1. Frequently Misused Words
Affect:
Effect:
Vocabulary
Accumulate, assure, explicit
1. The snow continued to _________________ for several hours during the
blizzard.
2. He was quite ____________ about what he expected us to accomplish at
work.
3. The mother ______________ her daughter that she would be safe in the
basement during the tornado warning.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Cycle (circle/wheel); uni (one); bi (two); tri (three)
Unicycle
Bicycle
Tricycle
Motorcycle
Recycle
Grammar:
nouns: person, place, thing, or idea
~I went with Uncle Joe to Target to purchase a game.
~ty, ity
verbs: a word that expresses the action or state of being
~Many life-changing inventions were created by Thomas Edison.
~ en, ize, ify
2. Frequently Misused Words
lay:
lie:
Vocabulary
Bias, stereotype, cease
1. The fire alarm sound ______________ once all of the children left the
building.
2. To have left the boy out of the game, would have looked as though the
coach were _________________.
3. Teaching as a feminine occupation is a _____________________.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
y/ly/ily (like, every, in a certain way; adj & adv)
wealthy
eagerly
awkwardly
hastily
steadily
Grammar:
adjectives: word that describe a noun or pronoun to strengthen text
~The brilliant butterfly zipped by the decrepit barn.
adverbs: describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Most adverbs tell when, where, how,
and to what extent.
~Marcos quickly zipped over the goal line!
3. Frequently Misused Words
your:
you’re:
Vocabulary
Convene, account, ironic
1. The meeting will ____________________ in the auditorium.
2. The traveler used a blog to give an __________________ of his vacation.
3. I told her I had to work all weekend, in which she gave an
______________ reply, “how nice.”
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Aud (to hear) vis/vid (to see)
Audible
Audition
Envision
Advise
Livid
Grammar:
interjections: words and phrases that are used to express a strong emotion and
are separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma or exclamation point
~Wow! This new 6th grade team is so cool!
conjunctions: words that join two parts of a sentence and help to show the
connection between the two parts of the sentence.
~We went home and went straight to bed.
~We went home early, so we missed the end of the movie.
4. Frequently Misused Words
whose:
who’s:
Vocabulary
Decipher, digress, dawdle
1. As the fish pulled down on the bait, the fisherman __________________
and missed his only bite.
2. The archeologist tried to __________________ the ancient writing on the
tomb.
3. When you give a speech, make sure that you do not ________________
to a different topic.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Gress/mot/mov (to go, to move)
Progress
Regress
Promote
Commotion
Unmovable
Grammar:
prepositions: a word that shows the relationship/location between a noun or a pronoun and
another word in the sentence
~The cat snoozed under the lawn chair.
Prepositional phrase: includes the preposition and its object.
~Jane threw the watch out the window.
5. Frequently Misused Words
there:
their:
they’re:
Vocabulary
Emphasis, extract
1. In 6th grade much ______________ is given to how important it is to
know your times tables.
2. The dentist attempted to ______________ the infected molar from her
mouth.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Ance/ence (state of)
Acquaintance
Irrelevance
Resistance
Diligence
Competence
Grammar:
verb tense consistency- keep the same tense throughout a clause
Incorrect: Mark finished his essay, tidies his room, and went out for supper.
Correct: Mark finished his essay, tidied his room, and went out for supper.
subject-verb agreement-singular subjects need singular verbs, plural subjects need plural
verbs
~My brother is a nutritionist.
~My sisters are mathematicians.
6. Frequently Misused Words
Fewer:
Less:
Vocabulary
Fluctuate, conduct, valid
1. In the spring, the weather temperatures are constantly
________________________.
2. The children’s ______________ was outstanding on the field trip.
3. The scientists agreed that the results from the experiment were
_____________.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Cred/fac (to believe, to make)
Incredulous
Credence
Discredit
Facilitate
Manufacture
Grammar:
pronouns: word that takes the place of a noun
~Mom and I went to the front door to greet them.
subjective pronouns: used when the noun is the subject, replaces noun; I, you,
he, it
~He stole the expensive jewels.
objective pronouns: acts as the object of the sentence, receives the action, me
us, you;
~Take a picture of him.
7. Frequently Misused Words
who:
whom:
Vocabulary
intrinsic, justify, redundant
1. The student had the _______________ motivation to do his best work;
he didn’t need a candy reward.
