Confused Words
Lesson 6
personal, personnel
Name: ___________________________
Date: ______________
Personal means “private.” Personnel are people working at a particular job.
The construction of her personal business empire required the skills of hundreds of personnel.
threw, through
Threw is past tense of “throw.” Through means “passing from one side of something to the
other.”
The boy threw the ball through the window yesterday afternoon.
capital, capitol
The noun capital refers to a city, to money and assets. The adjective capital means major,
first priority, serious or important. Capitol refers to the building where the state government
meets.
The capitol building is in the capital city for a capital reason. The city government contributed capital for the
building expense.
suppose, supposed
Suppose, a verb, means to make a guess, estimate or belief that lacks certainty. You can
replace suppose with “what if.” Supposed, as an adjective, means required or expected.
Replace supposed with “required, expected or should.”
Dan was supposed to get back to me today. I suppose I will have to call him instead.
lead, led
Lead is the present tense of the verb meaning “to guide.” The past tense is led. Lead is the
metal, although it is pronounced the same as the past tense form, led.
“Hey, Nat, get the lead out! Do I have to take you by the hand and lead you around the bases?”
apart, a part
Apart is an adjective which means separated by distance or time. A part, a noun, is a piece
of a whole.
Although I am sad when we are apart, I know I am always a part of the family.
every day, everyday
Every day means each day without exception. Everyday is an adjective, meaning ordinary
and unremarkable.
You have been late for school every day this week. My culture pages offer an insight into the everyday life of the
Native American people.
any, some
Any and some are both determiners. They talk about indefinite quantities or numbers
when the exact number is not important. Use any when discussing negative statements
and some when discussing positive statements.
“She gave me some bad advice.” “Really? She rarely give any bad advice.”
a lot, allot, alot
A lot means a large amount or number; many. Allot mean to give (particularly a share of a
whole) for a particular purpose. Alot is not a correct word.
We will need a lot of time to complete this new project together, so we were each allotted a desk in the office.
Circle the correct word in the following sentences.
1. Although we have been (threw, through) this before, I think we need to give it another look.
2. We have spent (a lot, allot, alot) of time on this project. There is still more to do, we should (a lot, allot, alot)
the remaining duties to be sure we finish on time.
3. I am (suppose, supposed) to be done with work at 8pm. But, I (suppose, supposed) if they ask me to stay
later, I will.
4. Have you had a (personal, personnel) meeting with the (personal, personnel) director?
5. Would you mind picking up (some, any) gummi bears for me? What?! They didn’t have (some, any).
6. The lack of (capital, capitol) caused the factory to close.
7. I hate to be (a part, apart) from my couch, but it is important for my grade I be (a part, apart) of this group.
8. The lieutenant (lead, led) the charge despite a (lead, led) ball in his leg.
9. We will meet for class (everyday, every day) but this is a master’s class, so there is nothing (everyday, every
day) about our material.
Write 10 sentences using the confused words correctly. Each word should be used at least once.
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10.