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AFFECT/EFFECT

Effect (as a noun) means a result, consequence,impression etc. As verbs they are used differently,Affect means to produce an effect upon, effect meansto bring about.

AGGRAVATE and IRRITATE

Aggravate makes a situation worse. Irritate means toannoy.

ALL RIGHT

Always two words, never "alright".

ALL TOGETHER and ALTOGETHER

All together means all at the same time. Altogether means entirely.

ALTERNATE/ALTERNATIVE

In British English alternate means "every other"whereas alternative means "available as another choice", however in American usage alternate can beused to mean "available as another choice".

ANTISOCIAL/UNSOCIABLE/UNSOCIAL

There is some overlap in meaning but, in general,antisocial describes behaviour which harms society,unsociable refers to someone who dislikes the

company of others and unsocial is used in phrasessuch as "working unsocial hours" meaning outsidenormal working hours. Unsociable can also be used inthis phrase but unsocial is preferable.

ANYONE/ANY ONE

Anyone is only written as two words to emphasisenumerical aspects e.g. "any one of us could go", at allother times it is written as one word.

ASSUME and PRESUME

Assume means take or accept as being true withoutproof.

Presume is to suppose to be true, take for granted.

Contributed by an anonymous visitor.

BETWEEN YOU AND ME or BETWEEN YOU AND I

Always "between you and me" NEVER "between youand I".

CANVAS and CANVASS

Canvas is a heavy fabric. Canvass is to solicitfor votes.

CLIMACTIC and CLIMATIC

Climactic refers to a climax. Climatic refers toweather.

CONTINUAL/CONTINUOUS

Continual is when something happens veryfrequently, whereas continuous refers to somethinghappening without a break.

DIFFER FROM and DIFFER WITH

Something can differ from another.

People differ with each other.

DISINTERESTED and UNINTERESTED

Disinterested mean to be unbiased, impartial.Uninterested is to be unconcerned or bored.

FARTHER and FURTHER

Although both can be used, farther is usually usedwhen referring to physical distance. e.g.

The hotel was farther down the road that we thought.

Nothing was further from his thoughts.

FLAMMABLE, INFLAMMABLE

Both these words mean combustible or ignitable - canbe set alight.

The correct word for items which cannot be set alight

is non-flammable.

GIBE and GYBE (both can also be spelt "Jibe")

To gibe is to ridicule or make fun of whereas gybe isto move a sail or boom to the other side of a boat or to change the direction of a boat.

INCREDIBLE and INCREDULOUS

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Incredible means unbelievable. Incredulous meansdisbelieving or sceptical.

INGENIOUS/INGENUOUS

Ingenious means clever, skilful or resourcefulwhereas ingenuous means artless or frank.

LAY and LIE

Lay is to place something on a surface whereas youlie down on the floor.

LOOSE and LOSE

Loose is something that is not firmly or tightly fixed inplace; detached or able to be detached or havingfreedom of movement. Lose is to mislay; cease tohave, either physically or in an abstract sense.

Reshma Rao

LUXURIANT/LUXURIOUS

Luxuriant means lush, profuse or prolific and luxuriousmeans extremely comfortable.

NOISOME and NOISY

Noisome means offensive, it has nothing to do withsound. Noisy means loud.

PREVARICATE/PROCRASTINATE

Prevariacate means to act or speak evasivelywhereas procrastinate means to postpone or put off an action.

PRONE and SUPINE

Prone is lying face down and supine is face up.

PROSTATE and PROSTRATE

The prostate is a reproductive gland in males.Prostrate means lying face downwards or, in botanical

terms, growing along the ground.

REGRETTABLY and REGRETFULLY

Regrettably means it was undesirable or unwelcomee.g. "regrettably you have been unsuccessful".

Regretfully, is the showing of regret e.g. He admittedregretfully to the burglary.

SEASONABLE/SEASONAL

Seasonable means usual or suitable for the season or opportune, seasonal means depending on, or varyingwith the season.

STATIONERY and STATIONARY

Stationery is writing paper, envelopes etc. whereasStationary is when something is not moving.

THEIR and THERE

Their means belonging to them e.g. They went to pickup their tickets.

There generally refers to a place or position e.g.Please put your coat over there.

I would like to point out there are other meanings for this word!!!!

TORTUOUS and TORTUROUS

Tortuous means winding, full of twists and turns.Torturous means painful, like torture.

TROOP and TROUPE

Troop is a group or assembled company. Troupe is acompany usually actors.

 

OTHER WORDS THAT ARE OFTEN MISUSED

DECIMATED - means cut BY a 10th, not to a 10th.

Patricia Ellistone

MOMENTARILY - means for a very short period of time, NOT in a moment.

Patricia Ellistone

QUANTUM - amounts are very small, not very large.