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Commonly Confused Words
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A/An
1. You were supposed to take out the trash (a/an) hour ago.
2. I want to be accepted at (a/an) university.
3. Well, maybe I’ll just have (a/an) egg.
4. I’d rather watch (a/an) NFL game than an NBA game.
5. He didn’t study much and got (a/an) F on the test, while she studied hard and got (a/an) B.
Accept/Except
1. Please (accept/except) our invitation to attend the banquet.
2. Everybody (accept/except) Peter, Mary and Joseph was late for church.
3. Laurie could not (accept/except) James' declaration that he wanted to end their long romance.
4. My cousin hopes to be (accepted/excepted) to UCLA for the fall.
5. (Accept/Except) for Wednesdays, I am free every day to study after class.
Affect/Effect
1. The (affect/effect) of carefully rereading my rough draft and correcting my errors was that I earned an A
on my paper!
2. The noise in the room (affected/effected) my ability to concentrate, so I had to leave to find a quieter
spot to study.
3. The new brightly colored wallpaper (affects/effects) my mood and makes me feel happier.
4. Mary was so depressed that she showed no (affect/effect) in her emotions. She showed no emotion.
5. Taking that drug has negative (affects/effects), so I looked for another medicine.
Alot/A lot
1. It took (alot/a lot) of courage to go back to my boss and apologize for losing my temper this morning.
2. When I said bring (alot/a lot), I didn’t mean bring the whole store.
3. The newlyweds decided to buy (alot/a lot) near the wife's parents' home so that the grandchildren would
be near the grandparents.
4. The hotel had (alot/a lot) of guests staying for that wedding.
5. It took (alot/a lot) of time and energy to redo my paper, but I am glad that I did. I earned an A!
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Commonly Confused Words
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Already/All ready
1. The man was (all ready/already) to scold his little son about breaking the window when the man realized
the boy was innocent.
2. Sonya rushed home from work to prepare dinner, and was pleasantly surprised to find dinner (all
ready/already) prepared and on the table.
3. My daughter was (all ready/already) to attend UCLA when she was accepted to Cal Tech, so she
changed her mind.
4. The hungry man had (all ready/already) eaten a slice of cake, but was tempted to eat the ice cream, too.
5. Rosie bragged that she had (all ready/already) fed the dogs, swept the floor, and vacuumed the carpets
by noon time and planned to do some gardening in the afternoon.
Alright/All right
1. How come she is (alright/all right), but I’m not?
2. The dog will be (all right/alright) after he gets some food and water.
3. (Alright/All right) class, take your workbooks.
4. Is everyone (all right/alright) with eating pizza for dinner?
5. The cake is (alright/all right), but I prefer the cheesecake.
Amount/Number
1. The (amount/number) of money I spent in Maui is less than you might think.
2. A great (amount/number) of pets can drive you mad.
3. There is a large (amount/number) of furniture in the house, but very few chairs.
4. A small (amount/number) of particles were found.
5. I have seen a great (amount/number) of the movies currently in theaters.
Borrow/Lend
1. You can (borrow/lend) a pen from him.
2. I'll have to (borrow/lend) money to buy this house.
3. I can't afford to (borrow/lend) you any money.
4. He will (borrow/lend) me his car on condition that I fill it with gas.
5. He'll be happy to (borrow/lend) you a pen.
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Commonly Confused Words
Ensure/Insure/Usher/Assure
1. The gentleman in red will (ensure/assure/insure/usher) you to your seats.
2. The USDA must act to (ensure/assure/insure/usher) safety in school lunches.
3. She has not been able to (ensure/assure/insure/usher) her valuable old car.
4. Steps were taken to (ensure/assure/insure/usher) accuracy.
5. Don't (ensure/assure/insure/usher) your car for every nick and scratch.
Lead/Led
1. Will the new CEO (lead/led) by example?
2. He (lead/led) the horse to water.
3. Robert E. Lee (lead/led) the Confederate forces at Gettysburg.
4. Children can obtain (lead/led) poisoning from eating paint chips.
5. The father (lead/led) his daughter down the aisle.
Respectfully/Respectively
1. He answered the judge’s questions (respectfully/respectively).
2. The Bell Jar and “The Bells” are, (respectfully/respectively), a novel and a poem.
3. The students greeted their professor (respectfully/respectively).
4. George and Tom are my uncle and cousin, (respectfully/respectively).
5. I (respectfully/respectively) accept your opinion on this matter, though I don’t agree.
Sense/Since
1. I’ve liked you ever (sense/since) the day I met you.
2. I have missed you (sense/since) you moved to Canada.
3. I (sense/since) you are not feeling well.
4. (Sense/Since) you are pregnant, we won’t go on the roller coaster.
