Most Commonly Misused Words
1. Accept vs. Except
Accept is a verb that means “to agree to receive something.”
Example: Ukida did not accept my invitation to dinner.
Except is usually a preposition that means “excluding”
Example: The entire family except for my sister Jill attended the reunion.
Except, used as a verb, means “to omit or leave out.”
Example: Excepting a stop for gas, I drove seven hours without stopping to return home.
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2. Affect vs. Effect
Affect is usually a verb meaning “to influence.”
Example: His opinion will affect my decision.
Affect, used as a verb, can also mean “to pretend to have or to feel (something).”
Example: She affected a concern for those who had lost their jobs.
Affect, used as a noun, means “an expressed or observed emotional response.”
Example: When the child’s toy car was taken away, he displayed a strong affect, sulking in the corner until offered a toy train instead.
Effect is usually a noun meaning “result” or “force.”
Example: His opinion had a great effect on my decision.
An easy way to remember the differences is A Very Effective Noun, which can remind you of Affect = Verb/ Effect = Noun.
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3. All ready vs. Already
All ready means “completely ready” or “everyone is ready.”
Example: The instructor asked the climber if he was all ready to begin.
Already means “by or before a specified time.”
Example: The students were already late for the bus.
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4. Among vs. Between
Among is used to discuss multiple objects that are not distinct. It indicates the subject is in the vicinity of objects or people, but does not give the subject’s exact location.
Example: She was forced to choose among a myriad of science classes.
Example: Fear spread among the students as the pop quiz was announced.
Between is used to describe a set of distinct (countable), separately named objects. It also gives the precise location of the subject - the subject is between specific objects.
It comes down to the number of objects being discussed, and how distinct those objects are.
Example: The race between Amy and Emeril was very close.
Example: She needed to choose between physics, chemistry, and biology.
In the second example, even though you are discussing more than two objects, each of them is distinct, so you use “between.”
Sometimes, however, “between” can be used with a plural noun. In the following “location-based” examples, both “between” and “among” could be correct.
Example: Simon walked between the pillars in the church.
In the first sentence, Simon walked between specific pillars or in an aisle flanked by rows of pillars. “Between” gives the reader a much clearer idea of Simon’s exact position relative to the pillars.
Example: Simon walked among the pillars in the church.
In the second sentence, “among” suggests that Simon wandered around the pillars, not between two individual pillars.
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5. Amount vs. Number
Amount is used to denote a quantity of something that cannot be divided into separate units.
Example: There was a small amount of water in the glass.
Number is used when the objects involved are discrete or can be counted.
Example: A large number of students participated in the festivities.
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6. Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure
Assure means “to convince,” or “to guarantee” and usually takes a direct object.
Example: I assure you that I will not be late.
Ensure means “to make certain.”
Example: Ensure that the door is locked when you leave.
Insure means “to guard against loss.”
Example: Please insure this package for $100.
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7. Compare to vs. Compare with
Compare to means “assert a likeness.”
Example: My grandmother often compared me to my mother.
Compare with means “analyze for similarities and differences.”
Example: The detective compared the photograph with the drawing.
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8. Farther vs. Further
Farther refers to distance.
Example: Matt traveled farther than all of the others.
Further indicates “additional degree, time, or quantity.”
Example: The airline representative told us to expect further delays.
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9. Lay vs. Lie
Lay means “to put” and takes a direct object.
Example: Please lay your scarf on the back of the chair.
Lay means “to build” and takes a direct object.
Example: The peacekeeping talks are laying the groundwork for a new form of government.
Lay means “to produce” and takes a direct object.
Example: The hens were laying eggs in the barn.
Lie means “to recline, rest, or stay,” or “to take a position of rest” and does not take a direct object.
Example: Ioanna likes to lie down when she gets home from school.
Lie means “to be located” and does not take a direct object.
Example: The corn fields lie to the west.
Both “lay” and “lie” have past tense forms—the past tense form of “lay” is “laid” (not so bad), while the past tense form of “lie” is “lay.” (Yes, pay close attention to this!)
Present tense Past tense
Lay down the book now. She laid down the book.
I lie down on the couch. I lay down on the couch after dinner.
Ask yourself: should I be using the present or past tense here? If your answer is the present tense, you have a choice between “lay” (which requires an object) and “lie” (which doesn’t take an object). If your answer is the past tense, you have a choice between “laid” (which requires an object) and “lay” (which doesn’t take an object).
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