DE ENC 1101C

Commonly Confused Words

Why are you studying this?

Beginning composition students have been known to make mistakes.

It is part of the curriculum for the course. Errors of this nature can undermine your

credibility in school and in the workplace. Sure, you can refer to information online or

in a handbook once you’re on your own, but if you already knew all this stuff. . .

AffectAffect

A verb meaning “to influence”

The drug did not affect his driving.

A noun meaning “result”In fact, the drug seemed

to have no effect at all.

RARELY a verb meaning “to bring about”

Her efforts effected a change.

Affect/EffectAffect/Effect

EffectEffect

AmountAmountAmountAmount

Amount words relate to quantities of things that are measured in bulk or perhaps that you couldn’t/wouldn’t count.

This recipe calls for an insane amount amount of sugar.

Number words are used when you can count.

We have a large numbernumber of toads in our garden.

If you eat too many cookies, people would probably think you’ve had too much dessert.

Amount/NumberAmount/Number

NumberNumber

Credible, Creditable, CredulousCredible, Creditable, Credulous

Credible– believable; While that is definitely an unusual fish story, it seems credible to me.

Creditable—deserving of credit or worthy; I thought Sean Connery’s performance in The Untouchables was creditable.

Credulous– gullible; The naïve, credulous freshman believed he needed the elevator pass that the dishonest senior sold him.

Different from/different thanDifferent from/different than

Most of the time, Most of the time, different fromdifferent from is is preferred. preferred. Snape’s purpose is different from Draco’s. Snape’s purpose is different from Draco’s.

ExceptionException to eliminate wordiness to eliminate wordiness

Severus is a different person at the end of Severus is a different person at the end of HP and the HP and the Half-Blood PrinceHalf-Blood Prince than he is at the end of than he is at the end of HP and the HP and the Chamber of SecretsChamber of Secrets. .

Severus is a different person at the end of Severus is a different person at the end of HPHBP HPHBP from from the person he is at the end of the person he is at the end of HPCSHPCS. .

FartherFartherFartherFarther Further Further Further Further

Used for physical distance that is measured

We are ten miles farther down the beach than our friends.

Additional time, amount, or other abstract matters

I will not discuss this with you further.

To avoid further complications, keep your wound clean.

Farther/FurtherFarther/Further

FewerFewerFewerFewer LessLessLessLess

Individual countable items

The express lane is designed for customers who have 10 items or fewer.

Skim milk has fewer calories than whole milk.

General amounts of non-count nouns

We have less milk left than I thought.

Fewer/LessFewer/Less

Reason is because. . . Reason is because. . .

NO! NO! NO! NO!NO! NO! NO! NO!Too informal or colloquialToo informal or colloquialRedundantRedundant

Reason Reason and and because because mean the same thing.mean the same thing.

The The reasonreason he is absent he is absent is that is that he has he has the flu.the flu.

He is absent because he has the flu. He is absent because he has the flu.

Is When/Is WhereIs When/Is Where

Again, these are expressions that students should avoid in their writing.

Typically, these are faulty constructions in sentences that define a term.

Adolescence is a stage [not is when a person is] between childhood and adulthood.

Beowulf’s first great deed occurs when he battles Grendel.

LayLayLayLay LieLie

To put or place and takes a direct object

We could lay the surfboards on the grass.

Lay, laid, laid

To recline or to be and does not take a direct object

I lie awake on Sunday nights.

The town lies east of here.

Lie, lay, lain

Lay/LieLay/Lie

Question of whetherQuestion of whether

Common alternative is question as to whether

Both are wordy constructions when whether will suffice.

Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds

They’re/there/theirThey’re/there/their

They’re is a contraction of they are.

There is an adverb that means “at that place.” There is also used to begin a sentence.

They’re playing jazz music.

There will be a crowd at the mall.

Did you get there on time? “at that place”

begins sentence

Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds

They’re/there/theirThey’re/there/their

Their Their is the possessive form of is the possessive form of theythey, meaning , meaning “belonging to them.”“belonging to them.”

Did they make their own costumes?

To, too, twoTo, too, two

To—preposition or part of a verbal construction

Too—adverb meaning “also” or “excessively” Two—a number

I too have been to Canada two times.

PracticePractice

Lay/Lie—Exercises 1 & 2Lay/Lie—Exercises 1 & 2

There, their, they’re—Exercises 1 & 2There, their, they’re—Exercises 1 & 2

To, too, two—Exercises 1 & 2To, too, two—Exercises 1 & 2

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