1. chomp!
chomp!
This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2015 by Robin L. Simmons.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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?

6. 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!

7. 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!

8. 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!

9. 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.

10. 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?

11. 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

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

13. The word formerly means “previously,” or “done in the past.”
Formally vs. Formerly
The word formally means “in a proper or dignified manner,” or “according to strict rules.”
Did you dress formally for the party or wear everyday clothing?
The word formerly means “previously,” or “done in the past.”
The lake was formerly a valley.

14. The word passed means “went by, beyond, over, or through.”
Passed vs. Past
The word passed means “went by, beyond, over, or through.”
He passed the last car before reaching the checkered flag.
The word past means “time gone by,” “of a former time,” or “beyond.”
He told stories about the past.
He has missed the past two days.
He walked right past the snake.

15. Assure, ensure, insure
Assure is a verb meaning “to make certain by removing doubt or suspense; to promise.”
I assure you that will not happen again!
• Ensure is a verb meaning “to make certain by protecting; to guarantee.”
The First Amendment ensures the freedom of speech.
• Insure is a verb meaning “to arrange for monetary payment in case of loss, etc.”
What is the cost to insure both vehicles?

16. Between vs. Among
Whether you choose between two evils or among them depends on the number of evils.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea. (Between usually is the choice as an object of the preposition when choosing between two).

17. Between vs. Among (cont.)
I must choose among The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
(Among is usually, but not always, required for three or more)
Between usually carries a more “one-on-one” connotation than among:
Differing ideologies have caused wars between nations, but a common enemy may yet bring peace among them.

18. Lay vs. Lie
Lay is a verb that means “to put [something] in its place.” The past tense is laid.
Lay the napkins on the table, if they’ve not already been laid.

19. Lay vs. Lie (cont.)
• Lie means “to rest, “to recline,” or “to be in a certain place.” It does not take a direct object.
I might go lie down. I’m not feeling well.
The present participle is lying.
I left the napkin lying on the table.
One problem is that lay is the past tense of lie.
The seed lay on the ground.
Lain is the past participle of lie.
The seed had lain on the ground without watering, so it died.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. LESS OR FEWER ?
There are two people
in this picture.
There are four people
in this.
Are there less in the first picture or fewer?

23. LESS OR FEWER ?
There are fewer people in this picture.

24. LESS OR FEWER?
We use the word ‘fewer’ when talking about numbers.
There are two people in the first picture. That is two fewer than the second picture.

25. LESS OR FEWER ?
We use ‘less’ when talking about mass:
There was a huge
crowd at the football
match on Saturday.

26. LESS OR FEWER ?
BUT
There was less of a
crowd in the party on
Saturday evening.

27. LESS OR FEWER ?
So…..
When you are comparing a number of items use ‘fewer’.
When you compare mass, use ‘less’.

28. At many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary!

29. 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!

30. 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!

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

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

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