English is full of word pairs that look or sound almost the same but mean completely different things. Mixing them up is one of the most common writing mistakes \u2014 even for native speakers. The good news? Each pair has a simple trick that makes the difference stick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are 15 commonly confused English words, what each one means, an example sentence, and a memory tip you can use the next time you hesitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Affect<\/strong> is usually a verb meaning \u201cto influence.\u201d Effect<\/strong> is usually a noun meaning \u201ca result.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> The rain affected<\/em> the match. The rain had a big effect<\/em> on the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Remember A<\/strong> for Action (verb), E<\/strong> for End result (noun).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then<\/strong> is about time or sequence. Than<\/strong> is used for comparisons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Finish your work, then<\/em> relax. She is taller than<\/em> her brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> The<\/strong>n has an e<\/strong> like \u201cwhe<\/strong>n.\u201d Tha<\/strong>n has an a<\/strong> like \u201ccompa<\/strong>re.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their<\/strong> shows ownership, there<\/strong> refers to a place, and they\u2019re<\/strong> is short for \u201cthey are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> They\u2019re<\/em> leaving their<\/em> bags over there<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> If you can replace it with \u201cthey are,\u201d use they\u2019re<\/em>. \u201cThere\u201d contains \u201chere,\u201d a place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your<\/strong> shows possession. You\u2019re<\/strong> means \u201cyou are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> You\u2019re<\/em> going to love your<\/em> new phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Expand it: if \u201cyou are\u201d fits, write you\u2019re<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its<\/strong> is possessive. It\u2019s<\/strong> means \u201cit is\u201d or \u201cit has.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> It\u2019s<\/em> raining, and the dog is wagging its<\/em> tail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Possessive pronouns (his, hers, its) never take an apostrophe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lose<\/strong> (verb) means to misplace or fail to win. Loose<\/strong> (adjective) means not tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Don\u2019t lose<\/em> your keys. These jeans feel loose<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> \u201cLoose\u201d has an extra o<\/em> \u2014 it\u2019s too loose to hold it in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accept<\/strong> means to receive or agree to. Except<\/strong> means \u201cexcluding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> I accept<\/em> your offer. Everyone came except<\/em> Ram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Ex<\/strong>cept ex<\/strong>cludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A complement<\/strong> completes something. A compliment<\/strong> is praise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> The sauce complements<\/em> the rice. She gave me a kind compliment<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Comple<\/strong>ment e<\/strong>nhances\/comple<\/strong>tes; compli<\/strong>ment is what I<\/strong> like to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Principal<\/strong> means main, or the head of a school. A principle<\/strong> is a rule or belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> The principal<\/em> explained the school\u2019s guiding principles<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> A principle<\/strong> is a rule<\/strong>. The principal<\/strong> is your pal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stationary<\/strong> means not moving. Stationery<\/strong> is writing paper and supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> The bus was stationary<\/em>. I bought new stationery<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Statione<\/strong>ry is for e<\/strong>nvelopes; stationa<\/strong>ry is sta<\/strong>nding still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advice<\/strong> is a noun (a recommendation). Advise<\/strong> is a verb (to recommend).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> I advise<\/em> you to listen to her advice<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Advic<\/strong>e is a thing, like ic<\/strong>e. Advis<\/strong>e is an action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use fewer<\/strong> for things you can count, less<\/strong> for amounts you can\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Fewer<\/em> cars means less<\/em> traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Can you put a number in front of it? Use \u201cfewer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lie<\/strong> means to recline (no object). Lay<\/strong> means to put something down (needs an object).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> I need to lie<\/em> down. Lay<\/em> the book on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> You lay<\/em> something; you just lie<\/em>. (Careful: the past tense of \u201clie\u201d is \u201clay\u201d!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ensure<\/strong> means to make certain. Insure<\/strong> means to protect with an insurance policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Please ensure<\/em> the door is locked. We insured<\/em> the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> In<\/strong>sure involves an in<\/strong>surance company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Farther<\/strong> refers to physical distance. Further<\/strong> refers to extent or degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Pokhara is farther<\/em> than I thought. Let\u2019s discuss this further<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memory tip:<\/strong> Far<\/strong>ther is about far<\/strong> distances you can measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choose the correct word in each sentence (answers below):<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Then vs. Than<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Their vs. There vs. They\u2019re<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Your vs. You\u2019re<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Its vs. It\u2019s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Lose vs. Loose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Accept vs. Except<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Complement vs. Compliment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
9. Principal vs. Principle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10. Stationary vs. Stationery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
11. Advice vs. Advise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
12. Fewer vs. Less<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
13. Lie vs. Lay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
14. Ensure vs. Insure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
15. Farther vs. Further<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Quick Self-Check<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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