Troublesome Words
and
Spellings
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Especially vs. Specially
Especially means
particularly, more than
others. (Roger is an
especially capable
negotiator.)
Specially means for a
specific purpose. (The
house was specially
planned for an invalid.)
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Everyone vs. Every one
Always use two words
(every one) unless
“everybody” is meant.
Then use everyone.
(Since everyone is here,
we will catalogue every
one of those books.)
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Off
Don’t use “Off of!”
Two prepositions next to
each other (off of) seldom
make for good English.
The “of” is superfluous
and should be omitted.
(Todd jumped off the
roof.)
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Passed v. Past
Try using “passed” as a
verb only, the past tense
and past participle of the
verb “pass.”
(Lane passed his driver’s
test.)
Use “pass” in all other
nonverbal functions.
(I knew him in the past.)
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Acknowledgment vs.
Acknowledgement
The preferred spelling is
“acknowledgment.”
Idiosyncrasy
The plural form of this word is
“idiosyncrasies.”
Real vs. Really
Real is an adjective
Really is an adverb.
(She played the piano really
well.)
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Sure vs. Surely
Sure is an adjective. Surely is
an adverb.
(We surely swam fast today.)
Words that are often
misspelled:
gauge and siege
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Affect vs. Effect
Affect means to influence
or to feign, and in general
usage is only a verb.
Effect is almost always
used as a noun meaning
result or impression.
Effect can be a verb,
meaning to complete, to
accomplish, or to bring
about. But, effect is
usually used as a noun.
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Example: Her new
hairstyle had an electric
effect on him.
The engineer’s illness
affected the train’s
schedule.
Effect as a verb: He
effected a change in the
scheduling.
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Different from or
Different than
Different from is
preferred. (It is different
from anything I have ever
seen.)
Different than can be
used in this way: Today’s
style of dancing is
different than it was in
Grandma’s day.
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All right or Alright
All right is two words.
Allright, all-right, and
alright are WRONG!
All together/Altogether
All together means all at
once. (We’ll now sing all
together.) Altogether
means completely. (My
supervisor is altogether
pleased.)
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Accept vs. Except
Accept: (verb) to take or
receive. (We shall accept
your offer.)
Except: (preposition)
leaving out, omit, with the
exclusion of. (There is no
one here except me.)
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Anyone vs. Any one
Anyone = Anybody
(Anyone could follow
those directions.)
Any one = Any person
of a group
(Any one of us could
have made the error.)
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Anyway vs. Any way
Anyway: (adverb) in
any case. (We can’t
spare him now
anyway.)
Any way: (way is a
noun) (If we can help
in any way, please
call.)
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Capital vs. Capitol
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Capital = sum of money
or city which is the seat of
the government.
Capitol = building
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Compliment vs.
Complement
Compliment = expression
of praise. (That was a
nice compliment you
gave her.)
Complement = that which
completes (Your
personality complements
his.)
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Counsel vs. Council vs.
Consul
Counsel = (noun) advice,
one who gives advice.
(What counsel can you
give me on this matter?
Mr. Smith is my counsel
in this case.)
Counsel = (verb) to
advise. (He counseled
me through my divorce.)
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Council = (noun) a body
of people who come
together for deliberation.
(The city council meets
tonight.)
Consul = (noun) a person
sent by a government to
look after its business
interests in another
country. (This report is
from the American consul
in Spain.)
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Every time is always two
words.
Mailbox is always one word.
Maybe vs. May be
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Maybe = (adverb) mean
perhaps (If we don’t receive a
letter, maybe we should write
him.
May be = (verb) (Mr. Brown
may be in his office tomorrow.
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Mix up vs. Mix-up
Mix up = (verb) means confuse
Mix-up = (noun) means
confusion
Past vs. Passed
Past = time gone by; gone by.
(That is past history. He ran
past me.)
Passed = moved along,
transferred (past tense of
pass) (I passed her house.)
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Paycheck, payday, payroll,
percent, postcard are each
always one word.
Principal vs. Principle
Principal = chief official of a
school; main or leading;
amount of money. (What is
your principal objection to the
plan? Don’t draw on the
principal that you have saved.)
Principal = a general truth; a
rule. (Did you follow the
principles of good etiquette?)
Certain words are notoriously
imprecise. Try to qualify
what you really mean
instead of using these
words, if possible:
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Good
Bad
Thing
Something
Interesting