My dear friends,
Many words, for whatever reason, are often confused with another word and therefore misused. Sometimes the words look or sound somehow similar alike, or they may have a similar meaning but have different accepted usages .the following are words often confused and misused:
Accept—Except:
Accept means to receive or to agree to something.
He didn’t accept the position.
Except means to exclude or leave out.
Everyone except John is here.
Adapt—Adept—Adopt:
Adapt means to adjust to or to modify.
She didn’t adapt to her new job.
Adept means skillful.
She is an adept typist.
Adopt means to embrace or accept.
We will adopt a child.
They adopted the plan.
Advice—advise:
Advice is a noun meaning a recommendation that is given.
He gave me his advice.
Advise is a verb meaning an act of guidance.
Advise her what she should do.
Affect—Effect:
Affect is a verb meaning to influence.
His attitude will affect his chances.
Effect is a noun indicating result or outcome.
What effect will the new plan have?
Effect is occasionally used as an action verb meaning to bring about.
We did effect your instructions.
Aggravate—Irritate:
Aggravate means to make worse (a situation or condition).
His actions aggravated the situation.
The rubbing aggravated the wound.
Irritate means to annoy or to make sore.
The loud noise irritated me.
My skin is quite irritated.
Allusion—Delusion---Illusion:
Allusion is an indirect reference to something.
She made an allusion to the mistake.
Delusion is a false or irrational belief.
He had a delusion that he would be made president.
He had delusions that he was being persecuted.
Illusion is a wrong idea or concept, or an optical misconception (in some usages, illusion and delusion mean about the same).
He had the illusion that he was to become president.
The mirage was strictly an illusion.
All ready—Already:
All ready means all prepared a state of readiness.
The students were all ready to go.
Already is an adverb meaning previously.
The students had already gone.
All together—Altogether:
All together means a group as a whole.
The tools were all together on the bench.
Altogether means completely.
The two plans were altogether different.
Among—between:
Among is used when more than two persons or things are involved.
The supplies were divided among the group.
Between is used when only two persons or things are involved.
Jim and Ed divided the supplies between them.
Amount—Number:
Amount, except for money, is used when mentioning something that cannot be counted.
The bill amounted to $64.
She had a large amount of cash.
He has a great amount of courage.
Number is used for things that can be counted.
A number of dogs were in the kennel.
A great number voted “no”.
Anxious—Eager:
Anxious means to have a degree of anxiety or fear.
I am anxious to hear the results of the operation.
Eager means pleasant anticipation.
I am eager to meet her.
Any one—Anyone:
Any one is used to refer to one of several things or persons.
I do not like any one of the plans.
Any one who wishes may go.
Anyone is a pronoun meaning any person.
Has anyone arrived yet?
Avenge—Revenge:
Avenge is used when there is a normal intention to right a wrong.
I will try to avenge the injustice done to him.
Revenge is a desire to inflict a punishment for an insult or injury.
He is so angry that he is going to seek revenge.
Bad—Badly:
Bad is an adjective meaning disagreeable, offensive, and defective.
His Mother feels bad this morning.
The sales results were very bad.
There is a bad odor in the room.
Badly is an adverb meaning in a bad manner.
He behaved badly at the meeting.
Borrow—lend:
Borrow means that the person is taking or wishes to take.
May I borrow your car?
Lend means to give or to let use.
I am going to lend him my car.
Can—May:
Can means to be able or capable of doing something.
He can operate the machine. (is able to)
Can he operate the machine? (does he know how?)
May means to seek or to give permission.
He may operate the machine. (giving permission)
May he operate the machine? (seeking permission)
Capital—capitol:
Capital refers to a city where a national, state, or province government is located, also to monetary possession, including money.
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States.
He invested most of his capital (money) in the new company.
Capitol refers to the main government building.
His office is in the capitol. (building)
Complement—Compliment:
Complement refers to people or things that go well or work well together.
The advertising program complemented the increased sales effort.
Compliment means to praise.
They complimented us on the increased sales.
To be continued….
Ciao,
الرئيسية 
أحدث الصور 
التسجيل 
دخول 
الخميس سبتمبر 13, 2007 6:18 am
