1. Commonly Confused Words
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2. Commonly Confused Words (continued)
Certain words in English (like advice and advise) are confusing because they sound alike and may have similar meanings. The more you practice using these words, the more you will understand the differences between them.
(See your textbook for more details and practices on commonly confused words.)
Complete the following sentences, choosing the correct word to fill in the blank:
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3. Advice/Advise I _____ you to take my _____.
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4. Answer:
I advise you to take my advice.
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5. Its/It’s ____ clear that the company improved ___ benefits.
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6. Answer: (continued 1)
It’s clear that the company improved its benefits.
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7. A/An/And
I have to write __ brainstorm ____ __ essay for my English class.
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8. Answer: (continued 2)
I have to write a brainstorm and an essay for my English class.
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9. Accept/Except
The school will _____ all students, _____ those who clearly don’t want to attend.
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10. Answer: (continued 3)
The school will accept all students, except those who clearly don’t want to attend.
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11. Affect/Effect
The side _____ of that medication may _____ your ability to drive.
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12. Answer: (continued 4)
The side effects of that medication may affect your ability to drive.
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13. Are/Our ____ the Griffins coming to ____ party?
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14. Answer: (continued 5) Are the Griffins coming to our party?
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15. By/Buy I am going to ____ every book ever written ____ Toni Morrison.
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16. Answer: (continued 6)
I am going to buy every book ever written by Toni Morrison.
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17. Conscience/Conscious
When the thief became ______ the next morning, his ______ began to nag him.
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18. Answer: (continued 7)
When the thief became conscious the next morning, his conscience began to nag him.
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19. Fine/Find
I need to _____ my glasses so that I can read the ____ print on this contract.
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20. Answer: (continued 8)
I need to find my glasses so that I can read the fine print on this contract.
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21. Your/You’re
I assume that _____ going to bring _____ books to class tomorrow.
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22. Answer: (continued 9)
I assume that you’re going to bring your books to class tomorrow.
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23. Who’s/Whose
The person _____ fingerprints are on the gun is the person _____ committed the crime.
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24. Answer: (continued 10)
The person whose fingerprints are on the gun is the person who’s committed the crime.
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25. Use/Used
I _____ to drive a small car, but now I _____ a big van because I have five children.
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26. Answer: (continued 11)
I used to drive a small car, but now I use a big van because I have five children.
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27. Knew/New I _____ that you would like the _____ teacher.
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28. Answer: (continued 12) I knew that you would like the new teacher.
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29. Know/No
You _____ that your team has ____ chance of winning this game, right?
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30. Answer: (continued 13)
You know that your team has no chance of winning this game, right?
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31. Loose/Lose
If you _____ weight, you’ll probably notice that your pants are getting _____.
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32. Answer: (continued 14)
If you lose weight, you’ll probably notice that your pants are getting loose.
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33. Mind/Mine
I don’t _____ what you do with your own money; just leave _____ alone.
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34. Answer: (continued 15)
I don’t mind what you do with your own money; just leave mine alone.
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35. Of/Have You could _____ told me that this was made _____ stone.
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36. Answer: (continued 16)
You could have told me that this was made of stone.
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37. Passed/Past
In the _____, many immigrants to America _____ through Ellis Island.
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38. Answer: (continued 17)
In the past, many immigrants to America passed through Ellis Island.
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39. Peace/Piece A quiet _____ of music always makes me feel at _____.
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40. Answer: (continued 18)
A quiet piece of music always makes me feel at peace.
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41. Principal/Principle
The ______ problem with politics is that politicians have few real ______.
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42. Answer: (continued 19)
The principal problem with politics is that politicians have few real principles.
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43. Quiet/Quite/Quit
After the band _____ playing, the party became very _____ and _____ boring.
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44. Answer: (continued 20)
After the band quit playing, the party became very quiet and quite boring.
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45. Right/Write To get the _____ job, you must _____ a good résumé.
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46. Answer: (continued 21)
To get the right job, you must write a good résumé.
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47. Set/Sit
After a long day, I just want to ____ my work aside and ____on a comfortable couch.
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48. Answer: (continued 22)
After a long day, I just want to set my work aside and sit on a comfortable couch.
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49. Suppose/Supposed
I ______ that the door was ______ to be left open for us, but we’re locked out.
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50. Answer: (continued 23)
I suppose that the door was supposed to be left open for us, but we’re locked out.
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51. Than/Then
Chris ate more _____ any of us; _____, he left the restaurant without a word.
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52. Answer: (continued 24)
Chris ate more than any of us; then he left the restaurant without a word.
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53. Their/There/They’re
_____ going to park _____ car over _____, next to the garage.
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54. Answer: (continued 25)
They’re going to park their car over there, next to the garage.
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55. Though/Through/Threw
_____ the engine was cold, he _____ the car into gear and drove _____ the snow.
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56. Answer: (continued 26)
Though the engine was cold, he threw the car into gear and drove through the snow.
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57. To/Too/Two
____ big pieces of cake were ____ much for me ____ finish after I ate all that pie.
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58. Answer: (continued 27)
Two big pieces of cake were too much for me to finish after I ate all that pie.
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