2. The student tried to _______________ his action to the principal.
3. Please stop me if I become __________________ or bore you with the
details of the plan.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Duc/sequ (lead, follow)
Introduction
Educate
Sequel
Sequence
Consequence
Grammar:
subjective pronouns: used when the noun is the subject, replaces noun; I, you,
he, it
~He stole the expensive jewels.
objective pronouns: acts as the object of the sentence, receives the action, me
us, you;
~Take a picture of him.
8. Frequently Misused Words
lose:
loose:
Vocabulary
Juvenile, keen, relevant
1. She's a very _______________ observer of the political world.
2. His ________________________ tantrums were not appropriate for his
age.
3. Make sure that your details are _________________ to the main idea.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Bene (good); mal (bad)
Benefit
Beneficial
Dismal
Malice
Maltreated
Grammar:
Possessive Pronouns- demonstrate ownership; my, mine, our, ours, its, his, her,
hers, their, theirs, your, yours, whose, one’s
~The book on the table is hers.
9. Frequently Misused Words
who:
which:
that:
Vocabulary
Manipulate, mediate
1. Sometimes people will __________________ you for their benefit.
2. Sometimes you need to ____________________ a disagreement
between friends.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Omni/poly (all, much or many)
Omniscient
Omnivore
Omnipotent
Polygon
Polysemous
Grammar:
vague pronouns- when a pronoun does not refer back to a noun in the sentence
~Incorrect: Harry was always late for class. It drove his teacher crazy.
~Correct: Harry was always late for class, and this habit of his drove his teacher
crazy.
10. Frequently Misused Words
accept:
except:
Vocabulary
Negate, neutral, interpretation
1. The penalty flag thrown will ___________ any benefit that could be
gained from this play.
2. We need a _________________ party to help decide this issue.
3. Your _________________ of the theme of the story may be very different
than mine.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
Corp (body), cap (head)
Corpse
Corporation
Incorporate
Decapitate
Capitalization
Grammar: REVIEW cycles 6-9
subjective pronouns: used when the noun is the subject, replaces noun; I, you,
he, it
~He stole the expensive jewels.
objective pronouns: acts as the object of the sentence, receives the action, me
us, you;
~Take a picture of him.
Possessive Pronouns- demonstrate ownership; my, mine, our, ours, its, his, her,
hers, their, theirs, your, yours, whose, one’s
vague pronouns- when a pronoun does not refer back to a noun in the sentence
~Correct: Harry was always late for class, and this habit of his drove his teacher
crazy.
20. Frequently Misused Words
whether:
weather:
Vocabulary
convey, acronym, claim
4. She was excited to ____________ the details of the upcoming vacation.
5. The ______________ SWEBS means School Wide Effective Behavior
Support.
6. The settlers came to America to ____________ their land.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
-al/-ial (relating to)
fictional
crucial
personal
-ion (action or condition)
instruction
integration
19. Frequently Misused Words
where:
wear:
were:
we’re:
Vocabulary
sufficient
1. There was a ______________ amount of details used in the literary
essay.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
suf-/sup- (under/below)
*assimilated prefix is sub-
suffocate
suffrage
suffix
support
supplement
Grammar: SPIRAL REVIEW
18. Frequently Misused Words
coarse:
course:
Vocabulary
abstract, concrete, emerge
1. The detective was looking for _____________ evidence.
2. The ____________ piece of art was interpreted differently by the students.
3. Suddenly, the diver ___________ from the ocean.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
il-/im- (in, into, on)
*assimilated prefix is in-
Impulse
Illuminate
Import
Immerse
Illustrate
Grammar
complete sentences- must contain at least one main clause: an independent subject and
verb and expresses a complete thought
~I cannot believe that you tried one of those disgusting chocolate-broccoli muffins!
run-ons- has at least 2 parts, either one of which can stand by itself (2 independent
clauses), but the 2 parts have been put together instead of being properly together
~The sun is high, put on some sunblock. ~Fixed: The sun is high, so put on some
sunscreen.
