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Frequently Confused Word Pairs: Notes and Examples SPI 3002.1.13 Select the appropriate word in frequently confused pairs (i.e., to/too/two, their/there/they’re, it/it’s, you/you’re, whose/who’s, which/that/who, accept/except, affect/effect, between/among, capitol/capital, principal/principle, stationary/stationery, who/whom, allusion/illusion, complement/compliment, cite/site/sight, counsel/council, coarse/course, farther/further, lose/loose, fewer/less, advice/advise, precede/proceed, adapt/adopt, eminent/imminent, assure/ensure/insure). affect / effect – Affect is a verb meaning “to influence.” • Use affect in sentences meaning influences, such as, “The prosecutor’s speech affected the jury’s decision.” • “The bright colors affect how the patients feel.” – Use effect as a verb to mean “to bring about” or “to accomplish.” • This word effect is used only for specific meaning, such as “The treatment will effect a cure for the disease.” • Note: This sentence came directly from a grammar book. However, the grammar checking program on Microsoft Word flags it as incorrect with “affect” as the correction. The grammar checking program is incorrect. affect / effect • “High gas prices did not effect a change in most people’s travel habits.” • Notice that “effect” as a verb usually has a specific direct object with it to focus attention on that which is focused or brought about. affect / effect • Typically, “effect” is used as a noun to mean “the result of some action.” – Example: “The bright colors have a beneficial effect on the patients.” – Example: “The hurricane had a devastating effect on Mississippi’s economy.” off / off of Do not use off or off of to replace from. • Here’s the money I borrowed off you. (incorrect) • Here’s the money I borrowed from you. (correct) kind of / sort of *In formal situations, avoid using either of these expressions for the adverb rather or somewhat. • The waves were sort of rough. (incorrect) • The waves were rather [or somewhat] rough. (correct) a while / awhile • *The noun while, often preceded by the article a, means a “period of time.” • *Awhile is an adverb meaning “for a short period of time.” • I haven’t heard from your pen pal for a while. • I usually read awhile before going to bed. all ready / already • all ready (adjective) *all prepared • already (adverb) *previously • We were all ready to leave. • We had already painted the sets. suppose to / supposed to • *To express an intention or plan, use the verb form supposed before an infinitive. • We were supposed to (not suppose to) meet Wendy at eight o’ clock. who’s, whose • *Who’s is the contraction of who is or who has. • *Whose is the possessive for of who. • Who’s [who is] the narrator of “A Christmas Memory”? • Whose autobiography is titled Black Boy? which, that, who • *Who refers to persons only. • *Which refers to things only. • *That may refer to either persons or things. • Isn’t Walt Whitman the poet who [or that] wrote Leaves of Grass? [person] • They decided to replace Miss Forestier’s necklace, which they did not know was fake. [thing] • The necklace that the Loisels bought cost thirty-six thousand francs. [thing] who / whom • *Who – (nominative case) is a pronoun used as a subject in sentences and subordinate clauses. • Who gave Michelle the beautiful flowers? • The man who gave Michelle the flowers is her husband. who / whom • *Whom – (objective case) is a pronoun used as a direct object in sentences and subordinate clauses. • You baked these delicious cookies for whom? • The teachers wondered whom the seniors selected as class president. your, you’re • *Your is a possessive form of you. • *You’re is the contraction of you are. • What is your opinion of General Zaroff? • You’re [you are] my best friend. its, it’s • *Its is the possessive form of it. • *It’s is the contraction of it is or it has. • The bird has stopped its singing. • It’s [it is] an easy problem. • It’s [it has] been raining since noon. their, there, they’re • *Their is a possessive form of they. • *As an adverb, there means “at that place.” There is also used to begin a sentence. • *They’re is the contraction of they are. • Harry Pope lay there quietly. • There is a conflict between Odysseus and the Cyclops. • Their daughter, Juliet, was in love with a Montague. • They’re throwing pebbles at Miss Lottie’s flowers. counsel, council • *As a noun, counsel means “advice.” • *As a verb, counsel means “give advice.” • *Council is a noun meaning “group called together to accomplish a job.” • I’m grateful for your counsel. [noun] • Did the doctor counsel her to get more rest? [verb] • The city council will debate the issue. accept, except • *Accept is a verb that means “to receive” or “to agree to.” • *Except is usually a preposition meaning “but.” • *Except may also be a verb that means “to leave out or exclude.” • Will accept our thanks? • Everyone will be there except you. • The government excepts people with very low incomes from paying taxes. between, among • *In general use among to show a relationship in which more than two persons or things are