Transcript Confused and Misused Words and Phrases

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by Robin L.
Simmons.
Confused and Misused
Wor ds and Phrases
Dude, the
right
word is
affect,
with an a.
No, you’re
wrong. The
word should
be effect,
with an e.
Re c o g n i ze t h e d i s t i n c t i o n s
a m o n g r e l at e d wo r d s .
3 or more;
Among my
friends
 Among ● Between  2 only;
Between
Fred and me
Formal request;
ask permission
May I come in?
 May ● Can
Information
goes out when
you teach
 Teach ● Learn 
A person
receiving
information
learns
 Leave ● Let 
Idea that you’re
allowing
someone to do
something; I let
her go home.
Movement
away from a
place; Leave
your keys.
Form a
question, higher
possibility; I
can eat fast.
K n ow t h e d i f fe r e n c e a change t o
a s i n g l e l e t t e r c a n m a ke .
Influence in a
physical or
emotional way
City (capital of
state or country),
money, important
Rough
Change something
Not moving; still
Result of
 Affect ● Effect 
(USUALLY verb)
(USUALLY noun) something
 Capital ● Capitol 
(Proper noun)
(noun – city) or
adj.- important)
 Coarse (adj) ● Course 
(adj, n, v)
 Alter (verb)
Altar (noun) 
 Stationary ● Stationery 
(v, adv)
(adj, n)
Seat of
government of
U.S. Congress
Path, route
Religious
worship; sacrifice
Paper
To, Too, Two
• Use to as a preposition.
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.
Pr actice with w hite boar ds
 Which word has an error in each sentence?
1) I pulled out my stationary to write a letter to
leave at the altar at church.
2) I can walk to the Capital building all by
myself if you let me.
K n ow t h e d i f fe r e n c e t h at a
s i n g l e n e w l e t t e r c a n m a ke .
Wholly; to the full
extent
Before
Altogether
●
All together 
 Already ● All ready 
Past tense of
choose
 Chose ● Choose
To suffer the
deprivation of
 Lose ● Loose 
Present tense verb
Mineral (n)
Important (adj)
 Lead (v, ● Led (v)
adj, n)
Pertains to a
group
collectively
Completely
prepared
Present verb
tense
Free from
restraint
Past tense of led
K n ow t h e d i f fe r e n c e t h at a n
a postr ophe c a n m a ke .
Possessive
pronoun;
belonging to it
 Its ● It’s 
Possessive
pronoun;
belonging to
 Whose ● Who’s 
Possessive
pronoun;
belonging to
 Your ● You’re 
Contraction for
it is or it has
Contraction for
who is or
who has
whom
Contraction for
you are
you
Possessive pronouns
never contain an
apostrophe.
Contractions do
contain an apostrophe.
Don’t let these homophones
[ s o u n d a l i ke wo r d s ] c o n f u s e yo u .
Agree to or receive
 Accept ● Except 
Leave out
Past tense of pass
 Passed ● Past (n, adj,
(Verb)
prep, adv) 
Time before present;
movement
Absence of war
 Peace
Piece 
Portion (ex-pizza); join
together (ex- quilt)
Chief [person], main  Principal ● Principle  Truth or rule
To toss or fling
 Threw ● Through
(Verb)
(prep)
A certain place
 Here ● Hear 
(Adv)
(Verb)
Listen by ear
 Weak ● Week (n)
(adj)
Time period of 7
days
Fragile; not strong
Indicates passage
T here, T heir, T hey ’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.
Practice 1
My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re
they’re
A
hoping that their
their lunch
lunch stays
stays down,
down, for
for their
theirare
there
are
are
B
C
rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.
At C, you need
Is the word
there, the
confused or
expletive, or
misused at A,
placeholder,
B, or C?
form.
A.their
B.they’re
C.there
C.there
D.No change is necessary.
Practice 2
Gregory passed
passed his
his chemistry
chemistry final,
final, so
so now
now he
he
A
won’t loose
loosehis
lose
his
hisscholarship.
scholarship.
scholarship.As
As
Ashe
he
hewalked
walked
walkedpast
past
past
B
CC
the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.
A.past
B.lose
B.lose
C.passed
D.No change is necessary.
Practice 3
Mr. Ramos hopes to except
except the
accept
the bid
bid on
on the
the house.
house.
A
He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions
except retiling
except
retiling the
the master
master bathroom
bathroom since
sinceitit
B
C
would be too much work.
A.accept
A.accept
B.accept
C.sense
D.No change is necessary.
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