1. accuse, allege - Accuse means “to blame” or “to bring a charge against.” Allege means “to claim something that has not been proved.”

Examples: We mistakenly accused an innocent bystander.

They allege that their employer ignored regulations.

2. adapt, adopt - Adapt, a verb, means “to change.” Adopt, a verb, means “to take as one’s own.” 

Examples: We adapted our sleeping habits to the short Arctic days. They adopted the homeless waif.

3. advice, advise - Advice is a noun meaning “an opinion.” Advise is a verb meaning “to give an opinion.”

Noun: I need your advice.

Verb: Hikers are advised to take along a canteen of water.

4. affect, effect - Affect is almost always a verb meaning “to influence.” Effect, usually a noun, means “result.” Occasionally, effect is a verb meaning “to bring about” or “to cause.”

Verb: The years spent in the mines affected his lungs.

Noun: One effect of her travels was a new open-mindedness.

Verb: His administration effected changes in foreign policy.

5. aggravate - Aggravate means “to make worse.” Avoid using this word to mean “to annoy.”

Less acceptable: He was aggravated by their rude manners.

Preferred: Scratching will only aggravate the mosquito bite.

6. allot, a lot, alot - Allot, a verb, means “to divide in parts” or “to give out in shares.” A lot is an informal expression meaning “a great many” or “a great amount.” Avoid using it in formal writing. 

Alot is a non-standard spelling and should never be used.

Verb:  The funds were allotted equally among the researchers.

Non-standard:  She has alot of relatives.

Informal: She has a lot of relatives.

Formal:  She has many relatives.

7. all ready, already - All ready is an expression functioning as an adjective and meaning “ready.” Already is an adverb meaning “by or before this time” or “even now.”

Adjective: I am all ready to listen to your report.

Adverb: I have already made a decision.

8. all together, altogether - All together means “all at once.” Altogether means “completely” or “in all.”

Examples:  We will march all together in the rally.

                    You are altogether mistaken about this motive.

9. among, between - Among and between are both prepositions. Among always implies three or more. Between is generally used with just two things.

Examples: There is a feeling of discontent among the citizens.

Juan got between Carlos and me.

10. amount, number - Use amount with quantities that cannot be counted. Use number with things that can be counted.

Examples: a small amount of cream, a large amount of profit

A number of empty bottles, a number of  books

11. anxious - Anxious means “worried,” “uneasy,” or “fearful.” Do not use it as a substitute for eager.

Ambiguous: I am always anxious to meet  new people.

Clear:  I am always eager to meet new people. 

I am always anxious about meeting new people for the first time.

12. anyone, any one, everyone, every one - Anyone and everyone mean “any person” and “every person.” Any one means “any single person (or thing),” and every one means “every single person (or thing).”

Examples: Anyone may come to the meeting.

 Any one of these students could be elected.

Everyone complained about the service.

Every one of the dishes was broken.

13. as - Do not use this conjunction to mean “because” or “since.”

Less acceptable: We stayed home, as our mother was sick, and prepared dinner.

Preferred: We stayed home, since our mother was sick, and prepared dinner. 

14. as to - As to is awkward. Replace it with about.

Non-standard: Scientists have several theories as to how the continents were formed.

Correct: Scientists have several theories about how the continents were formed. 

15. at about - Avoid using at with about. Simply eliminate at or about.

Less acceptable: We arrived at about  lunch time.

Preferred: We arrived about lunch time.

16. awhile, a while - Awhile is an adverb, which in itself means “for a while.” A while is an article and a noun and is usually used after a preposition.

Adverb: Rest awhile before you leave.

Noun: Stay for a while and keep me company.

17. beat, win - Beat means “to overcome (an opponent).” Win means “to achieve victory in.” Do not use win in place of beat.

Non-standard: The Dodgers won the Yankees in the World Series.

Correct: The Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series. 

18. because - Do not use because after the reason. Say “the reason is … that” or reword the sentence.

Non-standard: The reason we left is   because we got tired.

Correct: The reason we left is that we got tired.

We left because we got tired. 

19. beside, besides - As prepositions, these two words have different meanings and cannot be interchanged. Beside means “at the side of” or “close to.” Besides means “in addition to.”

Examples: The athletic field is beside the school.

Who besides you will come to the play?

20. bring, take - Bring means “to carry from a distant place to a nearer one.” Take means the opposite: “to carry from a near place to a more distant place.”

Examples: Please bring your paper to me.

Will you take the dog to the veterinarian?

21. bunch - Bunch means “a number of things of the same kind.” Avoid using this word to mean “group.”

Less acceptable: A bunch of us went downtown.

Preferred: A group of us went downtown.

 She bought a bunch of grapes.

22. burst, bust, busted -  - Burst is the standard present, past, and past participle of the verb burst. Bust and busted are non-standard forms. 

Non-standard: I will bust if I take one more bite.

 He shouldn’t have busted the blister.

