Spelling, Capitalization, and Abbreviations
Frequently Misused Wordsfrom Rude, Carolyn. Technical Editing, 4th ed.
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
• 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
• A complement completes a whole• A compliment expresses praise
That tie complements his outfit.
I really appreciated your compliment.
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 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 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 refers to finances• Physical refers to bodily or material things
I had to physically move my fiscal reports.
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 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 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 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
• 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 is writing paper• Stationary is fixed in place
The pretty yellow stationery on my table is stationary.
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 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?