Saying what we mean is an important part of good writing.  Misusing common words detracts from meaning.  While spell-checker are important tools (ALWAYS SPELL CHECK YOUR WORK!), we are responsible for our word choices.  Here are some words that are frequently misused.  

Accept/Except

• Accept (vb) to receive; to give approval; to take.
• Except (vb) to exclude.

Examples:  Accept/Except

• I think they will accept all my revisions except for the conclusion.
• Juliana works every day except Saturday and Sunday.
• Adolpho will attend the banquet to accept the award.
• We will accept your gifts except for the puppy.

• Adapt.  (v) to adjust, make fit.
• Adept.  (adj) expert, proficient.

Example:  Adapt/Adept

• He is ready to adapt to the different expectations at college.
• She is adept at expression complex ideas in writing.
• Joe had to adapt before he was adept at his new job.
• When changes threaten me, it is time to adapt.

Advice/Advise

• Advice (n) opinion; recommendation.
• Advise (vb) to give advice; to recommend.

Examples:  Advice/Advise

• Since you sought my advice, I advise you to go to the new job.
• Ms. Chin will advise music students on Friday mornings.
• To keep all our options open was his advice to us.
• If you ask my advice, I would advise you to see Larry.

Affect/Effect

• Affect (vb) to influence.
• Effect (n) result; consequence (vb) to cause; to accomplish.

Examples:  Affect/Effect

• The effect of the recent change will affect our annual profit.
• Will cutting the staff affect worker morale?
• What effect will new equipment have on productivity?
• The net effect will affect our decision.

Complement/Compliment

• Complement (n) something that completes or makes up a whole.
• Compliment (n) an expression of praise or congratulation.

Examples:  Complement/Compliment

• Joe's compliment to Dan was that his tie complemented his suit.
• The laser printer is a complement to the system.
• Gloria accepted Kevin's compliment with a smile.
• The dessert will complement dinner.

Confidant/Confident

• Confidant (n) one to whom secrets are kept.
• Confident (adj) having certainty or assurance.

Examples:  Confidant/Confident

• Larry is my confidant; I can tell him anything.
• I can be confident that Larry will keep it between us.
• I am not confident that Mary will be a good confidant.
• When we have troubles, it helps to have a confidant that we are confident will keep our secrets to themselves.

Everyday/Every Day

• Everyday (adj) routine occasions, suitable for ordinary day.
• Every Day (adj & n) each and all days, no exception.

Examples:  Everyday/Every Day

• Every day I have the blues; its an everyday occurrence.
• I start every day with a moment of thanks.
• Going to church is not an everyday thing for me.
• Going out for frozen custard is not an everyday occurrence, but every day I try to reward myself for the positive things I do.

Explicit/Implicit

• Explicit (adj) expressed precisely; clearly defined.
• Implicit (adj)  Implied, not directly stated.

Examples:  Explicit/Implicit

• The rules are explicit on this matter; it is a penalty.
• While not actually part of the court's decision, implicit in the judge's ruling is that the rights of the group are greater than the rights of the individual.
• Young adults should not need to be explicitly told what is acceptable at college.
• The academic code of conduct does not explicitly state your action is wrong, but does implicitly tell us not to do that.

Fair/Fare

• Fair (adj) just, equitable, visually beautiful or admirable.
• Fare (n) a transportation charge.

Examples:  Fair/Fare

• Mary knew that the taxi fare was not fair for such a short trip.
• With a shrug and sigh, Lucy said, "Life is not fair.
• The round-trip airline fare seemed fair to me.
• It did not seem fair, so we argued about the fare.

• For (prep/conj) used to indicate purpose; on behalf of; because; because of.
• Four (n) the fourth in a set or series.

Examples:  For/Four

• For the lack of a comma, the sentence was meaningless.
• Four-score and seven years ago, our founding fathers brought forth a new nation.
• The hammer is for unexpected emergencies.
• Four screwdrivers are also included in our "emergency toolkit."

[ Top ]

Its/It's

• Its (adj) of or relating to itself as the possessor.
• It's (contr) it is; it has.

Examples:  Its/It's

• It's time for the dog to have its food.
• Before  it's time to bid, check its number.
• If it's not yours, return it to its shelf.
• It's not time for the cat to have its dinner
• Now that it's Tuesday, the dog will have its day.

Forward/Foreword

• Forward (adj) moving or tending.
• Foreword (n) preface or introductory statement in a book.

Examples:  Forward/Foreword

• The next right thing is to go forward with the plan.
• I skipped reading the foreword of the book.
• Perhaps it was a mistake to go forward without reading the foreword.
• We will each have to decide for ourselves if the foreword is important to read before going forward.

Personal/Personnel

• Personal (adj) private; individual.
• Personnel (n) employees

Examples:  Personal/Personnel

• The personnel committee took a personal interest in all workers.
• Max thought the case too personal to discuss openly.
• The personnel manager will mediate the dispute.
• He sent Mark to see the personnel director to talk about the personal problems that were affecting him at work.

Principal/Principle

• Principal (n/adj) a person in authority; a capital sum; main, primary.
• Principle (n) a rule.

Examples:  Principal/Principle

• The new principal is guided by the principle of fairness.
• The principal reason I'm here is to record his talk.
• What principle of law was applied in that case?
• The principal of the loan was paid off in ten years.

Than/Then

• Than (conj/prep) used in comparisons to show difference between items.
• Then (n/adv) that time; at that time.

Examples:  Than/Then

• If she is older than you, then I am older than you.
• We then decided that two hours were more than enough.
• Fewer than half the workers were then put on overtime.
• If my account has more than your account, then use mine.
• John then went outside rather than go to the basement.

Their/There/They're

• Their (pron) belonging to them.
• There (adv/pron) in or at that place; word used to introduce a sentence or clause.
• They're (contr) they are.

Examples:  Their/There/They're

• They're to be there to present their plans for the new building.
• Were you there for the large fireworks display?
• Do you believe they're going to elect her as mayor?
• In their opinion, the decision was quite unfair.
• The team won their game by two points.
• We had a great deal of fun there.
• Overall, they're the best team we have had in years.

To/Too/Two

• To (prep/adj) used to indicate action, relation, distance, direction.
• Too (adv) besides; also; to excessive degree.
• Two (pron/adj) one plus one in number

Examples:  To/Too/Two

• Is it too late for us to go to the two o'clock movie today?
• I am to give everyone two bowls of beef soup.
• We are going to the opera; Stan is going too.
• She thought that two workers were too many.
• John went to town to get two new tires.
• It is just too far for us to go back to town.
• You have to leave the waitress a tip too. 

Your/You're

• Your (adj) of or relating to you or yourself as possessor.
• You're (contr) you are.

Examples:  Your/You're

• When you receive your blue book, you're to write your name on it.
• You're to write the letter using your best English.
• When your computer is warmed up you're to begin work.
• If you're not sure what to do, ask your instructor.
• You're in charge when you're the boss.

[ Top ]

[ Home ] [ Writing:  A Process ] [ Editing & Proofreading ] [ Grammar Quick Tips ] [ Punctuation Quick Tips ] [ Capitalization Tips ] [ Tricky Words ] [ Writing Styles ] [ Art of Persuasion ] [ Documenting Sources ] [ Online Resources ]