Correct: I will burst if I take one more bite.

He shouldn’t have burst the blister.

23. can, may -  - Use can to mean “to have the ability to.” Use may to mean “to have permission to” or “to be possible or likely to.”

Ability: This scale can register up to five hundred pounds.

Permission: Yes, you may leave.

Possibility: It may rain today.

24. can’t help but - This is a non-standard expression. Use can’t help plus a gerund instead.

Non-standard: I can’t help but wonder why you did not call this morning.

Correct:  I can’t help wondering why you did not call this morning.

25. clipped words -  Avoid using clipped or shortened words, such as gym, phone, and photo, in formal writing.

Informal: The plans for a new gym were approved.

The phone has been out of order all day.

Formal: The plans for a new gymnasium were approved.

The telephone has been out of order all day. 

26. condemn, condone - Condemn means “to express strong disapproval of.” Condone means “to pardon or overlook.”

Examples: They condemned him for his neglect of the baby.

I cannot condone such cruelty.

27. continual, continuous - Continual means “occurring again and again in succession.” Continuous means “occurring without interruption.”

Examples: His continual coffee breaks caused his dismissal.

                  His continuous absence caused his dismissal.

28. different from, different than - Different from is preferred.

Less acceptable: Your concept of fun is different than mine.

Preferred: Your concept of fun is different from mine.

29. due to - Due to means “caused by” and should be used only when the words caused by can logically be substituted.

Non-standard:  She became blind due to a freak accident.

Correct:  Her blindness was due to a freak accident.

30. due to the fact that - Replace this wordy expression with since or because.

Less acceptable: Due to the fact that he was undernourished, he easily became sick.

Preferred: Since he was undernourished, he easily became sick.

31. emigrate, immigrate - Emigrate means “to leave a country for a new residency.” Immigrate means “to enter a country to establish a residency.”

Examples: During the Potato Famine, many Irish people emigrated from Ireland.

Many Irish people immigrated to the United States.

32. farther, further - Farther refers to distance. Further means “additional” or “to a greater degree or extent.”

Examples: The sun is much farther from us than the moon. 

We want further information from the committee about the new proposals.

33. fewer, less -  Use fewer with things that can be counted. Use less with qualities and quantities that cannot be counted.

Examples: fewer complaints, fewer problems, fewer diseases

 Less coffee, less incentive, less trouble

34. former, latter - Former refers to the first of two previously mentioned items. Latter refers to the second of the two.

Examples:  The box contained hollyhocks and sweet williams. The former we planted along the wall; the latter we thought would be more suited for the rock garden.

35. good, lovely, nice  Whenever possible, replace these weak and overused words with a more specific adjective.

Weak: good description, lovely vacation, nice taste

Better: clear description, exotic vacation, refined taste

36. hanged, hung - Use hanged to mean “executed.” Use hung to mean “suspended.”

Examples: The revolutionary council hanged the ministers of the former government.

                  Two beautiful spider plants hung from the high ceiling in the kitchen.

37. in, into - In refers to position. Into suggests motion.

Position: Each piece of silverware is in the correct place.

Motion: Put all the silverware into the drawer.

38. irregardless - Avoid this word. Use regardless.

Non-standard: Irregardless of your advice, I voted for Bob.

Correct: Regardless of your advice, I voted for Bob.

39. judicial, judicious - Judicial means “relating to the administration of justice.” Judicious means “showing wisdom.”

Examples: The Supreme Court is our highest judicial  tribunal.

 Her judicious decision was applauded by all.

40. just - When just is used as an adverb meaning “no more than,” it should be placed right before the word it modifies.

Less acceptable: Just mow the backyard, not the front.

Mow just the backyard, not the front.

41. kind of, sort of - Do not use kind of and sort of to mean “ rather” or “somewhat.”

Non-standard: You look kind of pale.

Correct: You look somewhat pale.

42. lay, lie - Lay means “to put or set (something)down.” Its principal parts – lay, laying, laid, and laid – are usually followed by a direct object. Lie means “to recline.” Its principal parts – lie, lying, lay, and lain – are never followed by a direct object.

Lay: Lay your books on the desk.

They are laying the carpet tomorrow morning.

He gently laid the eggs in the basket.

         She had laid forty slate slabs to form the foundation of the walkway.

Lie: Lie down for an hour and rest.

        The children are lying on the floor.

After I became tired, I lay down and rested.

The dog has lain there all afternoon.

43. leave, let - Leave means “to allow to remain.” Let means “to permit.”

Non-standard: Leave me to do this myself.

Let the parakeet alone. 

Correct: Let me do this by myself. - 

Leave the parakeet alone.

44. like   Like is a preposition and should not be used in place of the conjunction as.

Non-standard:  He is crafty like a fox is crafty.

Correct:  He is crafty as a fox is crafty.

                He is crafty like a fox.

45. loose, lose  Loose is usually an adjective or part of such idioms as cut loose, turn loose, or break loose. Lose is always a verb, generally meaning “to miss from one’s possession.”

Examples:  The door hinge was loose. The goal broke loose from the pen.

Don’t lose this telephone number.

46. mad - In formal usage, the adjective mad means “insane.” Used informally, mad means “angry.”

Informal:   I am mad at you for ignoring me.

Formal:     Jane Eyre learned that Rochester’s wife was mad.

47. maybe, may be - Maybe is an adverb meaning “perhaps.” May be is a helping verb and a verb.

Adverb: Maybe, I can investigate this matter myself.

Verb:     You may be right.

48. only - Only should be placed in front of the word it logically modifies.

Informal: Only Steve bought a balloon. (No one else bought a balloon.)

Formal:    Steve bought only a balloon. (Steve bought nothing else.)

49. outside of -   Do not use this expression to mean “besides” or “except.” 

Non-standard:  No one came to the party outside of Dinah.

Correct:  No one came to the party except Dinah.

50. parameter - This word is correctly used only in mathematical contexts, in which it designates a variable. Do not use parameter to mean “boundary,” “limit,” “scope,” “detail,” and so on.

Less acceptable: These are the parameters of the problem.

Preferred:  These are the limits of the problem.

51. persecute, prosecute - Persecute means “to subject to ill treatment.” Prosecute means “to bring a lawsuit against.”

Examples: He was persecuted for his religious beliefs.

Jack is being prosecuted for libel.

52. plurals that do not end in –s - The plurals of certain nouns from Greek and Latin are formed as they were in their original languages. Words such as criteria, media, and phenomena are plural and should not be treated as if they were singular (criterion, medium, phenomenon).

Incorrect: That criteria for selecting a winner is unfair.

The mass media is responsible for the fast and accurate distribution of information.

Correct: Those criteria for selecting a winner are unfair.

              The mass media are responsible for the fast and accurate distribution of information.

53. precede, proceed - Precede means “to go before.” Proceed means “to move or go forward.”

Examples:  The preceding paragraph introduced the topic.

 Proceed to the next step.

54. principal, principle - As an adjective, principal means “most important” or “chief”; as a noun, it means “a person who has controlling authority.” Principle, always a noun, means “a fundamental law.”

Adjective:  His principal goal is to make money.

Noun:  Mr. Clark is the school’s principal.

Noun:  “Thou shall not kill” is a principle of many religions.

55. raise, rise -  - Raise usually takes a direct object. Rise never takes a direct object.

Examples: Raise the flag at dawn. 

Smoke rises from the chimneys every  morning.

56. real - Real means “authentic.” The use of real to mean “very” or “really” should be avoided in formal writing.

Informal:  Dwight was real discouraged.

Formal: Dwight was very discouraged.

57. set, sit - Set means “to put (something) in a certain place.” Its principal parts – set, setting, set, and set – are usually followed by a direct object. Sit means “to be seated.” Its principal parts – sit, sitting, sat, and sat – are never followed by a direct object.

Examples: Set the chair in this corner.

 Sit in a chair before you buy it.

58. shape - The meaning of shape is “spatial form.” In formal writing, avoid using shape to mean “condition.”

Informal:  The driver of the car is in serious shape.

Formal:    The driver of the car is in serious condition.

59. slow, slowly - Although slow can now be used as either an adjective or an adverb, careful writers use it as an adjective. Slowly is preferred as the adverb.   

Less acceptable: Crawl slow along this ledge.

Preferred: Crawl slowly along this ledge.

60. so - So is a coordinating conjunction. It should be avoided when you mean “so that.”

Less acceptable:  Move over so I can sit down.

Preferred:  Move over so that I can sit down.

61. that, which, who - That refers to people or things; which refers only to things; who refers only to people.

Examples: I forgot the key that (or which) opens this door.

                  She is an actress that (or who) will do very well in the role of Lady Macbeth.

62. till, until - These words are interchangeable. Be careful, however, of spelling. Till should not be spelled til or ‘til; until always ends in one l.

Example:  The children played till (or until) it was dark.

63. unique - Unique means “one of a kind.” It should not be used to mean “odd,” “interesting,” or “unusual.” Since the word means “one of a kind,” such expressions as most unique, very unique, and extremely unique are illogical.

Illogical:  He enjoys a most unique life style.

Correct:   He enjoys a unique life style.

64. when, where - Do not use when or where directly after a linking verb. Do not use where as a substitute for that.

Non-standard:  A good memory was when my dad gave me a pony.

An automat is where food is dispensed by machines.

I read where old coins are good investment.

Correct:  A good memory is of being given a pony by my dad.

                An automat is a cafeteria where food is dispensed by machines.

I read that old coins are a good investment.

65. –wise - Avoid using this suffix to create new words for a particular situation.

Less acceptable: Energywise, this freezer is very efficient.

Preferred: This freezer is very energy-efficient.