COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS AND CONFUSINGLY RELATED WORDS

COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS

There are a lot of words in English that look or sound alike but have very different meanings. Words that sound alike but are different in spelling, meaning or origin is called homophone. Writers often confuse and misuse these words. It’s helpful to use a dictionary to look up the meaning of the word in question. Here is the example of commonly misused words with definition.

Aloud , Allowed

Aloud(adv) - is an adverb that means out loud or audibly.
She sang the song aloud to her class.

Allowed(v) - is a verb that means permitted.
The boy was not allowed to play video games until he finished his homework.


Allusion, Illusion

Allusion(n) - an indirect reference
His allusion to the previous tenant was out of place.

Illusion(n) - applies to something appearing to be true or real, but actually not existing or being quite different from what it seems.
Danby’s paintings create a striking illusion of reality.


Appraise, Apprise

Appraise(v) - means set a value on.
I have had my house appraised by an evaluator.

Apprise(v) - means make aware of.
All parties were fully apprised of the state of the negotiations.


Ascent, Assent

Ascent(n) - climb
The ascent to the top mountain is not easy.

Assent(n) - agreement
Dad gave his assent to the marriage.


Accept, Except

Accept (v) - is a verb meaning to receive.
She will not accept the job offer.

Except (prep) - is usually a preposition meaning excluding.
No one is allowed to enter my room, except you.


Affect, Effect

Affect (v) - is usually a verb meaning to influence.
Certain foods may affect our mood.

Effect(n) - is usually a noun meaning result.
She wanted to know the effect of television on children.


Cite , Site

Cite(v) - is a verb that means to quote as an authority
I cited several eminent scholars in my study of water resources.

Site(n) - is a noun meaning location
They chose a new site for the factory just outside town.


Elicit, Illicit

Elicit(v) - is a verb that means to draw out.
His question elicited a sharp reply.

Illicit(adj) - meaning unlawful.
Illicit trade in narcotics.


Hear, Here

Hear(v) - to perceive by the ear
Do you want to hear a joke?

Here(adv) - in this place, in this spot or locality (opposed to there)
Take off your shoes here.


Loose, Lose

Loose(adj) - is an opposite of tight.
This suit is loose on me.

Lose(v) - is a verb meaning to misplace, to be defeated.
I lose my lunchbox.


Mail, Male

Mail(n) - correspondence.
Many said that a male and female brain are different in structures and chemicals.

Male(n) - masculine.
I’ve just received your mail.


Principal, Principle

Principal(n) - is a noun meaning the head of a school or an organization or a sum of money.
A school principal should have leadership skills.

Principle(n) - is a noun meaning a basic truth or law.
I’m not going to change my principles.


Their, There, They’re

Their - is a possessive pronoun.
Their application is being validated.

There(adv) - in that place.
He is eating lunch there.

They're - contraction of they are.
They’re my favorite chemical scientists.


To, Too, Two

To(prep) - is a preposition meaning in the direction of, toward
It is the bad way to ask for help.

Too(adv) - is an adverb meaning also, excessively
He likes swimming too.

Two - is a number
Only two cheese cakes left.


CONFUSINGLY RELATED WORDS

There are words that cause problems when the speaker is not able to distinguish between them. They are similiar in meaning or pronounciation but can not be used interchangeably.
Here is the example of confusingly related words with definition.

Among, Between

Among(prep) - is used when referring to three or more.
I was standing among a group of schoolchildren.

Between(prep) - is used when referring to two.
The post office is between the bank and the shop.


Borrow, Lend

Borrow(v) – to obtain or receive (something) on loan with the promise or understanding of returning it or its equivalent.
He borrowed my pen yesterday.

Lend(v) – to give or allow the use temporarily on the condition that the same or its equivalent will be returned.
She lends me her book today.


Explicit, Implicit

Explicit (adj) – clear, easy to understand, evident, unambiguous
My teacher give an explicit intruction.

Implicit (adj) – implied, ambiguous
That was implicit in what she said.


Fewer and Less

Fewer - is used with nouns that can be counted
I have fewer pairs of shoes than I used to have.

Less - is used with nouns that cannot be counted.
There is less water in the lake than last summer.


Good, Well

Good(adj) - is an adjective and is used to modify nouns and linking verbs
I have a good essay.

Well(adv) - is an adverb and is used to modify action verbs.
She sings well.


Many, Much

Many - is used when referring to a large but definite number. Many refers to things that can be counted.
I have too many shoes.

Much - is used when referring to something great in quantity, amount, extent or degree. Much refers to things that can not be counted.
You have too much time.


Remind, Remember

Remind(v) – to cause a person to remember, cause (a person) to think of (someone or something).
Remind me to return this book to the library.

Remember(v) – to recall to the mind with effort; think of again.
I remember to lock the door.


REFERENCES:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0200807.html
http://www.grammarbook.com/homonyms/confusing-words-letter-a.asp
http://www.wordsmile.com/pengertian-contoh-kalimat-homophone-inggris
http://wsuonline.weber.edu/wrh/words.htm
http://iam-wahid.blogspot.co.id/2012/09/confusingly-related-words.html
http://english-problems.blogspot.co.id/2012/04/confusingly-related-verbs.html?m=1
http://www.unh.edu/writing/cwc/handouts/grammar/Commonly%20confused%20wordsFINAL.pdf
http://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/commonlyconfusedwords_000.pdf