Misused Words

1. Misused Words Unit 14

2. Accept vs. Except Accept Except With the exclusion of • To take or receive

3. Examples • I (accept, except) your apology. • Everyone arrived on time (accept, except) Todd.

4. Advice vs. Advise Advice Advise VERB To give counsel To offer an opinion • NOUN • A recommended opinion

5. examples • Libby, I need your (advice, advise). • Bennett was unable to (advice, advise) me.

6. Affect vs Effect Affect Effect VERB To bring about NOUN The result, impression • VERB • To produce a change in • To influence • To assume, pretend In place of the words affect and effect, mentally substitute their meanings. The sentence will make sense only if the correct meaning is substituted.

7. examples • My low grades will (affect, effect) my average. • Andrew (affects, effects) a French accent with ease. • Congress tried to (affect, effect) a change in the tax system. • My past eating habits had an adverse (affect, effect) on my health.

8. All Ready vs. Already All Ready Already By this time previously • Fully prepared

9. Examples • I am (all ready, already) to begin my presentation. • The presentation has (all ready, already) been made.

10. All Together vs. Altogether All Together Altogether Completely Entirely • Collectively • In a group

11. examples • The tour group is (all together, altogether) at the entrance. • You speak (all together, altogether) too rapidly.

12. Among vs. Between Among Between Used when referring to just two items • Used when referring to more than two items

13. examples • The responsibilities were divided (among, between) three assistants. • The responsibilities were divided (among, between) two assistants.

14. Angry vs. mad Angry Mad Insane • Enraged

15. examples • I became (angry, mad) when Shakira revealed my secret. • The doctors determined that the woman was (angry, mad).

16. Any vs. either Any Either Refers to one of two persons or things • Refers to one or more of several persons or things

17. examples • You may sit in (any, either) of these three seats. • (Any, Either) of the two seats is available.

18. Bad vs. badly Bad Badly In a bad manner poorly • Sorry • Wicked • Offensive • Ill • Hint: Use after the verb feel or look

19. examples • I felt (bad, badly) after drinking the sour milk. • The dog behaves (bad, badly) when left alone.

20. Beside vs. besides Beside Besides In addition to In addition, moreover • At the side of

21. examples • Please sit (beside, besides) me. • (Beside, Besides) Lorraine, Ellie has two other good friends. • (Beside, Besides), Lorraine knows Ellie’s stepfather.

22. Misused words Unit 15

23. Better vs. best Better Best Used when comparing more than two items • Used when comparing two items

24. examples • Of the two scarves, the striped one looks (better, best). • Of the three scarves, the striped one looks (better, best).

25. Differ from vs. differ with Differ From Differ With Refers to opinions or thoughts • Refers to persons or things

26. examples • Today’s test results (differ from, differ with) those of yesterday • I must (differ from, differ with) you, Hector, on that decision.

27. Farther vs. further Farther Further Refers to time Quantity Degree • Refers to distance

28. examples • The rescuers walked (farther, further) into the woods. • As I read (farther, further), I became more interested.

29. Fewer vs. Less Fewer Less Used with nouns that cannot be counted • Used with nouns that can be counted

30. examples • I read (fewer, less) books this week than usual. • You have offered (fewer, less) proof than is required.

31. Lay vs. lie Lay Lie To rest or recline Present Tense=lie Present Participle=lying Past=lay Past Participle=lain • To put or place • Present Tense=lay • Present Participle=laying • Past=laid • Past Participle=laid • Usually followed by an object. In place of the words lay and lie, mentally substitute their meanings. The sentence will make sense only if the correct meaning is substituted.

32. examples • I (lay, lie) the book on the table. • He (lays, lies) down every day at three o’clock. • I am (laying, lying) the book on the table. • He is (laying, lying) down now. • I (laid, lay) the book on the table. • He (lay, laid) down today at three o’clock. • I have (laid, lain) the book on the table. • He has (laid, lain) there since three o’clock.

33. Loose vs. lose Loose Lose To misplace or leave behind To fail to win a game • Free • Not tight

34. examples • The screw became (loose, lose) and fell out. • If you aren’t careful, you may (loose, lose) that pen.

35. May be vs. maybe May be Maybe Perhaps • VERB

36. examples • The winning essay (maybe, may be) selected today. • (Maybe, May be) the winning essay will be selected today.

37. Passed vs. past Passed Past ADJECTIVE Gone by in time NOUN Time gone by The events that happened formerly • VERB • Went by or moved by • Completed successfully

38. examples • I (past, passed) Chelsea on my way here. • Alicia (past, passed) the English test. • I enjoyed myself this (past, passed) summer. • My grandfather has fond memories of the (past, passed).

39. Real vs. very Real Very The extreme (to a high or low degree) Exceedingly HINT: Very usually modifies an adjective • Genuine • HINT: • Real is an adjective

40. examples • That is a (real, very) diamond. • That is a (real, very) pretty diamond ring.

41. Recent vs. resent Recent Resent VERB To feel or show displeasure from a sense of injury or insult • ADJECTIVE • Of late occurrence • Not long past

42. examples • I met Miguel during a (recent, resent) trip. • Bo is sure to (recent, resent) your intrusion.

43. Some time vs. sometime Some time Sometime At some unspecified or indefinite time • A specified period of time

44. examples • Make the appointment for (some time, sometime) in October. • Let’s meet (some time, sometime) soon.