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A Guide To Writing in English: Easily Confused Words
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accept :: except
accept
Accept: verb, meaning to receive willingly, to be
happy to receive.
Example:
We are happy to accept your invitation to dinner.
except
Except: preposition, meaning 'with the exception of'
or 'but'.
Example:
The shop is open every day except Sunday.
adoptive :: adopted
adoptive
Parents are 'adoptive'
Example:
Mary and Sue are the adoptive parents of Michael.
adopted
Children are 'adopted'
Example:
Michael was adopted at birth by Mary and Sue.
adverse :: averse
adverse
Bad or unfavorable
Example:
The ship sailed despite the adverse weather
conditions.
averse
To strongly dislike or be opposed to something
Example:
I am averse to all forms of violence.
affect :: effect
affect
As a verb: 1. to make a display of liking or using;
to put on a pretense of. 2. to cause a change or
variation.
Example:
1. She affects the air of a rock star by dressing in
leather. 2. Although she is a bit wild it doesn't
affect her ability to study.
effect
As a verb: to cause to come into being. As a noun:
an outcome or result.
Example:
1. Stopping smoking has positively effected by
health. 2. The effect of stopping smoking is that I
am healthier and happier.
all ready :: already
all ready
Totally prepared
Example:
I have packed my suitcases and am all ready to go.
already
Before or previously
Example:
I have already visited Spain.
all together :: altogether
all together
All of the objects, or people are in a single group
Example:
1. We put the English speakers all together in the
class. 2. All together there are thirty of them.
altogether
Completely, usually, 'on the whole'
Example:
I am not altogether sure that I understand. They
seem to be learning a different meaning altogether.
allot :: a lot
allot
A given period of time or quantity of something
Example:
We were allotted one hour to visit the Louvre during
our tour of Paris.
a lot
A large quantity of something (see countable /
uncountable nouns in the OEG)
Example:
There are a lot of paintings in the Louvre.
allusion :: illusion
allusion
An indirect reference to something
Example:
The tour guide alluded to the terrible hardship
suffered by the pioneers.
illusion
A fantasy that may be or can be confused with
reality
Example:
Although sawing the woman in half seemed real, it
was only a clever illusion.
See also: delusion / illusion
altar :: alter
altar
An area, usually in the form of a table, where
religious worship and sacrifices take place.
Example:
The ancient Aztecs used to offer human sacrifices on
their altars.
alter
To change
Example:
They altered the roads in the city center to make
them pedestrian only.
ambiguous :: ambivalent
ambiguous
Having more than one meaning, open to different
interpretations
Example:
Saying that there are fewer unemployed but that
number of people without jobs has increased is very
ambiguous.
ambivalent
Having mixed feelings
Example:
He was neither for nor against the new immigration
laws - he maintained a very ambivalent attitude.
among :: between
among
Preposition used with three or more persons or
things
Example:
Among the thirty candidates for the job there were
only three that were properly qualified.
between
Preposition used with two persons or things
Example:
Between Jill and her sister there is a two-year age
difference.
amoral :: immoral
amoral
Not concerned with morality
Example:
The Law is considered to be amoral - but this is
highly questionable.
immoral
Not conforming to accepted standards of morality
Example:
Profiting from other people's ignorance is
considered to be immoral.
appraise :: apprise
appraise
To assess
Example:
The insurance inspector appraised the damage after
the fire destroyed the house.
apprise
To inform
Example:
There was no indication that he was apprised of the
consequences before he lit the fire.
augur :: auger
augur
A sign of (a likely outcome) - often used in
relation to interpreting the future
Example:
Finding a four-leafed clover is a good augur for the
future.
auger
A tool for making holes
Example:
The carpenter used an auger to drill the holes for
the chair legs.
award :: reward
award
To bestow, a public recognition of honor
Example:
He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for
his services to the music industry.
reward
To compensate
Example:
There is a $250,000 reward for the capture of the
murderer being offered by the police.
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