confused and misused words and phrases

Confused and Misused Words and Phrases

Dude, the right

word is affect,

with an a.

No, you’re wrong. The word should be effect, with an e.

This presentation advices you on

words or phrases that are

commonly misused or confused.

This presentation advices you on

words or phrases that are

commonly misused or confused.

Dude, that’s

advises, with an s, not a c.

On the Explore Test, an item evaluating this skill might look like this . . .

Sample Item

My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re

hoping that their lunch stays down, for their are

rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.

A. theirB. they’reC. thereD. No change is necessary.

My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re Ahoping that their lunch stays down, for their are B Crumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.


My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re Ahoping that their lunch stays down, for there are B Crumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.


Is the word confused or

misused at A, B, or C?

Is the word confused or

misused at A, B, or C?

Recognize misspel led/correctly spel led words and phrases.

Alright ● All rightAlot ● A lot

Should of ● Should haveSuppose to ● Supposed to

XX

XX

Spelled wrong!Spelled wrong!

Recognize the distinctions among related words.

Adjective;A good essay

Good ● Well Adverb;He writes well.

Evident, unambiguous

(clear)

Explicit ● Implicit Implied, ambiguous (unclear)

Know these differences!Know these

differences!

Know the diff erence 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]

To suffer the deprivation of

Lose ● Loose Free from restraint

Verb; past tense of are

Were ● Where A place

More to learn!

More to learn!

Know the diff erence 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

Indicates comparison

Than ● Then Next

Why is English so complicated?

Why is English so complicated?

Don’t let these homonyms [sound al ike words] confuse you.

Agree to or receive Accept ● Except Leave out

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

Past tense of throw Threw ● Through Beyond

State of the atmosphere

Weather ● Whether Introduces an alternative

To, Too, Two

• Use to as a preposition.Jonathan drove to the seafood shop.

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.The fresh octopus looked delicious, too.

• Use two when you mean the number.Jonathan bought two flounder filets instead.

At many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary!

X

When in doubt, rely on “gut” feelings.

Your eyes have seen in print — and your brain has registered — all of the possible

words that you will encounter for this skill. If you don’t recognize the right answer, go

with the one that feels right.

Hey, I’ve seen that word before!

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!

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. wholeB. setC. precededD. No change is necessary.

Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole Apie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and Bproceeded to consume slice after slice. C


Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole Apie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and Bproceeded to consume slice after slice. C


Item 2

Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe

laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt.

His fashion since is gradually improving.

A. complementB. complimentC. senseD. No change is necessary.

Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe Alaces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. BHis fashion since is gradually improving. C


Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe Alaces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. BHis fashion since is gradually improving. C


Item 3

If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of

hotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for

dinner.

A. buyB. byC. ThenD. No change is necessary.

If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of A Bhotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for Cdinner.


If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of A Bhotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for Cdinner.


Item 4

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. adviseB. loseC. exceptD. No change is necessary.

Heed my advice, and don’t loose your receipt. A BThe college bookstore will not accept any excuse Cif you need to return those books.


Heed my advice, and don’t loose your receipt. A BThe college bookstore will not accept any excuse Cif you need to return those books.


Item 5

The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as

the animals tried to elude the cheetah.

A. herdB. threwC. alludeD. No change is necessary.

The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as A Bthe animals tried to elude the cheetah. C


The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as A Bthe animals tried to elude the cheetah. C


Item 6

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 beB. may beC. exceptD. No change is necessary.

Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe A Bflirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,

don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness. C


Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe A Bflirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,

don’t accept any excuse for his tardiness. C


Item 7

We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for

the charity event, but today we’re exhausted after

spending all night preparing the desserts.

A. we’reB. wereC. desertsD. No change is necessary.

We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for Athe charity event, but today we’re exhausted after Bspending all night preparing the desserts. C


We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for Athe charity event, but today we’re exhausted after Bspending all night preparing the desserts. C


Item 8

Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he

won’t loose his scholarship. As he walked past

the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.

A. pastB. loseC. passedD. No change is necessary.

Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he Awon’t loose his scholarship. As he walked past B Cthe diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.


Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he Awon’t loose his scholarship. As he walked past B Cthe diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.


Item 9

Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house.

He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions

except retiling the master bathroom since it

would be too much work.

A. acceptB. acceptC. senseD. No change is necessary.

Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house. AHe has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions

except retiling the master bathroom since it B Cwould be too much work.


Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house. AHe has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions

except retiling the master bathroom since it B Cwould be too much work.


confused and misused words and phrases

Documents

misused words

right word

related words

possible words

theirtheyrethereno change

titos taco palace

health inspectors

filthy kitchen