Words Most Often Confused

Job Aid for Effective Communication T
Words Most Often Confused
Words
Most Often
Confused
he words here perplex nearly everyone from time to time. This list will help you keep them straight and use them correctly.
\ \ \ accept except to receive willingly to exclude advice advise suggestion or counsel a verb meaning “to give advice” affect effect a verb meaning “to influence” a noun meaning “result” aggravate irritate to make worse to annoy all ready already prepared previously anxious eager to anticipate with uneasiness to anticipate with enthusiasm appraise apprise to place a value on something to inform awhile a while for a short time (“She waited awhile”) for a short time (She waited for a while”) biweekly semiweekly every two weeks twice a week bring take action toward you (“Bring it to me”) action away from you (“Take it to him”) can may ability possibility or permission capital capitol a seat of government (a city) a building where a legislature meets 1 Job Aid for Effective Communication choose chose climactic climatic Words Most Often Confused 2 to pick (in the present) picked (in the past) refers to the high point, or culmination refers to the weather cite site to quote location compliment complement praise something that completes, or makes perfect comprise compose to include; the whole comprises the parts to be made of; the parts compose the whole conscience conscious sense of morality aware convince persuade create or change a belief (use with “of”) motivate to take an action (use with “to”) desert dessert a dry, sandy area a sweet dish at the end of a meal discreet discrete circumspect, judicious separate, individual e.g. i.e. “for example” “that is” ensure insure to make certain to obtain insurance; to guarantee protection or safety everyday every day one word when used as an adjective each day farther further at a greater distance in addition to faze phase to disturb or disconcert a period or cycle flair flare a special talent a sudden bright light, or an outward spread Job Aid for Effective Communication flaunt flout Words Most Often Confused 3 to show something off to ignore or disdain flier flyer one who flies an advertising circular home (in) hone zero in on a target sharpen imply infer to hint or suggest (“He implied it to me”) to deduce (“I inferred his meaning”) its it’s belonging to it contraction of “it is” later latter afterward the second of two things lay lie to place or set down to recline less fewer for things you can’t count individually (“less money”) for things you can count individually (“fewer dollars”) lets let’s allows contraction of “let us” loose lose not tight opposite of win or find nauseous nauseated causing nausea (“a nauseous smell”) feel sick to one’s stomach (“I’m nauseated”) passed past a verb; past tense of “pass” a noun; the time before now predominant predominate an adjective meaning “prevailing” a verb meaning “to exert control over” principal principle main rule Job Aid for Effective Communication stanch staunch Words Most Often Confused 4 stop the flow faithful stationary stationery not moving paper tack tact a direction or approach (“a new tack”) consideration for others’ feelings than then compares subsequent action their there they’re possessive of “they” in that place contraction of “they are” to too toward also whose who’s shows ownership contraction of “who is” or “who has” your you’re
belonging to you
a contraction of “you are”
If you liked Words Most Often Confused, you might also be interested in Words Most Often Misspelled, 15 Tips for Effective Writing, Banishing Business Jargon, and Writing for the World—A Guide to Globalization. And for more help in the world of words, see our entire set of easy‐to‐use Job Aids for Effective Communication that give you quick, clear guidance as you prepare anything from a memo to a manual to a web page.