Spelling, Capitalization, and Abbreviations

Frequently Misused Wordsfrom Rude, Carolyn. Technical Editing, 4th ed.

affect, effect

affect, effect

• Both can be nouns, both can be verbs.• Effect means “result”• Affect means “to influence.”

Your training in writing will have an effect on your performance in editing.

Class participation will affect your grade.

assure, insure, ensure

assure, insure, ensure

• All mean “to make secure or certain”• “assure” is used in relations to setting a

person’s mind at rest.

Harold assured Susan that everything would be fine.

The company has insured the staff.New policies ensure greater participation.

complement, compliment

complement, compliment

• A complement completes a whole• A compliment expresses praise

That tie complements his outfit.

I really appreciated your compliment.

continually, continuously

continually, continuously

• Continually suggests recurrent interrupted action

• Continuously indicates uninterrupted action

I am continually having to grade papers.

My office computer stays on continuously during the week.

discreet, discrete

discreet, discrete

• Discreet mean “prudent”• Discrete means “separate”

A good manager is discreet about reprimanding an employee.

We saw seven discrete types of birds this weekend.

farther, further

farther, further

• Farther refers only to physical distance• Further refers to degree, quantity, or time

The Kia plant is farther than I expected.

The company can not risk going further into debt.

fiscal, physical

fiscal, physical

• Fiscal refers to finances• Physical refers to bodily or material things

I had to physically move my fiscal reports.

imply, infer

imply, infer

• Imply means to suggest• Infer means to make a suggestion or draw a

conclusion

These figures imply that our company is going under.

We inferred from the figures that we should all start looking for new jobs.

its, it’s

its, it’s

• Its is a possessive pronoun• It’s is a contraction for it is

That puppy is proud of its stuffed monkey.

It’s good to buy your puppy a stuffed monkey.

lay, lie

lay, lie

• Lay is a transitive verb that takes an object• Lie is always intransitive

I will lay my massive textbook down on this table.

It will lie there for quite a while.

personal, personnel

personal, personnel

• Personal means private• Personnel is a collective noun referring to

people

You are encroaching on my personal space.

Would all personnel please report to lounge for cookies and milk?

principle, principal

principle, principal

• A principle is a basic rule or law• A principal is a school office, or the “first” or

“primary” of something

Auburn’s policies are based on sound principles.

The principal’s principal occupation is administration.

stationery, stationary

stationery, stationary

• Stationery is writing paper• Stationary is fixed in place

The pretty yellow stationery on my table is stationary.

their, there, they’re

their, there, they’re

• Their is a possessive pronoun• There is an adverb designation a place• They’re is a contraction of “they are”

Their new dog drools a lot.There are a lot of dogs that drool.They’re going to buy their dog his own towel.

whose, who’s

whose, who’s

• Whose is a possessive pronoun• Who’s is a contraction for “who is”

Whose dog is this drooling on my shoes?

Who’s going to clean this up?

your, you’re

your, you’re

• Your is a possessive pronoun• You’re is a contraction for “you are”

I looked at your car, and I think it is broken.

You’re going to need to take your car to the shop.