Commonly Confused Words

JSYK… 8 days until Mrs. Smith is a college graduate

capital a city that is the seat of government for the state or country; EX. Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah.

capital extremely serious EX. Capital punishment is a controversial issue.

capital money or value in business EX. The company did not have the capital it needed to expand the factory.

capital uppercase letter of the alphabet EX. You should always begin the first word of a sentence with a capital letter.

capitol the building where the legislature meets EX. The House of Representatives meet at the US Capitol.

cell the smallest part of an animal or plant; EX. The human body is composed of billions of cells.

cell a room in prison EX. The cell in the prison was small and uncomfortable.

sale getting a lower price EX. The shirt was originally $59.99 but was on sale for $4.99.

sell trade products for money EX. I decided to sell all my old clothes.

sell trade products for money EX. I decided to sell all my old clothes.

JSYK… 7 days until Mrs. Smith is a college graduate

choose to select or decide on EX. I had to choose between the brown or black boots.

chose selected in the past EX. I chose to go to the movie last night.

emigrate to exit one area or country in order to settle in another EX. I want to leave the US and emigrate to Australia.

immigrate to move into another area or country to stay EX. Many people immigrate to the US in search of a better life.

JSYK… 6 days until Mrs. Smith is a college graduate

farther distance EX. My house it farther away than yours.

further longer or more EX. Do you need further tutoring in Algebra?

knew something understood or already familiar EX. I knew all of the vocabulary words for my upcoming test.

new something just learned, created, or discovered EX. Mrs. Smith discovered new information about lizards.

new unused EX. The treadmill have never been ran on, therefore, it was new.

new opposite of old EX. I opened the packaging to my new computer.

JSYK… 5 days until Mrs. Smith is a college graduate

loose not firmly in place EX. The screw was loose on the table, so the legs came off.

loose not under control; out of control EX. The pigs ran loose from the pigsty.

lose misplace EX. I always lose my car keys in my messy room.

lose to be defeated; opposite of win EX. I think we are going to lose the football game by 10 points.

passed moved through or by; EX. We passed the Mall of America on our drive and we had to stop.

passed given away EX. We passed around the gifts in a circle.

passed met the standard EX. Grady passed the end of level test, so he was able to go to 9 th grade.

past the time before the present EX. In the past, I went to Costa Rica on vacation.

JSYK… 4 days until Mrs. Smith is a college graduate

quiet making little or no noise EX. The class was quiet as they took their vocabulary test. There was no noise.

quit to stop doing EX. John quit his job because the company decided not to pay him. s

quite very or extremely; exactly EX. I am quite upset that none of you followed directions on the worksheet.

their a possessive – belongs to them EX. Amy and Fred invited me to their house yesterday.

they’re a contraction of ‘they are’ EX. They’re going to the store tomorrow.

there a place EX. Please go over there.

JSYK… 3 days until Mrs. Smith is a college graduate

weak not strong EX. Mrs. Smith was so weak that she couldn’t even lift a 5lb weight.

week a period of 7 days EX. I am going bowling on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week.

to direction, preposition EX. I need to go to the store to buy food for my husband.

too also, excessive, very, adverb EX. I have too much homework; it is going to take me all day.

then next EX. I need to go workout then drink a protein shake.

then following EX. The rain stopped and then started again.

then in that case EX. If there are only two people in the car then I will go.

then telling when something happened EX. My dad asked me to pick him up at 6pm, so I will go to get him then.

then therefore EX. Jane wants to do it so then let her.

than a conjunction linking two parts of a sentence being compared to each other EX. I am smarter than a 5 th grader.