Commonly confused words

Confused Words Than or Then? Affect Chose or or Effect? Choose? Lie Ensure or or Lay? Insure? TOP 10 controversial words: Affect vs Effect 5500 confused people every day Choosing between affect and effect can be scary. Think of Edgar Allen Poe and his RAVEN: Remember Affect Verb Effect Noun. You can't affect the creepy poem by reading it, but you can enjoy the effect of a talking bird. Most of the time, you'll want affect as a verb meaning to influence something and effect for the something that was influenced. Ensure vs Isure ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? >> 605 confused people every day Strictly speaking, it is incorrect to use insure and ensure interchangeably. "Ensure" means to make sure or to guarantee and "insure" refers to the finan- cial service of insurance. For example, "To ensure the value of your jewelry, you can insure them with a policy from a jeweler." 3 Than vs Then O O O O ? ? ? | ? 1? ? ? ? ? 450 confused people every day This is one of the most popular ones. So, let's make it clear. "Then" has an element of time. For example, it can mean "next" or "at that time." "Than" conveys a comparison. For example, "This infographic is better than that one". Quick and Dirty Tip: Both "than" and "comparison" have the letter "a" in them, and "then" and "time" both have the letter "e." Farther vs Further 4 >> 400 confused people every day - The good news is that in ambiguous cases it doesn't matter which word you choose. But you should know the difference as there is one. Use farther with physical distance: London is farther north than Juneau. Use further with non-physical "distance" (i.e., figurative distance): This plan requires further study. (Meaning "additional study," refers to amount). Their vs There ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 270 confused people every day Because they sound alike, the words "there" and "their" are often misspelled. A good way to remember the difference is: The place "here" with a T is "there". There indicates a place as in, "I live here not there." While "there" refers to a place, "their" means belonging to them. For example, Their van was destroyed in the accident. 6 Chose vs Choose 220 confused people every day When we choose something, it basically means that after a period of consid- eration we have taken a decision to select one thing out of a variety of options. The actions that are being done are in present tense, they are happening now. Now the word "Chose" differs only in the sense that they have already hap- pened. It is the past tense of choose. Capital vs Capitol ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 220 confused people every day - Aha! A capital is a stash of money or the government headquarters of a state. Oh, a capitol is a building. Many people (particularly non-Americans) who see the word Capitol in writing assume it is a typo of capital. In fact, The Capitol is the building that serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress. Remember that capitol with an o refers to a certain type of building that usually has a dome, then you'll know that in all other cases you want capital with an a. Lie vs Lay 180 confused people every day * To lay means to place in a horizontal position. To lie means to be in a hori- zontal position (Beware! The past tense is lay) or to speak an untruth. When you can't remember the correct verb, think of a sentence "You'll lay an egg if you don't lie down", 6. Compliment vs Complement ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 180 confused people every day A compliment, with an "i," is a kind or flattering remark. If a guy says he likes your dress, he's giving you a compliment. A complement, with an "e," is a full crew or set, and when something complements something else, it means they go well together. You might talk about a picture frame that complements a photo or the crew complement needed to operate a ship. Advice vs Advise 10 180 confused people every day The word "advice" is a noun. It means recommendation. For example, "My sister gave me great advice about applying to colleges". The word "advise" is a verb. It means "to give advice," "to inform," "to recommend." For example, "Can you advise me about colleges that offer bioengineering degrees?" One way to remember the difference is to think about this: the word "advise" carries within it the word "is," which indicates doing or action, whereas the word "advice" does not. PS: There are so many similar words in the English language; it is very easy to get confused sometimes. If you have any doubts, you should better consult a dic- tionary. Created By: GoHunters.com Copyright © 2014