* Try to learn a way to make sure you are using these words correctly in your writing.*
CONFUSING WORDS
In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., accepted the Nobel
Prize for peace. verbTo receive with
consentTo give approval to
Everyone except Ruben will be there.
verbTo leave out from a
groupBut; other than
ACCEPT EXCEPT
Advice may be easy to give but hard to follow.
nounA recommendation
about a course of action
I advise you to continue your music lessons.
verbTo recommendTo give advice
ADVICE ADVISE
The volcanic eruption aff ected the sunsets al l over the world.
VerbTo influenceTo produce an effect
upon
The phases of the moon have an effect on the tide.
NounThe result of an
actionA consequence
AFFECT EFFECT
The players are all ready for the big game.
Adjectiveall prepared
Our class has already had two tests.
Adverbpreviously
ALL READY ALREADY
Was my answer all right?
AdjectiveSatisfactory
Maria did all right in the track meet.
AdverbSatisfactorily; in a
satisfactory manner
ALL RIGHT
The altar was covered with lilies.
NounA table for a
religious ceremony
The outcome of the election may alter the mayor’s plans.
VerbTo change
ALTAR ALTER
The family was all together, then.
AdjectiveIn the same place;
at the same time
Nina seemed altogether thrilled to see us .
AdverbEntirely; completely
ALL TOGETHER ALTOGETHER
Can you fix the brake on my bicycle?
NounA device to stop a
machine
A high-pitched noise can break glass.
VerbTo fracture; to
shatter
BRAKE BREAK
Olympia is the capital of Washington state.
NounA city; the seat or
central location of a government
Where is the capitol in Albany?
NounA building; a
statehouse
CAPITAL CAPITOL
Did you choose photography or art as your elective?
Verb (rhymes with whose)
To select
Sara chose a red pen, not a blue one.
Verb (rhymes with grows)
Selected --- past tense
CHOOSE CHOSE
Patsy has the most stylish clothes.
Nounapparel
Some cleaning cloths are stored in the closet.
NounPieces of fabric
CLOTHES CLOTHS
The beach is covered with coarse brown sand.
AdjectiveRough; crude
If you follow that course, you will succeed.
NounPath of action; unit
of study; route
COARSE COURSE
The chef’s kitchen contains a full complement of appliances.
NounSomething that
completes or makes perfect
VerbTo complete or make
perfect
The ambassador paid Susan a compliment for her quick thinking.
NounA remark that
expresses approval, praise or admiration
VerbTo praise
COMPLEMENT COMPLIMENT
Who is the Guatamalan The mayor called Seek counsel consul in Miami? a meeting of the from more
city safety council. experiencedpeople.
Noun Noun Noun
A representative of a A group of peopleAdviceGovernment in a foreign who meet togethercountry Verb
to give advice
CONSUL COUNCILCOUNSEL
The councilors discussed several issues of importance.
NounMember of a council
Who is your guidance counselor?
NounOne who advises
COUNCILOR COUNSELOR
The Sahara is the Most dogs will not Fruit salad islargest desert in desert a friend in my favoriteAfrica. trouble. dessert.
Noun Verb Noun
a dry, sandy region to abandon; to leave the sweet,
final courseof a meal
DESERT DESERT DESSERT
The mayor delivered the speech formally.
Adverbwith dignity;
according to strict rules or procedures
Mr. Crane was formerly the principal of the school.
AdverbPreviously; in the
past
FORMALLY FORMERLY
I can hear you all the way down the hall.
VerbTo receive sounds
through the ears
The treasure is buried here.
AdverbIn this place
HEAR HERE
Mount Fuji is noted for its beauty.
Possessive form of itBelonging to it
It’s a good idea to relax.
Contraction of it is or it has
ITS IT’S
Grace often leads Mr. Troy led the troop Many fishing the band in the back to the campground. nets areannual parade. weighted with
lead so theysink to thebottom.
Verb (rhymes with Verb (past tense of lead)Noun (rhymesfeed) with red)
To go fi rst; to be went fi rst a heavy metala leader graphite in a
pencil
LEAD LED LEAD
Harry’s tooth was loose.
Adjective (rhymes with moose)
Not securely attached; not fitting tightly
Vegetables lose some of their vitamins when they are cooked.
Verb (rhymes with whose)
To suffer loss
LOOSE LOSE
The people in the car waved as they passed us.
VerbPast tense of passWent by
Some people long to learn about the past.
NounThat which has gone
byPrepositionBeyondAdjective Ended
PASSED PAST
Creating world peace is a challenge we all face.
NounSecurity and quiet
order
I would love a piece of pie for dessert.
NounA part of something
PEACE PIECE
The plain costumes did not draw the audience’s attention.
AdjectiveSimple; common;
unadorned
I learned to fl y a plane when I was only sixteen.
Noun A tool; an airplane;
a flat surface
PLAIN PLANE
Mr. Greenland is our building’s principal.
NounThe head of a schoolMain or most
important
Honesty is a principle I believe in.
NounA rule of conductA main fact or law
PRINCIPAL PRINCIPLE
Let’s fi nd a quiet room in which to study.
AdjectiveStill and peacefulWithout noise
Winters in New England can be quite severe.
AdverbWholly or entirelyTo a great extent
QUIET QUITE
The jeweler polished the silver until it shone.
Verb (past tense of shine)
Gleamed; glowed
The model of the building wil l be shown to the public next week.
Verb (past tense of show)
Revealed
SHONE SHOWN
The items in the space station or mostly stationary.
AdjectiveIn a fixed position
I need a new box of stationery to write thank you letters.
NounWriting paper
STATIONARY STATIONERY
My dog is bigger than your dog.
Conjunction – used to compare
In comparison to
If we are awake by six, we will leave then.
AdverbAt that time
THAN THEN
My neighbors sold their We will travel I heard they’rehouse. there this fall. moving to France.
Possesive pronoun Adverb Contraction
Belonging to them at or in that place they are
THEIR THERE THEY’RE
Jose’ threw the ball to Trevor.
Verb (past tense of throw)
TossedPitched
We traveled through the Panama Canal.
Preposition
In one side and out the other
Across
THREW THROUGH
I began my letter to I am too hungry We found twoMilly. To wait for supper. lost kittens.
Preposition adverb noun
In the direction of; also numberToward more than enough
adjectiveone more than one
TO TOO TWO
These pants are too loose in the waist.
NounThe middle part of
the body
Most of the waste can be recycled.
Noun
Unused material
Verb
To squander
WAIST WASTE
Our patient is too weak to have visitors.
AdjectiveNot strong; feeble
At the end of the week, we will have a quiz.
NounSeven day period of
time
WEAK WEEK
The weather is hot and humid in summer.
NounCondition of the air
or atmosphere
Jessica wondered whether she should go.
ConjuctionIf
WEATHER WHETHER
Who’s representing the yearbook at the meeting?
Contraction
Who is or Who has
Whose shoes are these?
Possessive form of who
Belonging to whom
WHO’S WHOSE
Your hard work is obvious.
Possessive form of you
I heard you’re joining the club!
ContractionYou are
YOUR YOU’RE