USING THE RIGHT WORD

Mrs. Wright

Why is it important to use words correctly?

It is a reflection of who we are

Helps make our meaning clear

Helps you on standardized tests

Helps with job interviews

Everyone makes mistakes…

Even intelligent people Making errors is

not about intelligence It is about being

correctly informed

5 minutes to complete

Test Yourself Student Handout

A vs. An

If a word begins with a consonant sound A historian

A dog

A vacation

If a word begins with a vowel sound An honor

An eagle

An MBA

An apple

A An

Accept vs. Except

To take or receive willingly

I accept your invitation

Excluding or “left out”

The whole class, except Lou, can go to Cedar Point.

Accept Except

Affect vs. Effect

An action word meaning “to influence”

Your positive attitude affects everyone

A noun meaning “the result” or “the impact”

Tip: Look in front of the word for “a”, “an”, or “the”

The effect of her speech was profound

The sound effects were amazing.

Affect Effect

Alot vs. A lot

WRONG!

Always two words

A lot of people use this expression incorrectly

Alot A lot

Alright vs. All right

WRONG Considered slang

Always two words

Everything is all right with the world

Alright All right

All ready vs. Already

Two words when it means “everyone is ready”

The group is all ready to go now

One word when it means “previously”

I already saw this movie

All ready Already

Any vs. No

“Any” is a positive word

I don’t have any candy left

“No” is a negative word

Do not put two negatives together

Wrong: I don’t have no candy left

Correct: I don’t have any candy left

Any No

Between vs. Among

Used for TWO people or things

The secret is between Jessica and Jeff

Used for THREE or MORE

We’ll divide the bill among the five of us

Between Among

Bring (come) vs. Take (go)

In the direction toward the speaker

Bring your notebook when you come to class

In the direction away from the speaker

When you go home today, take your backpack

Bring (come) Take (go)

Can vs. May

The ability to do something

I can run five miles

Used when asking permission

May I go to the bathroom

Can May

Fewer vs. Less

When you can count the items

There are 2 fewer people than yesterday

When you cannot count

His ability to concentrate is less than usual

Fewer Less

Number vs. Amount

Used the same way as fewer When you can count the

items

When there is a specific unit of measurement

The number is low this year because people are not interested

Used the same way as less When there is no unit

of measurement

When you cannot count

The amount of sleep he had is insufficient

Number Amount

Good vs. Well

Describes people, places and things (adj)

Joe is a good soccer player

Describes action verbs (adverb)

Joe plays soccer very well

Good Well

Imply vs. Infer

To hint or suggest Speakers and

writers imply when they send the message

My friend implied that I ate too much

To guess or assume Readers and

listeners infer when they receive the message

When I read that story, I inferred the man was sad

Imply Infer

Its vs. It’s

Possessive pronoun

Shows ownership

The kitten licked its paws

Contraction meaning “it is” or “it has”

It’s a good thing we won the game

Its It’s

Principle vs. Principal

Only has one meaning: rule

I learned ten principles for good writing

This spelling is used for everything else.

Mr. Smith is our principal

What are your principal reasons for leaving?

Principle Principal

Real vs. Really

Genuine

Not fake

Is this real leather?

Used the same way as the word “very”

Adam Sandler is really funny

Real Really

Than vs. Then

Used for comparisons

Rachel is taller than Marianne

Answers when – at a certain time

First I’ll bake the pizza; then I’ll eat it

Than Then

That vs. Which

Use “that” when adding necessary information

The essay that you need to pick up before you leave is on the desk

Use “which” when the details are extra

My essay, which is ten pages long, is on the desk

That Which

Their vs. There vs. They’re

Their

There

They’re

Possessive pronoun; shows ownership My parents drove their mustang today

In that place or position; often starts sentences Your cleats are over there

Contraction meaning “they are” Sue and Nick said they’re going to the

game

Weather vs. Whether

Climate or conditions outside

The weather is 90 degrees and sunny

Means “if”

I can’t decide whether to eat or sleep

Weather Whether

Were vs. Where

Linking verb in the past tense – no action

They were going to Stratford to see Hamlet

Question word

Where is the Career Center?

Were Where

Who’s vs. Whose

Contraction meaning “who is”

Who’s the boss?

Possessive pronoun- shows ownership

I wonder whose coat is on the chair

Who’s Whose

Who vs. Whom

Use who when you can substitute “he” or “she” He’s the man who

told the story He told the story

Use whom when you can substitute for “him” or “her” He asked the

question, “For whom” For her

Who Whom

Your vs. You’re

Possessive pronoun- shows ownership

Your portfolio is very good

Contraction meaning “you are”

I think you’re right

Your You’re

You may work with a partner that is near you. You cannot leave your seat to work with someone.

Using the Right Word Practice 1

Affect and Effect: How can I tell them apart?

Affect Used as an action

word (verb)

Means “to influence”

Trick: Substitute the meaning: if it works, you’re correct

Example: Your comments

affected her decision Your comments

influenced her decision

The movie really affected my mood The movie really

influenced my mood

Affect and Effect: How can I tell them apart?

Effect: Used as “the thing”

(a noun)

Means “the result”, “the impact”, or “the outcome”

Trick: Look for the words “a”, “an”, or “the” in front

Example: The effect of your

speech was powerful

An effect of your speech

A positive effect of your speech Sometimes a describer

(adj) gets in between

Affect and Effect: How can I tell them apart?

Effect Used as an action

word (verb)

Means “to bring about”

Trick: Ask yourself “bring about WHAT” Then find the word

that answers your question

Example: We must effect some

new rules” Question: Bring about

what? Answer: The rules

We should effect some changes in this policy Question: Bring about

what? Answer: Changes

May work with a DIFFERENT partner that is near you. You may not leave your seat to work with someone.

Affect and Effect Practice