3. Frequently Confused and Misused
Words
Dude, the
right
word is
affect,
with an a.
No, you’re
wrong. The word
should be
effect, with an
e.
4. To, Too, Two
• Use to as a preposition.
Jonathan drove to the seafood shop.
• Use to to begin an infinitive.
He hoped to buy fresh squid.
• Use too to show degree.
The squid was too expensive to purchase.
• Use too as a synonym for also.
So too was the fresh octopus.
• Use two when you mean the number.
Jonathan bought two flounder filets instead.
5. There, Their, They’re
• Use there as an expletive, a placeholder to
delay the subject.
There is a turtle in the road.
• Use there to indicate place.
Across the road is a lake. The turtle hopes to get
there before a car hits him.
• Use their as a possessive pronoun.
Most drivers don’t see the turtle; their eyes are glued
to their cell phones.
• Use they’re as a contraction for they are.
They’re also distracted by other devices, like the
radio and navigation system.
7. Recognize the distinctions among
related words.
3 or more;
Among my
friends
Among ● Between 2 only;
Between
Fred and me
Non-count;
Amount of
butter
Amount ● Number Count;
Number of
cookies
Adjective;
A good essay
Good ● Well Adverb;
He writes
well.
Evident,
unambiguous
Explicit ● Implicit Implied,
ambiguous
Know these
differences!
8. Know the difference that a single new
letter can make.
Before a word
beginning with a
consonant [sound]
A ● An Before a word
beginning with a
vowel [sound]
Before Already ● All ready Completely
prepared
A thought or
conception
Idea ● Ideal The concept of
something
perfect
To suffer the
deprivation of
Lose ● Loose Free from
restraint
Verb; past tense of
are
Were ● Where A place
More to
learn!
9. Know the difference that an apostrophe
can make.
Possessive
pronoun;
belonging to it
Its ● It’s Contraction for
it is or it has
Possessive
pronoun;
belonging to
whom
Whose ● Who’s Contraction for
who is or
who has
Possessive
pronoun;
belonging to
you
Your ● You’re Contraction for
you are
Possessive pronouns
never contain an
apostrophe.
Contractions do
contain an apostrophe.
10. Know the difference a change to a single
letter can make.
Noun form Advice ● Advise Verb form
Usually a verb Affect ● Effect Usually a noun
City, wealth,
important
Capital ● Capitol The building for
lawmaking
To quote Cite ● Site A location
Rough Coarse ● Course Path, route
Praise Compliment ● Complement Goes well with
Put in place Set ● Sit Be seated
Unchanging Stationary ● Stationery Paper
Indicates
comparison
Than ● Then Next
Why is English so
complicated?
11. Don’t let these homonyms [sound alike
words] confuse you.
Agree to or receive Accept ● Except Leave out
Plural present of the
verb be
Are ● Our Possessive pronoun;
belonging to us
Past tense of pass Passed ● Past Gone, by
Go before Precede ● Proceed Carry on
Chief [person], main Principal ● Principle Truth or rule
Correct, a just claim, a
direction
Right ● Write Make letters with an
instrument
Sight, touch, hearing,
smell, taste
Sense ● Since Adverb, conjunction,
or preposition
View, glimpse Sight ● Site A location
Past tense of throw Threw ● Through Beyond
State of the
atmosphere
Weather ● Whether Introduces an
alternative
12. Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”
Your
turn!
Let’s see
what you
can do!
13. Item 1
Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole
pie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and
proceeded to consume slice after slice.
A.whole
B.set
C.preceded
D.No change is necessary.
Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole
A
pie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and
B
proceeded to consume slice after slice.
C
A.whole
B.set
C.preceded
D.No change is necessary.
Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole
A
pie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and
B
proceeded to consume slice after slice.
C
A.whole
B.set
C.preceded
D.No change is necessary.
14. Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe
laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt.
His fashion since is gradually improving.
A.complement
B.compliment
C.sense
D.No change is necessary.
Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe
A
laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt.
B
His fashion since is gradually improving.
C
A.complement
B.compliment
C.sense
D.No change is necessary.
Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe
A
laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt.
B
His fashion since is gradually improving.
C
A.complement
B.compliment
C.sense
D.No change is necessary.
15. If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of
hotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for
dinner.
A.buy
B.by
C.Then
D.No change is necessary.
If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of
A B
hotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for
C
dinner.
A.buy
B.by
C.Then
D.No change is necessary.
If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of
A B
hotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for
C
dinner.
A.buy
B.by
C.Then
D.No change is necessary.
16. Heed my advice, and don’t loose your receipt.
The college bookstore will not accept any excuse
if you need to return those books.
A.advise
B.lose
C.except
D.No change is necessary.
Heed my advice, and don’t loose your receipt.
A B
The college bookstore will not accept any excuse
C
if you need to return those books.
A.advise
B.lose
C.except
D.No change is necessary.
Heed my advice, and don’t loose your receipt.
A B
The college bookstore will not accept any excuse
C
if you need to return those books.
A. advise
B. lose
C. except
D. No change is necessary.
17. The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as
the animals tried to elude the cheetah.
A.herd
B.threw
C.allude
D.No change is necessary.
The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as
A B
the animals tried to elude the cheetah.
C
A.herd
B.threw
C.allude
D.No change is necessary.
The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as
A B
the animals tried to elude the cheetah.
C
A.herd
B.threw
C.allude
D.No change is necessary.
18. Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe
flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,
don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness.
A.May be
B.may be
C.except
D.No change is necessary.
Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe
A B
flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,
don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness.
C
A.May be
B.may be
C.except
D.No change is necessary.
Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe
A B
flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,
don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness.
C
A.May be
B.may be
C.except
D.No change is necessary.
19. Item 7
When there are fewer students in a class, the
professor has less worries that everyone is
getting individual attention.
A. their
B. less
C. fewer
D. No change is necessary.
When there are fewer students in a class, the
A B
professor has less worries that everyone is
C
getting individual attention.
A. their
B. less
C. fewer
D. No change is necessary.
When there are fewer students in a class, the
A B
professor has less worries that everyone is
C
getting individual attention.
A. their
B. less
C. fewer
D. No change is necessary.
20.
21. Check list for final draft: Parts and Organization
The Beginning
• Set the frame: Introduce your long quotation; explanation;
transition; thesis
The Body
• Exposition: descriptions of places, people, and dialogue
worked into a narrative form.
• The Rising Action: Events or tension leading to the climax
• The Climax: The emotional high point! (short and long
sentences for suspense)
• The Falling Action: Tensions subside
The Ending
• The Resolution
• The significance of the event
• The framed conclusion
22. Check list for final draft: The Basic Features
A Well-Told Story
• Construct a narrative outline
• Add specific narrative actions
• Use prepositional phrases
• A Sentence Strategy: Time Transitions and Verb Tenses
A Vivid Presentation of Places and People
• Use concrete naming and specific detailing
• Describe the place
• Recall key people
An Indication of the Event’s Significance
• Use showing and telling
• Reflect on the conflict and its significance
• Create a dominant impression
23. Check list for final draft: Skills and Strategies
Framing: Have you tied the end of your essay back to the beginning?
Sentence Length: Have you used short and long sentences to build
suspense?
Similes and Metaphors: Have you used comparisons to help tell your
story?
Dialogue: Have you used conversation to show the important parts of
your story?
Transitions: Have you used general transitions to connect pieces of
your story?
Temporal Transitions: Have you used time transitions so the reader
can understand the order in which the events occurred?
Check for misused words: Have you reread your essay carefully to
make sure you are using the correct words?
