What are easily confused words?

• Some words sound very similar and have the same spelling, but have completely different meanings.

• Can anyone think of an example of two words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings?

• Some words sound the same but have different spellings.

• Can anyone think of an example of two words that sound the same, but are spelled differently?

Easily Confused Words

Prepare to be less easily confused!

accept

• (verb) to agree to something or to receive something willingly

• Example: Goodwill is a donation center that accepts clothing, furniture, and other materials, and then resells these items to raise money for community programs.

except

• (preposition) not including; excluding; but

• Example: It’s always kind to share what you have with those in need, except for when you’re sharing your germs!

accept versus excepttricks

• Think of the “X” in except as marking something to not be included. For example, when you place an “X” over a journal question, you are saying that you can answer all of the remaining questions except the ones with an “X”.

• Determine the part of the sentence for which you will substitute one of those two words, and then ask yourself whether you are excluding or receiving something.

affect

• (verb) to act on; produce an effect or change in

• Example: The cold, dark winter affected Mindy’s moods so much, she was inspired to express her feelings through art.

– Mindy’s work of art =

effect

• (noun) something that is produced by an agency or cause; the result of an action

• Example: Studying for his vocabulary quiz had a profound effect on Barry’s grade.

• Example: For many people, the sun’s rays produce a positive effect on their moods.

affect versus effecttricks

• Explain how affect and effect are used in the cartoon below.

• Why an aardvark you ask? Aardvark is a very easy noun to remember since it’s so unique! The first letters of a very easy noun are the same as affect verb effect noun!

• Aardvark!• A Very Easy Noun

• Affect Verb Effect Noun

all ready• (adverb) all are ready or completely

prepared

• If you studied your metric conversions, you were all ready for Mrs. Hayash’s quiz last week.

already

• (adverb) previously; before a particular time

• Mr. Day would go to Froyo World with you, but he already demolished two pints of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food, so now he can’t stand up.

• *Ben and Jerry’s is

much tastier!”

already versus all readytricks

• Just remember: ALL READY = READY!

Ready can replace all ready but not already. Therefore, try to use just ready. If your sentence still makes sense, then you are safe to use all ready; otherwise, use already.

• I already ate lunch.• I ready ate lunch. ??? Not so much.

fewer

• Def.: number of things that can be counted

• If you collect fewer than 100 pieces of candy on Halloween, you have failed!

• Def.: amount, degree, or value

• The reviews for the movie Real Steel were less than positive.

less

fewer versus less tricks

• Look at the classic example of the grocery store express lane. Most of the signs for these lanes read, “10 items or less,” and that’s just wrong! The signs should read, “10 items or fewer,” because items are individual, countable things.

» ARGHH! ========

» Remember the» shopping cart trick!

past

• (adjective) of a former time or time gone by

• Past Native American shamans would act as a tribe’s medicine man, helping with both sickness and spiritual dilemmas.

past

• (noun) a time, or all of the time, before the present

• Example: In the past, students have fought to end the use of Native American mascots, fighting that it is discriminatory, demeaning, and racist.

passed

• past tense of pass, or went by• On my way to work today, I passed a deer

as it was munching on some green, delicious leaves.

* On most days, the deer I see along I-95 are not exactly capable of eating. Their days have passed... I think I hear Mrs. Robertson crying.

past versus passedtricks

• You make one!