accept, except
• The verb accept means “to receive” or “to believe”; the preposition except
means “other than”
• The principal accepted the boy’s story about the broken window, but she
asked why no one except him saw the ball accidentally slip from his
hand.
2
adapt , adopt
• Adapt means “to adjust or change to fit” ; adopt means to choose and
treat as your own” (a child, an idea)
• After a lengthy period of study, Malcolm X adopted the Islamic faith
and adapted to its lifestyle.
3
Affect, effect
• The verb affect means “to influence” ; the verb effect means “to
produce, accomplish, complete.”
• Ming’s hard work effected an A on the test, which positively affected
her semester grade.
• The noun effect means the “result.”
• Good grades have a calming effect on parents.
5
Aisle, isle
• An aisle is a passage between seats; an isle is a small island
• Many airline passengers on their way to the Isle of Capri prefer an
aisle seat.
6
All right
• All right is always two words (not alright)
7
Allusion, illusion
• Allusion is an indirect reference to someone or something; illusion is a
false picture of idea.
• My little sister, under the illusion that she’s a movie-star material,
makes frequent allusions to her future fans.
8
already , all ready
• Already is an adverb meaning “before this time” or “by this time.” All
ready is an adjective meaning “fully prepared.”
• Use all ready if you can substitute “ready” alone in the sentence.
• Although I’ve already had some dessert, I am all ready for some ice
cream from the street vendor.
9
ALTOGETHER, All together
• Altogether means “entirely.” The phrase all together means “in a
group” or “all at once.”
• “There is altogether too much gridlock,” complained the Democrats.
All together, the Republicans yelled, “No way!”
10
Among, between
• Among is used when speaking of more than two persons or things.
• Between is used when speaking of only two.
• The three of us talked among ourselves to decide between going out or
eating in.
11
Amount, number
• Amount is used for bulk measurement.
• Number is used to count separate units.
• A number of chocolate bars contain a substantial amount of caffeine.
12
Ascent, assent
• Ascent is the act of rising or climbing; assent is “to agree to
something after some consideration” (or such an agreement)
• The group’s ascent of the butte was completed with the assent of the
landowner.
13
Base, bass
• Base is the foundation or the lower part of something. Bass is a deep
sound or tone. Bass (when pronounced like class) is a fish.
14
Beside, besides
• Beside means “by the side of.” Besides means “in addition to.”
• Mother always grew roses beside the trash bin. Besides looking nice,
they also gave off a sweet smell that masked odors.
15
Board, bored
• Board is a piece of wood. Board is also an administrative group or
council.
• The school board approved the purchase of fifty 1- by 6-inch pine
boards.
• Bored is the past tense of the verb “bore,” which may mean “to make
a hole by drilling” or “to become weary out of dullness.”
• Watching television bored Joe, so he took his drill and bored a hold in
the wall where he could hang his new clock.
16
Brake, break
• Brake is a device used to stop a vehicle. Break means “to separate or
to destroy.”
• I hope the brakes on my car never break.
17
Bare, bear
• Bare means uncovered
• Bear means to carry or a furry animal
18
Bring, take
• Bring suggests the action is directed toward the speaker; take
suggested the action is directed away from the speaker.
• I’ll bring home some garbage bags so you can take the trash outside.
19
Can, may
• Can suggests ability while may suggests permission
• “Can I go to the mall?” means “Am I physically able to go to the
mall?”
• “May I go to the mall?” asks permission to go.
20
By, Bye, Buy
• By is an adverb that means so as to go past
• Bye the transfer of a competitor directly to the next round of a
competition in the absence of an assigned opponent.
• Bye is also a short form of goodbye
• Buy means to obtain by a form of payment
21
Your, you’re
• Your is a possessive pronoun. You’re is the contraction for “you are.”
• Take your boots if you’re going out in that snow.
22
Capital, capitol
• The noun capital refers to a city or to money. The adjective capital
means “major or important.” Capitol refers to a building.
• The state capital is a home to the capitol building for a capital
reason. The state of government contributed capital for its
construction.
23
Cent, sent, scent
• Cent is a coin; sent is the past tense of the verb “send”; scent is an
odor or a smell.
• For thirty-seven cents, I sent my girlfriend a mushy love poem in a
perfumed envelope. She adored the scent but hated the poem.
24
Cereal, serial
• Cereal is a grain, often made into breakfast food. Serial relates to
something in a series.
• Mohammed enjoys reading serial novels while he eats a bowl of cereal.
25
Chord, cord
• Chord may mean “an emotion” or “a combination of musical tones
sounded at the same time.” A cord is a string or a rope.