5. Judging by the cloudiness, I (sense/since) there will be a storm.
Seen/Saw
1. I couldn’t believe what I (seen/saw) when I opened my eyes.
2. He must have (seen/saw) you at the game last night.
3. When I (seen/saw) that old beat-up Rambler I couldn't believe my eyes.
4. We already (seen/saw) that movie.
5. I should have (seen/saw) that coming.
Review
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Commonly Confused Words
Supposed to/Suppose/Suppose to
1. I was (suppose/supposed to/suppose to) wash the dishes.
2. Mom said we’re not (suppose/supposed to/suppose to) do that!
3. Do you know what we’re (suppose/supposed to/suppose to) be doing?
4. I’m (suppose/supposed to/suppose to) go dancing Saturday.
5. I (suppose/supposed to/suppose to) we could go to the mall later.
Right/Write/Rite/Wright
1. You will need to (write/right/rite/wright) the memo again.
2. The initiation (write/right/rite/wright) needed to be witnessed.
3. You have no (write/right/rite/wright) to touch my things.
4. Getting your driver’s license is (write/right/rite/wright) of passage.
5. Make a (write/right/rite/wright) turn at the intersection.
I/Me
1. Is it possible for Brad and (I/me) to go to the store?
2. Mary and (I/me) want to go to UCLA.
3. Anne visited Kimberly and (I/me) last week.
4. It cost Sam and (I/me) fifty dollars to make that international call
5. I hope that Sandra and (I/me) will be invited too.
Its/It’s
1. The dog is eating (its/it’s) dinner.
2. I haven’t read it, but I hear (its/it’s) a good book.
3. Check to see if (its/it’s) gone.
4. The company has lost (its/it’s) license.
5. (Its/It’s) not going to happen.
Could/Should/Would/Must/Might
1. Michael Jordan said he (could of/could have) scored 100 points a game in today’s NBA.
2. I know I (should of/should have) closed the door, but I forgot.
3. He (might of/might have), but now we’ll never know.
4. They (must of/must have) worm helmets while riding their bikes.
Review
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Commonly Confused Words
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5. She said that she (would of/would have) gone with if she could.
Very/Vary
1. The price of the rooms in the hotel can (vary/very) depending on the holidays.
2. He tries to (vary/very) the menu by trying to offer something new each week."
3. The foreigner was so unsure of himself that he talked (vary/very) slowly.
4. Results may (vary/very) with daily or weekly use.
5. She was (vary/very) happy to see John.
All together/Altogether
1. The six members of the secret club decided (all together, altogether) to recruit new members.
2. Five o'clock in the morning is (all together, altogether) too early to leave a warm, cozy bed.
3. Luis, Veronica and David decided to go to the movies (all together, altogether).
4. Pizza with sausage and pepperoni is (all together, altogether) too greasy.
5. The tailor pulled the seams of the jacket (all together, altogether), stitched, cut some threads, and handed
the weary groom a new tuxedo.
Our/Are
1. The freeway was so busy last night that it took us over an hour to get to (are/our) grandma’s house.
2. The payroll office called to say that (are/our) checks would not be ready for another hour.
3. (Are/Our) you going to be free to go to the movie tonight?
4. "(Are/Our) best chance of winning at Bingo," advised the woman in the short skirt and high-heeled
shoes, "is to play three cards at once."
5. She couldn't tell if (are/our) winning was because of luck, smarts or her short skirt.
Breathe/Breath
1. Because of the foul odor filling the room, I did not want to (beathe/breath).
2. On a cold morning, we can see our (beathe/breath).
3. I am so busy that I can't even take a (beathe/breath)!
4. People who (beathe/breath) loudly may have respiratory problems.
5. He did not take a deep enough (beathe/breath) to stay under water long.
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Commonly Confused Words
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Cite/Site/Sight
1. The (cite/site/sight) for the new swimming pool was once a parking lot.
2. When writing research papers, students are required to (cite/site/sight) their sources of information.
3. As we get older, so do our bodies and the lenses of our eyes. Consequently, our (cite/site/sight) is often
affected.
