Commonly Misused Words
Accept/Except
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accept = to receive or agree: She accepted the award. He accepted the judge’s decision.
Affect/Effect
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affect= to influence: Will a lack of sleep affect your writing ability?
effect= result or consequence: Will a lack of sleep have an effect upon your writing
ability?
Effect= to bring about, to accomplish: Students’ efforts can often effect major changes in
university policies.
A lot/Alot
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A lot= typically used to mean a considerable quantity or extent of something: She has a
lot of money. He plays basketball a lot.
A lot= This is not a word/phrase meaning “quantity or extent”! Do not use it in such as
manner!
All ready/Already
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all ready=complete preparedness: Finally, I was all ready to go.
Already=used to express the passage of time: Everyone had already left for the party.
All together/Altogether
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all together=as a whole, summed up: All together, there are sixty-seven counties in the
state of Pennsylvania.
Altogether=completely or entirely: When Mr. Fonash goes to math class, he is altogether
baffled.
Anyone/Any One
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anyone=any person at all: Anyone who can solve this math problem deserves a prize.
Any one=refers to a specific item in a group (usually used with “of”): Any one of these
encomiums could wind up in Penn Statements.
Anyway/Any Way
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anyway=in any case, nonetheless: She did not want him to go to the movies, but he went
anyway.
Any way=any particular course, manner, or direction: Any way we choose could lead us
into a trap!
Apart/A part
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apart: separation: Sometimes it can be difficult being apart from your family.
a part: one piece of a whole, implies union: English class is a part of your college career
that you will remember forever.
Awhile/A while
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awhile=for a short time (Note: Some teachers/readers consider this to be non-standard
and incorrect): Won’t you stay awhile?
A while=a period of time (usually used with “for”): We talked for a while, then we said
goodnight.
Conscious/Conscience
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conscious= awake, perceiving: In spite of being brutally sacked, the quarterback
remained conscious.
Conscience= an obligation to be good: None of my students ever plagiarize because their
consciences won’t let them.
Farther/Further
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farther=usually refers to distance: He ran farther than he had ever run before.
further= usually refers to an extent of time or to a certain degree: Even though she was
getting tired, Susan decided to read a little further. Marie pushed herself further than she
had ever pushed herself before.
Have/of
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have=to possess; also the correct way to spell out a past tense contraction: I have five
dollars. I could’ve (could have) earned ten dollars.
of= a preposition used to indicate a variety of things (but it is not how you spell out a past
tense contraction: Should have, not should of).
Idea/Ideal
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idea=a thought, belief, or conception: Stephen had a brilliant idea – he would go to the
Writing Center for help on his paper.
Ideal=embodying a standard of excellence: Stephanie was an ideal student.
Its/It’s
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its=possessive form of it: The rhinoceros had an unusual discoloration on its horn.
It’s=contraction for “it is” or “it has”: It’s still raining. It’s been raining all semester!
Lead/Led
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lead=to guide; dense metallic element: Lead us, President Spanier! Superman can’t see
through lead.
Led=past form of “to lead”: The evidence led the jury to reach a unanimous decision of
not guilty.
Lose/Loose
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lose=to misplace; the opposite of win: Please don’t lose my ticket! I hate to lose at chess!
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Loose- to set free; not secure: After catching the squirrel, Stephen decided to set it loose.
Some students have wondered whether Mr. Fonash has a few screws loose.
Maybe/May be
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maybe=perhaps: Maybe we should wait until the rain stops.
May be=a form of the verb “be”, usually indicates possibility: This may be the Steelers
best chance to notch a win within their division.
Passed/Past
- passed=the act of passing (physically or as in an exam): Shannon passed the ball to Tiffany.
Brett passed his physical.
- past=refers to time or distance: It is past 12:20; class has begun. We are well past the late-drop
deadline.
Quiet/Quite
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quiet= not loud: On the first day of classes, students are usually very quiet.
Quite= indicating a certain degree: On the first day of classes, students are usually quite
quiet. While Stephen had worked hard on his graduate degree, he has not quite
completed it.
Than/Then
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than=used as a means of comparison, to state a preference, or a quantity: Bill Gates is
wealthier than Mr. Fonash. I would rather worms than have to sit through a math class.
Please read more than the first page of your homework.
Then=used to indicate a time other than now, a sequence in time or space, or a logical
conclusion: I don’t graduate until December, so I will start my new job then. First you
should study; then you can enjoy the weekend. If you have paid attention in class, then
the test should not be too difficult.
Threw/Through
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threw=past tense of “to throw”: Becky threw the football to Laurie.
Through=a preposition or adverb having a wide variety of uses: To get to Pittsburgh, you
usually have to pass through a tunnel (tubes). To finish his encomium, Sean worked
through the night.
Their/There/They’re
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their=possessive pronoun: The Nittany Lions will win their next game.
There=indicates a specific place: My dorm is over there.
They’re:=contraction for “they are”: They’re making dinner tonight.
To/Too/Two
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to=preposition, or the first part of an infinitive form of a verb: You came to Penn State to
receive an excellent education.
Too=very, also: I was too tired to finish writing my paper. I was hungry, too!
Two=2 (more than one, less than three): Two students are absent today.
Use to/Used to
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use to= This is not correct! But it is a common mistake – the “d” and the “t” sounds blend
together, fooling you into dropping the “d”
used to=something previously done (e.g., studied, played, performed, felt): I used to play
soccer, but now I am too old and slow! I used to have a crush on this girl from my sixthgrade science class.
We’re/Were/Where
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we’re=contraction for we are: We’re glad to help, sir.
Were=past tense of the verb “be”: We were glad to help the elderly gentleman cross the
street.
Where=location: Where did you help the old man cross the street?
Your/You’re
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your=possessive pronoun: Your shoes are untied. Made you look!
you're= contraction for “you are”: You’re walking around with your shoes untied. You’re
such a nerd!