• The guitar player strummed the opening chord to the group’s hit song,
which struck a responsive chord with the audience.
26
Chose, choose
• Chose is the past tense of the verb choose.
• Last quarter I chose to read Martin Luther King’s Strength to Love
- a book that says it takes strength to choose a nonviolent response
to injustice.
27
Coarse, course
• Coarse means “rough or crude”; course means “ a path or direction
taken.” Course also means “a class or a series of studies.”
• Fletcher, known for using coarse language, was barred from the golf
course until he took and etiquette course.
28
Complement, compliment
• Complement refers to that which completes or fulfills. Complement is
an expression of admiration or praise.
• Kimberly smiled, thinking she had received a compliment, when Carlos
said that her new chihuahua complemented her personality.
29
Continual, continuous
• Continual refers to something that happens again and again with
some breaks or pauses; continuous refers to something that keeps
happening, uninterrupted.
• Sunlight hits Iowa on a continual basis; sunlight hits Earth
continuously.
30
Counsel, council
• When used as a noun, counsel means “advice”; when used as a verb, it
means “to advise.” Council refers to a group that advises.
• The student council concealed all freshman to join at least one school
club. That’s good counsel.
31
Desert, dessert
• The noun desert refers to barren wilderness. Dessert is food served
at the end of a meal.
• The scorpion tiptoed through the moonlit desert, searching for
dessert.
• The verb desert means “to abandon”; the noun desert means
“deserved reward or punishment.”
• The burglar’s hiding place deserted him when the spotlight swung his
way; his subsequent arrest was his just desert.
32
Die, dye
• Die (dying) means “to stop living.” Dye (dyeing) is used to change the
color of something.
33
Different from, different than
• Use different from in comparison of two things.
• Different than should be used only when followed by a clause.
• Yassine is quite different from his brother.
• Life is different than it used to be.
34
farther , further
• Farther refers to a physical distance; further refers to additional
time, quantity, or degree
• Alaska extends farther north than Iceland does. Further
Information can be obtained in an atlas.
35
Fewer, less
• Fewer refers to the number of separate units; less refers to bulk
quantity.
• Because we have fewer orders for cakes, we’ll buy less sugar and flour.
36
Flair, flair
• Flair refers to style or natural talent; flare mans “to light up quickly”
or “burst out” (or an object that does so).
• Ronni was thrilled with Jorge’s flair for decorating-until one of his
strategically placed candles flared, marring the wall.
37
Good, well
• Good is an adjective, well is nearly always an adverb. (When well is
used to describe a state of health, it is an adjective: He was happy to
be well again.)
• The strange flying machines worked well and made our team look good.
38
Heal, heel
• Heal means “to mend or restore to health.” A heel is the back part of
the foot.
• Achilles died because a poison arrow pierced his heel and caused a
wound that would not heal.
39
Healthful, healthy
• Healthful means “causing or improving health”; healthy means
“possessing health.”
• Healthful foods build healthy bodies.
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hear , here
• You hear with your ears. Here means “the area close by.”
41
Heard, herd
• Heard is the past tense of the verb “hear”; herd is a large group of
animals.
42
Hole, whole
• A hole is a cavity or hollow place. Whole means “complete.”
43
Idle, idol
• Idle means “not working.” An idol is someone or something that is
worshipped.
• The once-popular actress, who had been idle lately, wistfully recalled
her days as an idol.
44
Immigrate, emigrate
• Immigrate means “to come into a new country or environment.”
Emigrate means “to go out of one country to live in another.”
• Martin Ulferts immigrated to this country in 1882. He was only
three years when he emigrated from Germany.
45
Imply, infer
• Imply means “to suggest or express indirectly”; infer means “to draw a
conclusion from facts.” (A writer or speaker implies; a reader or
listener infers.)
• Dad implied by his comment that I should drive more carefully, and I
inferred that he was concerned for both me and his new car.
46
Insure, ensure
• Insure means “to secure from financial harm or loss.” Ensure means
“to make certain of something.”
• To ensure that you can legally drive a new car, you’ll have to insure it.
47
It’s, its
• It’s is the contraction of “it is.” Its is the possessive form of “it.”
• It’s hard to believe, but the movie Shrek still holds its appeal for my
little sister-even after repeated viewings.
48
Later, latter
• Later means “after a period of time.” Latter refers to the second of
two things mentioned.
• Later that year we had our second baby and adopted a stray kitten.
The latter was far more welcomed by our toddler.
49
lay , lie
• Lay means “to place.” Lay is a transitive verb.
