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Confused and Misused Words and Phrases Dude, the right word is affect, with an a. No, you’re wrong. The word should be effect, with an e.

Dude, that’s advises, with an s, not a c. This presentation advices you on words or phrases that are commonly misused or confused. Dude, that’s advises, with an s, not a c.

On an objective test, an item evaluating the skill might look like this . . .

Sample Item My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re A hoping that their lunch stays down, for there are B C rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen. their they’re there No change is necessary. My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re A hoping that their lunch stays down, for their are B C rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen. their they’re there No change is necessary. My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re hoping that their lunch stays down, for their are rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen. their they’re there No change is necessary. At C, you need there, the expletive, or placeholder, form. Is the word confused or misused at A, B, or C?

Recognize misspelled/correctly spelled words and phrases. X Alright ● All right Alot A lot Rite Right, write Should of Should have Suppose to Supposed to X X X X Spelled wrong! Spelled correctly!

Recognize the distinctions among related words. 3 or more; Among my friends  Among ● Between  2 only; Between Fred and me Noncount; Amount of butter  Amount Number  Count; Number of cookies Adjective; A good essay  Good Well  Adverb; He writes well. Evident, unambiguous  Explicit Implicit  Implied, ambiguous Know these differences!

Know the difference that a single new letter can make. Before a word beginning with a consonant [sound]  A ● An  Before a word beginning with a vowel [sound] Before  Already All ready  Completely prepared A thought or conception  Idea Ideal  The concept of something perfect To suffer the deprivation of  Lose Loose  Free from restraint Verb; past tense of are  Were Where  A place More to learn!

Know the difference that an apostrophe can make. Possessive pronoun; belonging to it  Its ● It’s  Contraction for it is or it has Possessive pronoun; belonging to whom  Whose Who’s  Contraction for who is or who has Possessive pronoun; belonging to you  Your You’re  Contraction for you are Possessive pronouns never contain an apostrophe. Contractions do contain an apostrophe.

Know the difference a change to a single letter can make. Noun form  Advice ● Advise  Verb form Usually a verb  Affect Effect  Usually a noun City, wealth, important  Capital Capitol  The building for lawmaking To quote  Cite Site  A location Rough  Coarse Course  Path, route Praise  Compliment Complement  Goes well with Put in place  Set Sit  Be seated Unchanging  Stationary Stationery  Paper Indicates comparison  Than Then  Next Why is English so complicated?

Don’t let these homonyms [sound alike words] confuse you. Agree to or receive  Accept ● Except  Leave out Plural present of the verb be  Are Our  Possessive pronoun; belonging to us Past tense of pass  Passed Past  Gone, by Go before  Precede Proceed  Carry on Chief [person], main  Principal Principle  Truth or rule Correct, a just claim, a direction  Right Write  Make letters with an instrument Sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste  Sense Since  Adverb, conjunction, or preposition View, glimpse  Sight Site  A location Past tense of throw  Threw Through  Beyond State of the atmosphere  Weather Whether  Introduces an alternative

My brain is getting full! Relax, dude, we’re almost there!

To, Too, Two Use to as a preposition. Use to to begin an infinitive. Jonathan drove to the seafood shop. Use to to begin an infinitive. He hoped to buy fresh squid. Use too to show degree. The squid was too expensive to purchase. Use too as a synonym for also. So too was the fresh octopus. Use two when you mean the number. Jonathan bought two flounder filets instead.

There, Their, They’re Use there as an expletive, a placeholder to delay the subject. There is a turtle in the road. Use there to indicate place. Across the road is a lake. The turtle hopes to get there before a car hits him. Use their as a possessive pronoun. Most drivers don’t see the turtle; their eyes are glued to their cell phones. Use they’re as a contraction for they are. They’re also distracted by other devices, like the radio and navigation system.

At many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary!

When in doubt, rely on “gut” feelings. Your eyes have seen in print — and your brain has registered — all of the possible words that you will encounter for this skill. If you don’t recognize the right answer, go with the one that feels right. Hey, I’ve seen that word before!

Let’s see what you can do! Quick Test Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.” Your turn! Let’s see what you can do!

Item 1 Even though we warned Jake not to eat a whole A pie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and B proceeded to consume slice after slice. C whole set preceded No change is necessary. Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole pie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and proceeded to consume slice after slice. whole set preceded No change is necessary. Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole A pie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and B proceeded to consume slice after slice. C whole set preceded No change is necessary.

Item 2 Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe A laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. B His fashion sense is gradually improving. C complement compliment sense No change is necessary. Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. His fashion since is gradually improving. complement compliment sense No change is necessary. Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe A laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. B His fashion since is gradually improving. C complement compliment sense No change is necessary.

Item 3 If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of A B hotdog buns. Then we can grill the sausage for C dinner. buy by Then No change is necessary. If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of hotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for dinner. buy by Then No change is necessary. If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of A B hotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for C dinner. buy by Then No change is necessary.

Item 4 Heed my advice, and don’t lose your receipt. A B The college bookstore will not accept any excuse C if you need to return those books. advise lose except No change is necessary. Heed my advice, and don’t loose your receipt. The college bookstore will not accept any excuse if you need to return those books. advise lose except No change is necessary. Heed my advice, and don’t loose your receipt. A B The college bookstore will not accept any excuse C if you need to return those books. advise lose except No change is necessary.

Item 5 The herd of gazelle leaped through the air as A B the animals tried to elude the cheetah. C herd threw allude No change is necessary. The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as the animals tried to elude the cheetah. herd threw allude No change is necessary. The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as A B the animals tried to elude the cheetah. C herd threw allude No change is necessary.

Item 6 Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he may be A B flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way, don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness. C May be may be except No change is necessary. Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way, don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness. May be may be except No change is necessary. Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe A B flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way, don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness. C May be may be except No change is necessary.

Item 7 When there are fewer students in a class, the A B professor has fewer worries that everyone is C getting individual attention. their less fewer No change is necessary. When there are fewer students in a class, the professor has less worries that everyone is getting individual attention. their less fewer No change is necessary. When there are fewer students in a class, the A B professor has less worries that everyone is C getting individual attention. their less fewer No change is necessary.

Item 8 We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for A the charity event, but today we’re exhausted after B spending all night preparing the desserts. C we’re were deserts No change is necessary. We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for the charity event, but today we’re exhausted after spending all night preparing the desserts. we’re were deserts No change is necessary. We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for A the charity event, but today we’re exhausted after B spending all night preparing the desserts. C we’re were deserts No change is necessary.

Item 9 Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he A won’t lose his scholarship. As he walked past B C the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake. past lose passed No change is necessary. Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he won’t loose his scholarship. As he walked past the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake. past lose passed No change is necessary. Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he A won’t loose his scholarship. As he walked past B C the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake. past lose passed No change is necessary.

Item 10 Mr. Ramos hopes to accept the bid on the house. A He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions except retiling the master bathroom since it B C would be too much work. accept sense No change is necessary. Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house. He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions except retiling the master bathroom since it would be too much work. accept sense No change is necessary. Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house. A He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions except retiling the master bathroom since it B C would be too much work. accept sense No change is necessary.

Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and exercises on commonly confused words. Go to chompchomp.com! chomp! chomp!

Watch where you’re going, fool! The End. Watch where you’re going, fool!