WRITING TECHNIQUES
Name __________________________
Confusing Words
Employers continue to complain about employees who can’t spell or who confuse common words. Poor
language skills make employees and employers look bad. Try your skill with these sentences. Check your
responses against the key and vow to master the definitions of any words you confuse.
1. In business reports writers must (site, cite, sight) their sources of information.
2. It is (to, too, two) soon to know whether either of the (to, too, two) plans will work.
3. My manager checks sales (everyday, every day) as part of his (everyday, every day) routine.
4. After the restructuring, the company (then, than) offered higher salaries (then, than) anyone expected.
5. (Their, There, They’re) going to put (their, there, they’re) backpacks over (their, there, they’re).
6. News of the merger immediately (effected, affected) the stock market.
7. Elena was surprised and (greatful, grateful) when she received the award.
8. His (principal, principle) reason for taking the job was its location.
9. The hotel (formally, formerly) known as the Sands (formally, formerly) reopened as the Oasis.
10. If there are no (farther, further) objections, we will (precede, proceed) with the agenda items.
11. We should not (infer, imply) agreement with an Asian’s head nod; it may merely mean I hear what
you are saying.
12. The CEO had a (stationery, stationary) bicycle in his office.
13. So frightened was she that her eyes (wavered, waivered) from side to side.
14. When flames began to (envelop, envelope) the building, firefighters knew they were losing the battle.
15. Rick was certain he could finish the 16-week (coarse, course).
Confusing Words Key
1. In business reports writers must cite their sources of information.
cite: to quote; to summon
site: location
sight: a view; to see
2. It is too soon to know whether either of the two plans will work.
to: a preposition; the sign of the infinitive
too: an adverb meaning “also” or “to an excessive extent”
two: a number
3. My manager checks sales every day as part of his everyday routine.
© Dr. Mary Ellen Guffey, author, BUSINESS ENGLISH, ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, and BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRODUCT. May be reproduced for educational purposes only.
every day: each single day
everyday: ordinary
4. After the restructuring, the company then offered higher salaries than anyone expected.
then: adverb meaning “at that time”
than: conjunction showing comparison
5. They’re going to put their backpacks over there.
they’re: a contraction of “they are”
their: possessive form of they
there: at that place or point
6. News of the merger immediately affected the stock market.
affect: to influence
effect: (n) outcome, result; (v) to bring about, to create
7. Elena was surprised and grateful when she received the award.
grateful: appreciative
greatful: misspelled word
8. His principal reason for taking the job was its location.
principle: rule of action
principal: (n) capital sum; school official; (adj) chief
9. The hotel formerly known as the Sands formally reopened as the Oasis.
formerly: in the past
formally: in a formal manner
10. If there are no further objections, we will proceed with the agenda items.
further: additional
precede: to go before
farther: a greater distance
proceed: to continue
11. We should not imply agreement with an Asian’s head nod; it may merely mean I hear what
you are saying.
imply: to suggest indirectly
infer: to reach a conclusion
12. The CEO had a stationary bicycle in his office.
stationery: writing material
stationary: immovable
13. So frightened was she that her eyes wavered from side to side.
waiver: abandonment of a claim
waver: to shake or fluctuate
14. When flames began to envelop the building, fire fighters knew they were losing
the battle.
envelop: (v) to wrap, surround, or conceal
envelope: (n) a container for a written message
15. Rick was certain he could finish the 16-week course.
coarse: rough texture
course: a route; a part of a meal; a unit of learning
© Dr. Mary Ellen Guffey, author, BUSINESS ENGLISH, ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, and BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRODUCT. May be reproduced for educational purposes only.