• Lay your books on the big table
• Lie means “to recline,” and lay is the past tense of lie. Lie is an
intransitive verb.
• In this heat, the children must lie down for a nap. Yesterday they lay
down without one complaint. Sometimes they have lain in the
hammocks to rest.
50
Lead, led
• Lead is the present tense of the verb meaning “to guide.” The past
tense of the verb is led. The noun lead is a metal.
• We were led along the path that leads to an abandoned lead mine.
51
Learn, teach
• Learn means “to acquire information.” Teach means “to give
information.”
• I learn better when people teach from real-world examples.
52
Leave, let
• Leave means “to allow something to remain behind.” Let means “to
permit.”
• Would you let me leave my bike at your house?
53
Lend, borrow
• Lend means “to give temporary use.” Borrow means “to receive for
temporary use.”
• I told Mom I needed to borrow $18 for a CD, but she said she could
only lend money for school supplies.
54
Like, as
• When like is used as a preposition meaning “similar to,” it can be
followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase; when as is used as a
subordinating conjunction, it introduces a subordinate clause.
• If you want to be a gymnast like her, you’d better practice three
hours a day as she does.
55
Medal, meddle
• Medal is an award. Meddle means “to interfere.”
• Many parents meddle in the awards process to make sure that their
kids receive medals.
56
Metal, mettle
• Metal is a chemical element like iron or gold. Mettle is “strength of
spirit.”
• Grandad’s mettle during battle left him with some metal on his
shoulder.
57
Miner, minor
• A minor digs for valuable ore. A minor is a person who is not legally
an adult. A minor problem is one of great importance.
• The use of minors as miners is no minor problem.
58
Past, passed
• Passed is a verb. Past can be used as a noun, an adjective, or a
preposition.
• That old pickup truck passed my sports car! (verb)
• Many senior citizens hold dearly to the past. (noun)
• Tilly’s past life as a circus worker must have been…. Interesting.
(adjective)
• Who can walk past a bakery without looking in the window?
(preposition)
59
Peace, piece
• Peace means “tranquility or freedom from war.” Piece is a part or
fragment.
• Grandma often sits and rocks in the peace and quiet of the parlor,
enjoying a piece of pie or cake.
60
Peak, peek, pique
• A peak is a high point. Peek means “brief look” (or “look briefly”).
Pique, as a verb, means “to excite by challenging”; as a noun, it is a
feeling of resentment.
• The peak of Dr. Fedder’s professional life was his ability to pique
children’s interest in his work.
• “Take a peek at this slide,” the doctor urged her colleague.
61
Pedal, peddle, petal
• A pedal is a foot lever; as a verb, it means “to ride a bike.” Peddle
means “to go from place to place selling something.” A petal is a part
of a flower.
• Don Miller paints beautiful petals on his homemade birdhouses. Then
he pedals through the flea market every weekend to peddle them.
62
Personal, personnel
• Personal means “private.” Personnel are people working at a
particular job.
63
Plain, plane
• Plain means “an area of land that is flat or level”; it also means
“clearly seen or clearly understood.”
• It’s plain to see why settlers of the Great Plains had trouble moving
west.
• Plane means “flat, level”; it is also a tool used to smooth a surface of
wood.
• I used a plane to make the board plane and smooth.
64
Pore, pour, poor
• A pore is an opening in the skin. Pour means “to cause to flow in a
stream.” Poor means “needy or pitiable.”
• Tough exams on late spring days make my poor pores pour sweat.
65
Principal, principle
• As an adjective, principal means “primary.” As a noun it can mean “a
school administrator” or “a sum of money.” Principle means “idea or
doctrine.”
• His principal gripe is lack of freedom. (adjective)
• The principal expressed his concern about the open-campus policy.
(noun)
• During the first year of a loan, you pay more interest than principal.
(noun)
• The principle of caveat emptor is “Let the buyer beware.”
66
Quiet, quit, quite
• Quiet is the opposite of “noisy.” Quit means “to stop.” Quite means
“completely or entirely.”
67
Quote, quotation
• Quote is a verb, quotation is a noun.
• The quotation I used was from Woody Allen. You may quote me on
that.
68
Real, really, Very
• Do not use real in place of the adverbs very or really.
• Mother’s cake is usually very (not real) tasty, but this one is really
stale.
69
Right, write, wright, rite
• Right means “correct or proper”; it also refers that which a person
has a legal claim to, as in copyright. Write means “to inscribe or
record.” A wright is a person who makes or builds something. Rite
refers to a ritual or ceremonial act.