4. One of the most famous Civil War battle (cite/site/sight) is Gettysburg.
5. The student reluctantly admitted that he had neglected to (cite/site/sight) the authors whose work he had
used to do research for his term paper.
Fewer/Less
1. The salad has (less/fewer) calories than that piece of pie.
2. That school had to cancel several classes because there were (fewer/less) students enrolling for the fall
semester than anticipated.
3. He owns (fewer/less) stock in that company than his stockbroker told him.
4. During the bus strike, we found there were (fewer/less) people using some bus lines than was generally
thought.
5. Because residents of the area conserved water so diligently, there is (fewer/less) chance of a water
shortage this year.
Its/It’s
1. Winter has been damp and cold, but (its/it's) nearly spring time, now.
2. The dog happily chewed (its/it's) rawhide chewy bone in the sunshine.
3. The United States has changed (its/it's) policy for immigration, and there is hope that the new
regulations will be fair for all new immigrants.
4. The little black kitten loves to fight with (its/it's) own tail, and sometimes the tail seems to win.
5. The children in Miss Moore's pre-school class love to hear that (its/it's) story time.
Loose/Lose
1. When Jim stopped eating desserts and snacks for two weeks, he began to (loose/lose) five extra pounds.
2. (Loose/lose) lips sink ships.
3. I was afraid that I would (loose/lose) my place in line, so I waited for thirty minutes before my name
was called.
4. Whenever I read a good book, I almost (loose/lose) myself in its drama.
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Commonly Confused Words
Review
5. Today's fashions call for (loose/lose) clothing, which are far more comfortable than last year's skin-tight
themes.
Passed/Past
1. Jim (passed/past) the ketchup to Susie after putting some on his French fries.
2. Howard hired a detective to investigate his fiancee's (passed/past) four months before the wedding.
3. Rosie (passed/past) the address she was looking for three times because of the tall bushes which blocked
the house numbers.
4. Theo took the California Bar Exam three several times before he (passed/past) to practice law in
California.
5. Aunt Mary loves telling us about her exciting (passed/past) as a dancer in Paris.
Precede/Proceed
1. According to organizers, three-quarters of the (precedes/proceeds) from the fundraiser will be donated to
local charities.
2. During the (precedings/proceedings) the district attorney objected only once to her adversary's line of
questioning.
3. A moment of silence in honor of the two slain activists will (precede/proceed) tomorrow's political rally.
4. You will be wise to (precede/proceed) with caution if you plan to enter unfamiliar territory.
5. Because David's reputation as a firebrand (preceded/proceeded) him, students were wary of getting too
close to him.
Quiet/Quit/Quite
1. The rowdier members of the crowd began to (quiet/quit/quite) down once they saw the riot police arrive
on the scene.
2. I found her patronizing attitude towards my ideas (quiet/quit/quite) insulting.
3. Eager to flee the hustle and the bustle of San Francisco, Kelly sought the (quiet/quit/quite) of Morro
Bay.
4. One rarely sees a performer (quiet/quit/quite) show business after scoring only one hit.
5. (Quiet/Quit/Quite) a few of Andrew's clients deserted him after he was implicated in an embezzlement
scheme.
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Commonly Confused Words
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Sit/Set
1. The five year old girl found it difficult to (sit,set) still during story time at school.
2. David carelessly (sit,set) the pork chops on the table where the dog could reach them, and it did.
3. Every applicant for the job must (sit,set) and wait for at least an hour before being interviewed.
4. Ruth says her life is so hectic now that she (sits, sets) her keys in unusual places like in the refrigerator.
5. Jerry (sit,set) his alarm for 5 a.m. so that he would not be late for his first day at his new job.
Than/Then
1. Since fewer people (than/then) expected bought tickets, the play closed after only one week.
2. If you are hoping to win a war against drugs by attacking only the supply and ignoring the demand,
(than/then) you will be achieving only part of your goal.
3. It had taken months to plan everything for our trip to New Orleans; (than/then), at the last minute,
because of the strike, our flights were cancelled.
