Tips Regarding Confusing Words |
CONFUSING WRITTEN WORDS: |
CONFUSING SPOKEN WORDS: |
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| The word already has to do with time. The words all ready have to do with everyone or everything totally prepared. We were already late and we were not all ready to go. | To convince is to change belief. To persuade is to change behavior. I convinced the students that learning is important. I persuaded them to finish their homework. | |
| If you mix up the words desert and dessert, remember, if it adds calories, add an s. I ate two fattening desserts for dinner last night. | The word fiscal (fis-kal) refers to money; i.e., July 1st is the end of our company's FISCAL year. The word physical (fis-i-kal) refers to the body; i.e., My yearly PHYSICAL exam is quite expensive. | |
| The
word affect is a verb: How will the decision affect us? The word effect is
usually a noun: What effect will this decision have on us? **Exception: effect can also be a verb (isn't our language wonderfully confusing?) if you mean to bring about. How will we effect the change? |
The word is specific, not "Pacific"--the Pacific is an ocean on the west coast of the United States!! | |
The word too is used when the meaning is EXTRA or MORE THAN ENOUGH: My mother went, too (she was an extra person!). I ate too much chicken (I had more than enough!). |
The word prostate (pra-STATE) refers to a gland in the male body. The word prostrate (pra-STRAIGHT) refers to lying flat. | |
| Complement means to complete. Compliment means praise or admiration. Think: I give you a compliment; those pearls really complement your outfit. | The word fewer refers to number; the word less refers to quantity. Mr. Jones has fewer students than I do; therefore, he has less work to do every weekend. | |
| The word loose means that you still have something. If it's gone, so is the extra o: My tooth is so loose that I will probably lose it the next time I try to eat. | ||