• Write this down: It is the right of the shipwright to perform the rite
of christening- breaking a bottle of champagne on the stern of the
ship.
70
Ring, wring
• Ring means “encircle” or “to sound by striking.” Wring means “to
squeeze or twist.”
• At the beach, Grandma would ring her head with a large scarf. Once,
it blew into the sea, so she had me wring it out.
71
Scene, Seen
• Scene refers to the setting or location where something happens; it
also may mean “sight or spectacle.” Seen is a form of the verb “see.”
• Serena had seen her boyfriend making a scene; she cringed.
72
Seam, seem
• Seam (noun) is a line formed by connecting two pieces. Seem (verb)
means “to appear to exist.”
• The ragged seams in his old coat seem to match the creases in his
face.
73
Set, sit
• Set means “to place.” Sit means “to put the body in a seated position.”
Set is transitive; sit is intransitive.
• How can you just sit there and watch as I set all these chairs in
place?
74
Sight, cite, site
• Sight means “the act of seeing”; a sight is what is seen. Cite means
“to quote,” or “to summon” as before a court. Site means “location.”
• In her report, the general contractor cited several problems at the
downtown job site. For one, the loading area was chaotic sight.
75
Sole, soul
• Sole means “single, only one”; sole refers to the bottom surface of the
foot. Soul refers to the spiritual part of a person.
• As the sole inhabitant of the island, he put his heart and soul into
his farming.
76
Stationary, Stationery
• Stationary means “not movable”; stationery refers to the paper and
envelopes used to write letters.
77
Steal, Steel
• Steal means “to take something without permission”; steel is a metal.
78
Than, then
• Than is used in comparison; then tells when.
• Abigail shouted that her big brother was bigger than my big brother.
Then she ran away.
79
THeir, there, they’re
• Their is a possessive personal pronoun. There is an adverb used to
point out location. They’re is the contraction for “they are.”
• They’re a well-dressed couple. Do you see them over there, with their
matching jackets?
80
Threw, Through
• Threw is the past tense of “throw.” Through means “from beginning
to end.”
• Through seven innings, Egor threw seven strikes.
81
To, too, two
• To is a preposition that can mean “in the direction of.” To is also used
to form an infinitive. Too means “also” or “very.” Two is a number.
82
Vain, vane, vein
• Vain means “valueless or fruitless”; it may also mean “holding a high
regard for oneself.” Vane is a flat piece of material set up to show
which way the wind blows. Vein refers to a blood vessel or a mineral
deposit.
•
• The vain prospector, boasting about the vein of silver he’d uncovered,
paused to look up at the turning weathervane.
83
Vary, very
• Vary means “to change.” Very means “to a high degree.”
• Though the weather may vary from day to day, generally, it is very
pleasant.
84
Vial, vile
• A vial is a small container for liquid. Vile is an adjective meaning foul,
despicable.”
• It’s a vile job, but someone has to clean these lab vials.
85
Waist, waste
• Waist is the part of the body just above the hips. The verb waste
means “to spend or use carelessly” or “to wear away or decay”; the
noun waste refers to material that is unused or useless.
• Her waist is small because she wastes no opportunity to exercise.
86
Wait, weight
• Wait means “to stay somewhere expecting something.” Weight refers
to a degree or unit of heaviness.
87
Ware, wear, where
• Ware refers to a product that is sold; wear means “to have on or to
carry on one’s body”; where asks the question in what place? Or in
what situation.
• The designer boasted. “Where can anybody wear my ware?
Anywhere.”
88
Way, weigh
• Way means “path or route.” Weight means “to measure weight” or “to
have a certain heaviness.”
• My dogs weigh too much. The best way to reduce is a daily run in the
park.
89
Weather, whether
• Weather refers to the condition of the atmosphere. Whether refers
to a possibility.
• Because of the weather forecast, Coach Pennington didn’t know
whether or not to schedule another practice.
90
Which, that
• Use which to refer to objects or animals in a nonrestrictive clause
(set off with commas). Use that to refer to objects or animals in a
restrictive clause.
• The birds, which stay in the area all winter, know exactly where the
feeders are located. The food that attracts the most birds is
sunflower seed.
91
Who, Whom
• Use who to refer to people. Who is used as the subject of a verb in an
independent clause or in a relative clause. Whom is used as the object
of a preposition or as a direct object.
• To whom do we owe our thanks for these pizzas? And who ordered
that one with pepperoni and pineapple?
92
Who’s, Whose
• Who’s is the contraction for “who is.” Whose is a pronoun that can
show possession or ownership.
• Cody, whose car is new, will drive. Who’s going to read the map?
93