CONFUSING WORDS
* Tr y to learn a
way to make
sure you are
using these
words correctly
in your
writing.*
ACCEPT
EXCEPT
In 1964, Dr. Mar tin Luther King,
Jr., accepted the Nobel Prize for
peace.
Everyone except Ruben will
be there.
 verb
 To receive with consent
 To give approval to
 verb
 To leave out from a
group
 But; other than
ADVICE
Advice may be easy to give
but hard to follow.
 noun
 A recommendation
about a course of
action
ADVISE
I advise you to continue
your music lessons.
 verb
 To recommend
 To give advice
AFFECT
The volcanic eruption af fected the
sunsets all over the world.
 Verb
 To influence
 To produce an effect
upon
EFFECT
The phases of the moon
have an effect on the tide.
 Noun
 The result of an action
 A consequence
ALL READY
The players are all ready
for the big game.
 Adjective
 all prepared
ALREADY
Our class has already had
two tests.
 Adverb
 previously
ALL RIGHT
Was my answer all right?
 Adjective
 Satisfactory
Maria did all right in the
track meet.
 Adverb
 Satisfactorily; in a
satisfactory manner
ALTAR
The altar was covered with
lilies.
 Noun
 A table for a religious
ceremony
ALTER
The outcome of the election
may alter the mayor’s plans.
 Verb
 To change
ALL TOGETHER
The family was all together,
then.
 Adjective
 In the same place; at
the same time
ALTOGETHER
Nina seemed altogether
thrilled to see us.
 Adverb
 Entirely; completely
BRAKE
Can you fix the brake on my
bicycle?
 Noun
 A device to stop a
machine
BREAK
A high-pitched noise can
break glass.
 Verb
 To fracture; to shatter
CAPITAL
Olympia is the capital of
Washington state.
 Noun
 A city; the seat or
central location of a
government
CAPITOL
Where is the capitol in
Albany?
 Noun
 A building; a
statehouse
CHOOSE
Did you choose photography
or ar t as your elective?
 Verb (rhymes with
whose)
 To select
CHOSE
Sara chose a red pen, not a
blue one.
 Verb (rhymes with
grows)
 Selected --- past tense
CLOTHES
Patsy has the most stylish
clothes.
 Noun
 apparel
CLOTHS
Some cleaning cloths are
stored in the closet.
 Noun
 Pieces of fabric
COARSE
The beach is covered with
coarse brown sand.
 Adjective
 Rough; crude
COURSE
If you follow that course,
you will succeed.
 Noun
 Path of action; unit of
study; route
COMPLEMENT
COMPLIMENT
The chef’s kitchen contains a
full complement of appliances.
The ambassador paid Susan a
compliment for her quick thinking.
 Noun
 Something that
completes or makes
perfect
 Verb
 To complete or make
perfect
 Noun
 A remark that
expresses approval,
praise or admiration
 Verb
 To praise
CONSUL
COUNCIL
COUNSEL
Who is the Guatamalan The mayor called
consul in Miami?
a meeting of the
city safety council.
Seek counsel
from more
experienced
people.
Noun
Noun
Noun
A representative of a
Government in a foreign
country
A group of people
who meet together
Advice
Verb
to give advice
COUNCILOR
The councilors discussed
several issues of importance.
 Noun
 Member of a council
COUNSELOR
Who is your guidance
counselor?
 Noun
 One who advises
DESERT
DESERT
DESSERT
The Sahara is the
largest desert in
Africa.
Most dogs will not
desert a friend in
trouble.
Fruit salad is
my favorite
dessert.
Noun
Verb
Noun
a dry, sandy region
to abandon; to leave
the sweet,
final course
of a meal
FORMALLY
The mayor delivered the
speech formally.
 Adverb
 with dignity; according
to strict rules or
procedures
FORMERLY
Mr. Crane was formerly the
principal of the school.
 Adverb
 Previously; in the past
HEAR
I can hear you all the way
down the hall.
 Verb
 To receive sounds
through the ears
HERE
The treasure is buried here.