considered as a group. • The committee will distribute the used clothing among the poor families in the community. • There was confusion among the players on the field. between, among • *In general, use between to show a relationship involving two persons or things, or to compare one person or thing with an entire group. • Mr. and Mrs. Ito live halfway between Seattle and Portland. [relationship involving two places.] • Emilo could not decide between the collie, the cocker spaniel, and the beagle. [items within a group] allusion, illusion • *An allusion is an indirect reference. • *An illusion is a false idea or appearance. • Her speech included an allusion to one of Robert Frost’s poems. • The shimmering heat produced an illusion of water on the road. capital, capitol • *A capital is a city that is the seat of government. • *Capital can also mean “money or property.” • *As an adjective, capital can mean “involving execution” or “referring to an uppercase letter.” • *Capitol, on the other hand, refers only to a building in which a legislature meets. capital, capitol • What is the capital of Vermont? • Anyone starting a business needs capital. • Capital punishment is not used in this state. • Hester Prynne embroidered a capital A on her dress. • The capitol has a gold dome. cite, site, sight • *To cite is “to quote or refer to”. • Cite can also mean “to summon to appear in a court of law.” • *As a noun, sight means “vision.” As a verb, sight means “to see.” • *As a noun, site is a place or a location. cite, site, sight • Consuela cited three sources of information in her report. • The officer cited the driver for speeding. • My sight is perfect. [noun] • The board of education has chosen a site for the new high school. [noun] complement, compliment • *As a noun, complement means “something that completes”; as a verb, it means “to complete.” • *As a noun, compliment means, “a flattering remark”; as a verb, it means “to praise.” • This purple scarf complements your outfit perfectly. • Phyllis received many compliments on her speech. to, too, two • *To means “in the direction of”’ it is also part of the infinitive form of a verb. • *Too means “very” or “also.” • *Two is the number after one. • John walks to school. • She likes to read mystery books. • We have two kittens. stationary, stationery • *Stationary means “fixed” or “unmoving.” • *Stationery is writing paper. • This classroom has stationary desks. • Rhonda likes to write letters on pretty stationery. principal, principle • *As a noun, principal means “head of a school”; it can also mean “a sum of money borrowed or invested.” • *As an adjective, principal means “main” or “chief.” • *Principle is a noun meaning “basic truth or belief” or “rule of conduct.” • Mr. Schneitman, our principal, will speak at the morning assembly. [noun] • What was your principal reason for joining the club? [adjective] • The principle of fair play is important in sports. lose, loose • *The adjective loose means “free,” “not firmly attached,” or “not fitting tightly.” • *The verb lose means “to misplace” or “to fail to win.” • Don’t lose that loose button on your shirt. • If we lose this game, we’ll be out of the tournament. farther, further • *Use farther in referring to physical distance. • *Use further in all other situations. • San Antonio is farther south than Dallas. • We have nothing further to discuss. • How much further is it to Grandmother’s house? • INCORRECT fewer, less • *Use fewer with nouns that can be counted. • *Use less with nouns that can’t be counted. • *Less may also be used with numbers that are considered as single amounts or single quantities. • There were few students in my math class than in my physics class. • I used less sugar than the recipe recommended. • I can be there in less than thirty minutes. coarse, course • *Coarse means “rough,” “crude,” “not fine,” “of poor quality. • *Course can mean “a school subject,” “a path or way,” “order or development,” or “part of a meal.” • To begin, I will need some coarse sandpaper for my project. • Mrs. Baldwin won’t tolerate coarse language. • Are you taking any math courses this year? assure / ensure / unsure • *Assure means “to state with confidence.” • *Ensure means “to secure or guarantee” or “to make sure or certain.” • *Insure means “to guarantee against loss or harm” or “to issue or procure an insurance policy.” • Joey assured his mother that his homework was finished. • Diligent preparation will ensure your success in this class. • The bank insists that I insure my new car before I drive it. eminent, imminent • *The adjective eminent means “high in state or rank,” “lofty,” “high,” or “prominent.” • *The adjective imminent means “likely to occur at any moment.” • The Pope is an eminent figure in some religious circles. • Since the storm was imminent, the baseball game was postponed. advice, advise • *Advice (noun) is “an opinion offered as a guide to action.” • *Advise (verb) is “to give counsel to” or “to offer an opinion or suggestion.” • The Pope is an eminent figure in some religious circles. • Since the storm was imminent, the baseball game was postponed.