4. It would be safer for the group of us to explore the caves (than/then) for each of us to go in alone.
5. I climbed into the car;(than/then), after I strapped myself in, I realized that I had left my satchel on the
hood.
Their/There/They’re
1. (Their/There/They're) are three of us who comprise the carpool.
2. So that (their/there/they're) is no confusion, Patricia does not speak with a French accent because she
was reared in Paris, Texas.
3. If you want proof of the predictability of human behavior, just drive along any freeway. I guarantee you
will find that, at the first sign of carnage, most drivers will crane (their/there/they're) necks in hopes of
getting a better view of it.
4. (Their/There/They're) all going to the street fair, despite the fact that forecasters predict it will rain.
5. Is (their/there/they’re) any way you can help me?
Threw/Through/Thorough/Thru/Though
1. Given all that Micki has been (threw/through/thorough/thur/though) this year, we all were surprised
when she volunteered to throw the baby shower for Lisa.
2. Ike (threw/through/thorough/thru/though) caution to the wind and paraglided off the roof of the twentystory office building, only to get caught on a scaffold halfway down.
3. If you can suffer (threw/through/thorough/thru/though) the trials and tribulations of college, you can
control your own destiny.
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Commonly Confused Words
Review
4. Unaware that Michael was waiting for her response, Erin merely glanced at the card he had left on her
desk and (threw/through/thorough/thru/though) it in the wastebasket.
5. (Threw/Through/Thorough/Thru/Though) no fault of her own, the senatorial candidate was forced out of
the race when news spread that her campaign manager was arrested for soliciting a prostitute.
To/Too/Two
1. (To/Too/Two) many of his peers, Sean seemed to lack the commitment he needed to become a serious
artist.
2. We are far (to/too/two) willing to accept from our friends the type of treatment that we would not think
of tolerating from our enemies.
3. I admit that I desire your affection, but I refuse (to/too/two) beg you for it.
4. There are (to/too/two) things of which I am certain; the moment they become crystallized in my mind, I
will reveal them to you.
5. Having squandered (to/too/two) much money on their wedding, Annie and Andy had little left over for
their honeymoon.
Waist/Waste
1. Vivien Leigh, the star in the original "Gone with the Wind" film, was famous for her 18-inch
(waist/waste).
2. Ecologists and conservationists are always urging people not to (waist/waste) anything that is made of a
natural product.
3. Please do not throw your empty plastic water bottles into the (waist/waste) basket. Please put them in the
recycle bin.
4. Jenna took her jeans to the tailor to have them re-hemmed and to have the (waistband/wasteband) altered
since she had lost ten pounds.
5. At a garage sale, possessions that are (waists/wastes) to a seller wanting to get rid of things are bargains
to a buyer looking for treasures.
Wear/Were/Where/We’re
1. (Wear/Were/Where/We’re) there a better way to combat the problem, I assure you that I would choose a
different solution.
2. Since we obviously do not know (wear/were/where/we’re) to go from here, should not we stop and ask
someone for directions?
3. We will leave for vacation as soon as (wear/were/where/we’re) all ready.
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Commonly Confused Words
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4. I never guessed that the reason you rarely said a word to me was that you (wear/were/where/we’re) shy.
I just assumed you disliked me.
5. Since the party is an informal one, feel free to (wear/were/where/we’re) whatever suits you.
Weather/Whether/Wether
1. The (weather/whether/wether) was standing next to the goat in the barn.
2. Some people prefer to read reviews or to poll their friends before they decide (wether/weather/whether)
or not they should see a film.
3. It remains to be seen (wether/weather/whether) this latest applicant is the best person qualified for the
position.
4. We have seen our neighborhood (wether/weather/whether) several changes over the years, everything
from devaluation to gentrification.
5. I changed my shirt when I found out the (weather/whether/wether) was going to be warmer than
expected.
Your/You’re
1. Since (your/you're) the one who knows these woods best, can you tell me how far we are from the main
highway?
2. I have not the foggiest idea how long the two of them will stay together; (your/you're) guess is as good
as mine.
3. There are three topics that (your/you're) not supposed to discuss in a social setting: politics, religion, and
sex.
4. If (your/you're) inclined to pay compliments to people with whom you have no acquaintance, be
prepared to suffer the consequences if the people to whom you pay them take offense.
5. (Yours/You’res) is a style for which there is no categorization.