B1.1
ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTRE, DAWSON COLLEGE
CONFUSING WORD PAIRS
Some of the most common errors in student writing involve confusion about words that look or
sound alike. Even common terms such as were and where can create difficulties. Teachers
regard these mistakes as faults in word usage—more serious than simple spelling errors. Note
that your computer’s spell-check system will not catch these errors.
Here are some common examples of confusing word pairs (and threesomes) along with some
tips on how to remember which word is which.
THEIR / THERE / THEY’RE
there:
(refers to place)
There are three problems
their:
(possessive pronoun)
Their class is interesting.
they’re
(contraction of they are)
I used to live there.
We found their books.
They’re all taking the same course.

There is the opposite of here, and the spelling pattern of both words is the same.

Their is the possessive form of they, formed by adding an R (just as your is formed by adding R to
you). However, in this case, the Y shifts to I, and they becomes their (not theyr).

In they’re, the apostrophe indicates a missing letter, identifying this word as a contraction.
ITS / IT’S
its:
(possessive pronoun)
Its wheels fell off.
The tree lost its leaves.
it’s:
(contraction)
It’s time to go.
It’s been nice to meet you.

Its is a possessive pronoun (like his, your, my, etc.). No possessive pronouns have apostrophes.

It’s is a contraction (short for “it is” or “it has”). A contraction always requires an apostrophe.
WHOSE / WHO’S
whose:
(possessive pronoun)
who’s:
(contraction of who is)
Whose pen is this?
The man whose son was born…
Who’s arriving today?
Tell us who’s responsible.

Whose is a possessive pronoun (just like his, your, my, etc.) and thus has no apostrophe.

Who’s is a contraction (short for “who is”), and like all contractions, requires an apostrophe.
LOSE / LOOSE
lose:
(verb)
They mustn’t lose the game.
I always lose my keys.
loose:
(adjective)
A loose shirt is comfortable.
My fan belt is loose.

To lose is the verb—with an irregular spelling (the single O), but the adjective loose follows the
expected spelling pattern.
[Memory Aid: In the word lose, you lose an O.]
AFFECT / EFFECT
affect
(verb)
The changes don’t affect me.
Supply often affects price.
effect
(noun)
That has no effect on me.
The effects of war are tragic.
effect
(verb)
The new government effected many changes.

The verb to affect and the noun effect are both used very often, and their related meanings make
them easy to confuse. (The verb to effect is not seen very often.)
[Memory Aid: A cause leads to an effect; the final letter of the word cause is the first letter of effect.]
THEN / THAN
then
(reference to time or sequence of events)
I planned my essay and then I wrote it.
than
(used in making a comparison)
Dawson is larger than most colleges.
LEAD / LED
lead
(verb)
Smoking can lead to cancer.
led
(past tense of the verb to lead)
lead
(noun: the metal)
The band will lead the parade.
Napoleon led his army at Waterloo.
Shields made of lead can block x-rays.
The English language includes hundreds of word pairs that cause confusion: principle and
principal, stationery and stationary, bizarre and bazaar, alter and altar, etc.
When editing, if you are in doubt about which word is correct in the context, check your dictionary;
then take a moment to make a note of the correct usage. Keep a list of troublesome words on a
file card in your dictionary for quick reference.
WM 2003