2.1 Commonly Confused Words
Just as a mason uses bricks to build sturdy homes, writers use words to build successful documents. Consider the construction of a building. Builders need to use tough, reliable materials to build a solid and structurally sound skyscraper. From the foundation to the roof and every floor in between, every part is necessary. Writers need to use strong, meaningful words from the first sentence to the last and in every sentence in between.
You already know many words that you use every day as part of your writing and speaking vocabulary. You probably also know that certain words fit better in certain situations. Letters, emails, and even quickly jotted grocery lists require the proper selection of vocabulary. Imagine you are writing a grocery list to purchase the ingredients for a recipe but accidentally write down cilantro when the recipe calls for parsley. Even though cilantro and parsley look remarkably alike, each produces a very different effect in food. This seemingly small error could radically alter the flavour of your dish!
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Having a solid everyday vocabulary will help you while writing, but learning new words and avoiding common word errors will make a real impression on your readers. Experienced writers know that deliberate, careful word selection and usage can lead to more polished, more meaningful work. This chapter covers word choice and vocabulary-building strategies that will improve your writing.
Commonly Confused Words
Some words in English cause trouble for speakers and writers because they share a similar pronunciation, meaning, or spelling with another word. These words are called commonly confused words. For example, read aloud the following sentences containing the commonly confused words new and knew:
I liked her new sweater.
I knew she would wear that sweater today.
These words may sound alike when spoken, but they carry entirely different usages and meanings. New is an adjective that describes the sweater, and knew is the past tense of the verb to know. To read more about adjectives, verbs, and other parts of speech see Section 3.1: Sentence Writing.
Recognizing Commonly Confused Words
New and knew are just two of the words that can be confusing because of their similarities. Familiarize yourself with the following list of commonly confused words. Recognizing these words in your own writing and in other pieces of writing can help you choose the correct word to avoid confusing the reader and, ultimately, being incorrect in your writing.
Commonly Confused Words
A, An, And
A (article). Used before a word that begins with a consonant.a key, a mouse, a screen
An (article). Used before a word that begins with a vowel.an airplane, an ocean, an igloo
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And (conjunction). Connects two or more words together.peanut butter and jelly, pen and pencil, jump and shout
Accept, Except
Accept (verb). Means to take or agree to something offered.They accepted our proposal for the conference.
Except (conjunction). Means only or but.We could fly there except the tickets cost too much.
Affect, Effect
Affect (verb). Means to create a change.Hurricane winds affect the amount of rainfall.
Effect (noun). Means an outcome or result.The heavy rains will have an effect on the crop growth.
Are, Our
Are (verb). A conjugated form of the verb to be.My cousins are all tall and blonde.
Our (pronoun). Indicates possession, usually follows the pronoun we.We will bring our cameras to take pictures.
By, Buy
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By (preposition). Means next to.My glasses are by the bed.
Buy (verb). Means to purchase.I will buy new glasses after the doctor’s appointment.
Its, It’s
Its (pronoun). A form of it that shows possession.The butterfly flapped its wings.
It’s (contraction). Joins the words it and is.It’s the most beautiful butterfly I have ever seen.
Know, No
Know (verb). Means to understand or possess knowledge.I know the male peacock sports the brilliant feathers.
No. Used to make a negative.I have no time to visit the zoo this weekend.
Loose, Lose
Loose (adjective). Describes something that is not tight or is detached.Without a belt, her pants are loose on her waist.
Lose (verb). Means to forget, to give up, or to fail to earn something.She will lose even more weight after finishing the marathon training.
Of, Have
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