Words Often Confused

Words often confused are like anything else in life. With a little patience and a lot of hard work you should be able to master the following confusing words. Below, you will find words often confused that begin with the letter "A." I've separated the pages alphabetically to make them a little easier to learn. I thought it might be a little intimidating for students trying to learn these confusing words to see a list with hundreds and hundreds of words on it! You see, I actually wanted to help you learn the words often confused the most. Be sure to visit the other pages to see all of the words my students and I've collected so far. Accept / Except / Expect Accept is a verb that means to "receive or take" or "to give a positive answer to a proposition or offer." "Do you accept travelers' checks?" (receive, take) Susan accepted his offer of a job. (gave a positive answer) The club accepted three new members. (received)

Except as a preposition, meaning "with the exception of." (Commonly used) "Everybody except John went to the party." (John didn't go)

Except as a verb means, "to exclude," "to keep out." (Rarely used) The boys excepted Frank from their club.(They did not accept him)

Expect is a verb that means, "waiting for sth to happen" or "believed to be the state of sth" I expect them to show up at any minute. I expect that they'll want to see my passport.

Admission / Admittance

I went to the U.S. Consulate but was refused admittance. No admission will be charged at the school concert. There is no admittance into that country without a visa.

Advice / Advise (note spelling differences between BritishEnglish and American English) Advise is a verb. The doctor advised her to quit smoking. Advice is a noun. She gave me some good advice.

Affect / Effect Affect as a verb means "to influence, act upon, or change sth or sme" The noise inside the stadium affected his performance.

Effect is usually a noun (thing) meaning to have an impact on sth or sme. His smile had a strange effect on me.

Effect can also mean "the end result." The drug has many adverse side effects.

Verb. To influence Noun. The resulting emotion Verb. To cause to happen We were all affected by the drought. The effect of the drought was an increase in food prices. The drought effected an increase in price Air / Airs There was air pollution near the factories.(air = gas we breathe) I don't like people who put on airs.(pretend to be something they are not)

There was an air of excitement when the match began.(feeling of excitement)

All ready / Already All ready is an adjective phrase meaning "completely ready." We were all ready to leave at eight o'clock. (everyone was ready)

Already is an adverb of time meaning "by, or before, a specific time." They had already left by 3 o'clock. He had already eaten when I arrived. (before I arrived)

Almost / Most / Mostly She is the most intelligent student in the class. (superlative degree) The people in Hong-Kong are mostly Chinese. (largely, primarily) Most of the students wish to have a rest after long hours of work. (majority)

Altogether / All Together Altogether is an adverb meaning "completely." "I am altogether upset with you."

All together is an adjective phrase meaning "in a group." The children sang a song all together.

Alone / Lonely Alone as an adverb means "solely" or "exclusively." John managed to tie his shoes alone.

Alone as an adjective means "solitary" or "separate." John enjoyed being alone in the house.

Lonely means "without company" or "cut off from others." John was lonely when he remained all alone in the house.

Amount / Number Amount is used with non count nouns Unfortunately, a large amount of oil leaked out of the tanker.

Number is a noun used with countable nouns Though few in number, judges have much power in Greece.

As a whole / On the whole Let us take the whole incident into consideration as a whole. Jack is, on the whole, an industrious student.

Assure / Ensure / Insure The manager assures us that the recorder would be repaired properly. The owner of the goldsmith wants to insure against robbery. You must check your work carefully to ensure that you do not make any mistakes.

Confused Words
Confused words need not be your weakness when it comes to the English language. In fact, you can make confusing words your strength by learning the words most often confused from the pages of this site.
Affect / Effect Affect as a verb means to influence, act upon, or change sth or sme The noise inside the stadium affected his performance.

Effect is usually a noun (thing) meaning to have an impact on something or someone. His smile had a strange effect on me. Effect can also mean "the end result." Example: The drug has many adverse side effects. Verb. To influence Noun. The resulting emotion Verb. To cause to happen We were all affected by the drought. The effect of the drought was an increase in food prices. The drought effected an increase in price.

Amount / Number Amount is a noun referring to non count nouns Unfortunately, a huge amount of oil leaked out of the tank. Number is a noun referring to count nouns Though few in number, judges have much power in Greece.

Complimentary / Complementary Complimentary is an adjective which means given freely, or giving praise The teacher was very complimentary about my work. Complementary is an adjective, which means, supplying needs The complementary relationship of the bee and the flower is quite remarkable.

Different from / Different than

Different from is a preposition, which precedes a noun phrase He is different from your average shop owner. Different than is a preposition which precedes a noun clause London isdifferent than we had imagined.

Enough Enough is an adverb, which precedes a noun and follows an adjective He knows enough English to study in England. She is fastenough to win the race.

Every so often / Ever so often

Every so often is an adverb meaning occasionally

They come every so often. I wish they could come more frequently. Ever so often is an adverb meaning frequently They come ever so often. I wish they would stay home.

First / Former First as an adjective refers to three or more items The first five skiers fell. Former as an adjective refers to two or fewer items The former Secretary of State for the U.S., Colin Powel, was the first black to hold that position.

From / Since / For From is a preposition followed by a noun or noun phrase.

As a time marker, it requires to or another preposition. From now on I will lead the way. From Monday to Friday, I work like a slave. Since is a subordinate conjunction followed by a clause. It expresses the time something began or the beginning of time Since Wednesday, I have walked 6 miles a day. For is a preposition followed by a noun or noun phrase. It expresses the length of time (duration) something has lasted. For two weeks I have walked to work every day.

Lie / Lay Lie is an intransitive verb meaning to recline He lies down for a nap after his lunch. Lay is a transitive verb which means to put or place He lay the book on the desk and left the room.

A Few / A little A few means some / not many. Used with countable nouns. A few people were standing outside the shop waiting to get in. A littlemeans some / not much. Used with non-count nouns. He gave me a little cheese to eat with my bread.

Passed / Past Passed is a transitive verb and past participle of the verb pass She barely passed the exam.

Past is a preposition or adjective meaning by We will keep school open past June. She walked past without saying hello.

Raise / Rise Raise is a transitive verb meaning to move to a higher place. Tom raised his hand to answer a question. Rise is an intransitive verb meaning to go up or ascend. The sunrises in the morning.

Say / Tell Say is a transitive verb meaning to express in words I said that she should stay home tonight. Tell is an intransitive verb also meaning to express in words Itold him to stay home but he didnt listen. (Never, never, NEVER told to him)

Sit / Set

Sit is an intransitive verb meaning to rest on something.

Sit on the bench and not on the grass. Set is a transitive verb meaning to place something. She set the soup and spoons on the table.

Speak / Speech Speak is a verb meaning to say out loud

Speak louder. I cant hear you! Speech is a noun meaning what is said aloud Politicians give the same boring speech over and over again when running for political office.

Than / Then Than is a conjunction used in comparisons She is taller than her sister. Then as an adjective or adverbial conjunction relates to time First we will work; then we will go out for lunch.

Watch / See Watch is a transitive verb meaning to look at or observe carefully He watched his grand children playing in the yard See is a transitive verb meaning to perceive with the eye He saw the children go into the house.