17. Frequently Misused Words
then:
than:
Vocabulary
qualm, articulate, vernacular
1. He has no __________ about lying.
2. When giving a speech, remember to ___________ your words carefully.
3. Words can mean one thing when applied in a specialized context, and quite
another in the ______________.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
ar-/ac- (to, toward)
*assimilated prefix is ad-
Accept
Acclaim
Arrive
Arrange
Accompany
Grammar
complete sentences- must contain at least one main clause: an independent subject and
verb and expresses a complete thought
~I cannot believe that you tried one of those disgusting chocolate-broccoli muffins!
fragments- it can’t stand by itself, fails to make a complete thought
~In Japan, during the last war and just before the armistice.
16. Frequently Misused Words
which:
witch:
Vocabulary
warrant, precede, episode
1. The boy’s punishment was ____________ by his inappropriate behavior.
2. The national anthem will ___________ the basketball game.
3. The children have watched every ___________ of SpongeBob.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
co-/col- (together, with)
*assimilated prefix is con-
Cooperate
Collaborate
Compose
Collage
Collide
Grammar
Dialogue- written or spoken conversation
Dad replied, “Get your things. We’ll go now.”
She said that the puppy was really cute.
15. Frequently Misused Words
imply:
infer:
Vocabulary
utilize, wallow, technical
1. In writing class, we learn how to effectively __________ vivid words in our published
pieces.
2. Instead of studying, the boy chose to _________ in his misery because he felt like he
didn’t know anything.
3. I had a hard time understanding the ___________ language in the car manual.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
of-/op- (toward, against)
*assimilated prefix is ob-
Offend
Offense
Oppose
Oppress
Opponent
Grammar: Punctuation Review
Periods, Question marks, Exclamation points, Quotation marks, Commas
14. Frequently Misused Words
good:
well:
Vocabulary
suppress, subjective, objective
1. He tried to _____________ his cough during the movie so that he wouldn’t disturb
others around him.
2. The student was totally _____________ in his speech, clearly presenting his personal
beliefs on the topic.
3. The teacher graded the projects ____________, using the rubric he provided for the
students.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
e-/ef- (out, from, away)
*assimilated prefix is ex-
Evoke
Eliminate
Effect
Efficient
Emit
Grammar: Punctuation
Commas- used to set off nonessential information
~Edgar Allen Poe, born in Boston, was orphaned and then adopted by a family from
Virginia.
Parentheses- used to set off nonessential information or remind the reader of information
they already know
~Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) was a well-known American author.
Dashes- used to add emphasis, emotion or sudden change in thinking
~Edgar Allen Poe-the second child of two actors-was best known for his tales of tragedy
and mystery.
13. Frequently Misused Words
piece:
peace:
Vocabulary
reluctant, scheme, cite
1. When the student got home from school, he was ___________ to start his
homework because he wanted to play basketball.
2. Before the heist, the burglars formulated a ____________ to make sure they
wouldn’t get caught.
3. In your literary essay, be sure to _____________ evidence from the book and explain
your thinking clearly.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
il-/im- (not)
*assimilated prefix is in-
Illegal
Illegible
Illogical
Improper
Immature
Grammar:
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement/ Pronoun #/Person Consistency - the pronoun must
agree in number (singular/plural) with the thing to which it refers
~Ralph and Sally ate cookies and they had a glass of milk.
12. Frequently Misused Words
passed:
past:
Vocabulary
oppose, presume, jargon
1. I ______________ you're tired of getting in trouble.
2. I dared to ___________ him on the subject of his speech.
3. I was unable to decipher the doctor’s use of medical ______________.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
gen- (birth, beginning)
generate
genetic
mort- (death)
mortal
mortified
immortal
Grammar:
intensive pronouns- adds emphasis to the subject, usually found right after the noun or
pronoun it’s modifying, the way to identify an intensive pronoun is to remove it from the
sentence- it is an intensive pronoun if the sentence still makes sense.
myself, yourself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
~Did you yourself make the cake?
11. Frequently Misused Words
pair:
pear:
pare:
Vocabulary
objective, obtain
1. The teacher always writes today’s _____________ on the board.
2. You can ___________ a passing grade in school if you work hard for it.
Element/Affix Study Greek/Latin Roots:
-er/-or/-ian/-ist (one who)
Admirer
Spectator
Guardian
Pedestrian
Specialist
Grammar:
reflexive pronouns- refer back to the subject of the sentence; these pronouns are
necessary for the sentence’s meaning to be clear
myself, yourself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
~Leslie was proud of herself for earning a 100% on her geography test.