 Adverb
 In this place
ITS
Mount Fuji is noted for its
beauty.
 Possessive form of it
 Belonging to it
IT’S
It’s a good idea to relax.
 Contraction of it is or it
has
LEAD
Grace often leads
the band in the
annual parade.
Verb (rhymes with
feed)
To go first; to be
a leader
LED
LEAD
Mr. Troy led the troop
Many fishing
back to the campground. nets are
weighted with
lead so they
sink to the
bottom.
Verb (past tense of lead) Noun (rhymes
with red)
went first
a heavy metal
graphite in a
pencil
LOOSE
Harry’s tooth was loose.
 Adjective (rhymes with
moose)
 Not securely attached;
not fitting tightly
LOSE
Vegetables lose some of their
vitamins when they are cooked.
 Verb (rhymes with
whose)
 To suffer loss
PASSED
PAST
The people in the car waved
as they passed us.
Some people long to learn
about the past.
 Verb
 Past tense of pass
 Went by
 Noun
 That which has gone by
 Preposition
 Beyond
 Adjective
 Ended
PEACE
Creating world peace is a
challenge we all face.
 Noun
 Security and quiet order
PIECE
I would love a piece of pie
for dessert.
 Noun
 A part of something
PLAIN
The plain costumes did not
draw the audience’s attention.
 Adjective
 Simple; common;
unadorned
PLANE
I learned to fly a plane
when I was only sixteen.
 Noun
 A tool; an airplane; a
flat surface
PRINCIPAL
Mr. Greenland is our
building’s principal.
 Noun
 The head of a school
 Main or most important
PRINCIPLE
Honesty is a principle I
believe in.
 Noun
 A rule of conduct
 A main fact or law
QUIET
Let’s find a quiet room in
which to study.
 Adjective
 Still and peaceful
 Without noise
QUITE
Winters in New England can
be quite severe.
 Adverb
 Wholly or entirely
 To a great extent
SHONE
The jeweler polished the
silver until it shone.
 Verb (past tense of
shine)
 Gleamed; glowed
SHOWN
The model of the building will be
shown to the public next week .
 Verb (past tense of
show)
 Revealed
STATIONARY
STATIONERY
The items in the space station
or mostly stationary.
I need a new box of stationery
to write thank you letters.
 Adjective
 In a fixed position
 Noun
 Writing paper
THAN
My dog is bigger than your
dog.
 Conjunction – used to
compare
 In comparison to
THEN
If we are awake by six, we
will leave then.
 Adverb
 At that time
THEIR
THERE
THEY’RE
My neighbors sold their
house.
We will travel
there this fall.
I heard they’re
moving to France.
Possesive pronoun
Adverb
Contraction
Belonging to them
at or in that place
they are
THREW
Jose’ threw the ball to
Trevor.
THROUGH
We traveled through the
Panama Canal.
 Verb (past tense of
throw)
 Preposition
 Tossed
 Pitched
In one side and out the
other
Across
TO
TOO
TWO
I began my letter to
Milly.
I am too hungry
To wait for supper.
We found two
lost kittens.
Preposition
adverb
noun
In the direction of;
Toward
also
more than enough
number
adjective
one more
than one
WAIST
These pants are too loose
in the waist.
 Noun
 The middle part of the
body
WASTE
Most of the waste can be
recycled.
 Noun
 Unused material
 Verb
 To squander
WEAK
Our patient is too weak to
have visitors.
 Adjective
 Not strong; feeble
WEEK
At the end of the week, we
will have a quiz.
 Noun
 Seven day period of
time
WEATHER
The weather is hot and
humid in summer.
 Noun
 Condition of the air or
atmosphere
WHETHER
Jessica wondered whether
she should go.
 Conjuction
 If
WHO’S
WHOSE
Who’s representing the
yearbook at the meeting?
Whose shoes are these?
 Contraction
 Possessive form of who
 Who is or Who has
 Belonging to whom
YOUR
Your hard work is obvious.
 Possessive form of you
YOU’RE
I heard you’re joining the
club!
 Contraction
 You are