Commonlv
Confused
Words
Many wordssoundor look alikebut meandifferentthingswhenput into writing. This list will
helpdistinguishbetweensomeof the morecommonwordsthat soundor look alikeaswell as
somesinglewordsthat arecommonlyconfusedwith two words.
Homophones
Homophones
arewordsthat soundalike or similarbut havedifferentmeanings.The following is
a list of homophones
that writerscommonlyconfuse.
Accept/Excqpt
Accept:
Acceptis a verb meaning"to receive;or to agre,e."
IIe accepted their praise graciously.
I accept thefact that he will be at the party but refuse to speak to him.
Except:
Affea/Effect
Affect:
Except is a prepositionmeaning"all but, other than."
LveryonewasrootingfortheSleelersexcept
for theBrownsfans.
Alfect is a verb meaning"to influence."
This sore throat alfects my ability'to speak.
Effect:
Effect is a nounmeaning"result or consequence."
T'hissore throat has an elfect on my ability to speak.
Effect:
E{fect is also a verb meaning"to bring about, to accomplish."
Our eforts have efected a major chonge in company policy.
Advise/Advice
Advise:
Advise is a verb that means"to recommend,suggest,or council."
I advise ytu to read your assignments ifyou wanl to do well on lnur quizzes.
Advice:
Advice is a noun meaning"an opinion or recommendationaboutwhat could or
shouldbe done."
My advice to you is that you read your assignments before taking your quizzes.
ConsciouVConscience
Conscious: Conscious
is an adjectivemeaning"awake,perceiving."
Despite being struck in the head, she remained conrcious.
'
Conscience: Conscienceis a noun meaning"the senseof obligationto be good."
For a momenthe consifured cheating on the test, but his conscieneewould not let him.
Idea/Ideal
Idea:
Ideais a nounmeaning"a thought,belie{,or conceptionheld in the mind; or a
generalnotionor conceptionformedby generalization."
Jen had a great idea: she could take her papr to the writing centerfor helpl
The nere idea of quantum mecho'tics confuses me beyond bellef.
Ideal:
that embodiesperfection."
Idealis a nounmeaning"somethingor someone
Michael Jordan is the ideal that baskelball players everlnvhere look up to.
Ideal:
Ideal is also an adjective meaning "embodying an ultimate standardof excellence
or perfection, the best."
Michael Jordan is the ideal athlete.
Its/It's
Its:
Its is a possessive
adjective,showingthat"it" ownssomething.
The strry dog had no collar on its neck
lt's:
It's is the contractionfor "it is."
It's still raining now even though it's beenrainingfor three straight days.
Leadlled
Lead:
Leadis a nounreferringto a densemetallicelement.
Leod is the only substance that Superman's X-rayvision cannot see through.
Led:
Led is the past tenseform of the verb "to lead" which means"to guide or direct."
Bruce Springsleen led the E-Street Band through a 3 hour concert.
Than/Then
Than:
Thanis usedin comparisonstatements,
statements
of preference,
andto suggest
quantitiesbeyonda specifiedamount.
Ten is greater thanJive.
I would rather hang out with Kerry than Mandy.
Thefamous painting is worth more than 2 million dollars.
Then:
Thenis usedto expressa time otherthannow, somethingthat comesnext in time,
space,or order,or to suggesta logicalconclusion.
I will start myjob then.
First we turn on the grill, then we grill lhe steak, emdthen we can eat it.
If the water is boiling, then steam will rise.
Their/There/They're
pronounshowinga group'sownershipof something.
Thereis a possessive
Their:
The Bulls received their championship ings afer they won the Finals.
There:
Thererefersto a placethat is not immediatelyhere.
My car is parked wer there.
They're:
There is a contraction for "they are."
They'rethecoolestpople I know.
To/Too/Two
To:
To is a prepositionorthe first part of the infinitive form of a verb.
LlthenI was in eighth grade, we took a class trip to Toronto.
I4/ewent there to see a play, to explore the science center, and to shop.
Too:
Too means"very" or "also."
AJler the long drive, I wastoo tired to unpack.
I washungry, too.
Two:
Two is the number2.
The Beatles and the Rolling Stones ore two great hands.
We're/Wherey'Were
We're:
We're is a contraction
for "we are."
lI/e're both glad to help in any vay we can.
Where:
Where is a location.
Were are 1nu going?
Were:
Were is a pasttenseform of the verb "to be."
Just afew years ago, we were total strangers.
Your/You're
Your:
Your is a possessive
pronoun.
Your sweatshirt was lef in my car.
You're:
You're is a contractionfor "you are."
You're missing the sweatshirt becouseyou lefi it in my car.
OneWord or Two?
Thefollowing is a list of two word phrasesthat writersoftenconfusewith their singleword
counterparts.
All ready/Already
All ready:
All readyis usedasan adjectiveto expresscompleteprepardness.
He was all rea$t lo go, but she had to do her makeup and try on outfits before she was ready.
Already.
Alreadyis an adverbexpressing
time.
By the time *,e got to the theater, the movie had already started.
All right/Alrietrt
All right:
All right is usedasan adjectiveor adverb;it is the olderandmoreformalspelling
andis correctto usein all academicwriting.
He fell from the tree but luckily he was all ight.
Alright:
Alright is an alternativespellingof all right; it is lessformal and is sometimes
used in fictional dialogue but is not appropriatefor academicwriting.
My brother does alright at htsjob.
All together/Altosether
A'll
All together: All together is an adverb meaning"considered
as a whole, summedup.,,
AII together,
it hashappened
thirtysevintimessofar.
Altogether: Altogelloi: anintensifuing
meaning..wholly,
completely,
entirely.,,
Afier solving the initial probten iith1lyerb
the situation, nZ nere
problem: location.
laied with an altogether diferent
Anvone/Anyone
Anyone:
Anyoneisa pronounmeaning..any
personat all.,,
Anyone who wants to go downtown is itwited.
Any one:
Anyone is.a paired.adjectiveand noun meaning "a specific
item in a group.,,
Anyoneo/theteamsthatmadetheptayofscourdwinthe worrd
&ries.
Anywa
Anywa
{;nrwar is an adverbmeaning"in any caseor nonetheless.,,
Sheaskedhimnotto tell theembaiassing,iory, buthetoldit
anw,ay
Any way:
Any way is a paired adjective and noun meaning "any particular
course,direction,
or manner."
,
The place wos so crowded that any wqy we rooked we courdn,tfind
a way out.
Maybe/May be
Maybe:
Maybeis anadverbmeaning..perhaps."
Mrybe coming here wastt,t suchi good idea after
all.
May be.
May be is a form of theverb..tobe."
This may be our only chonce to talk to our professor
before the test
Thishandoutwasadapted
fromtheowl at p'rdue Universitywebsiteavailabre
at: