The following words are often used incorrectly.
Accept/except
accept: verb (take or receive)
I accept your advice about taking this course.
except: (not include)
Everyone except the young man likes it.
Advice/advise
advice: noun ("c” has an “s” sound)
She gives good advice.
advise: verb ("s” has a “z” sound)
She advises several students every day.
Affect/effect
affect: verb
He was affected by the new grading system.
effect: noun
The effect was great.
Beside/besides
beside: preposition (location)
Put the paper beside the desk.
besides: adverb (in addition)
Besides the math problems, he also did his essay exam.
Ensure/Insure/Assure
ensure: verb (make sure of)
If you want to ensure that you receive a good grade, do your homework every night.
insure: verb (protect oneself through insurance)
Be sure to insure yourself against theft. (Have an insurance policy.)
assure: verb (cause someone to believe or trust in something)
He assured me that his check was valid.
I assure you that this medicine is good.
Farther/further
farther: adverb, adjective (distance) — notice the word “far” which will help you remember this word always has to do with distance.
He walked farther than he intended.
further: adverb, adjective (more)
There is nothing further to say.
Lie/Lay
(to) lie, lay (past), lain (participle): verb (be in a flat position or stay in a constant position)
He was lying on the floor.
The machines lay idle for 2 months. (past tense)
(to) lay, laid (past), laid (participle): verb (put down)
Lay your coat over there.
He laid his coat down on the desk.
(to) lie, lied (past) lied (participle): verb (tell an untruth)
If you lie to me, I will find out.
He lied to his teacher about his grade. (past tense)
lie: (noun) a false statement
Never tell a lie to your mother.
May be/maybe
maybe: adverb (perhaps)
Maybe I should ask the professor about it today.
may be: modal + verb (might be)
He may be out of town for a week.
Passed/past
passed: verb (past tense of “to pass")
He passed the materials out to the students.
past: adjective, preposition, or noun
In the past, machines were larger and more cumbersome.
In past years, life was more difficult.
He went past the tall building without looking.
Precede/proceed
precede: verb (go before)
The president’s speech preceded (went before) the other speeches.
proceed: verb (begin or continue)
First show us your proposal and then proceed with the project.
Raise/rise/arise
raise: transitive verb—followed by object (move someone or something to a higher position)
She raised the book up above her head.
rise: intransitive verb—not followed by object (go to a higher position)
The tuition is rising higher each quarter.
arise: verb (come into being)
A problem has arisen.
Than/then
than: preposition (used only in comparison)
He had more than she did.
then: adverb (time)
He went home. Then he went to bed.
Their/there/they’re
their: determiner of possession for “them"
Their building was destroyed.
there: adverb or pronoun
Then and there she quit trying to get a good grade.
There is no other student as good as she.
they’re: contraction for “they are”
They’re late again.
Who’s/whose
who’s: contraction for “who is”
Who’s coming to visit?
whose: determiner pronoun
Whose car is this?
This is the man whose house burned down.
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