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Common Confusing Words

This document discusses commonly confused words and provides examples of them used in sentences to test the reader's understanding of the subtle differences. It presents 37 pairs of words and sentences to choose the right word for the context. Examples include adverse vs averse, affected vs effected, imply vs infer, and lay vs lie. The goal is to help writers distinguish words that are often mixed up to improve clarity and avoid mistaken meanings.

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Devy Magat Galang
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
388 views

Common Confusing Words

This document discusses commonly confused words and provides examples of them used in sentences to test the reader's understanding of the subtle differences. It presents 37 pairs of words and sentences to choose the right word for the context. Examples include adverse vs averse, affected vs effected, imply vs infer, and lay vs lie. The goal is to help writers distinguish words that are often mixed up to improve clarity and avoid mistaken meanings.

Uploaded by

Devy Magat Galang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Common Confusing Words

Or Are They Commonly Confused?


Sponsored by The Center for Teaching and Learning at UIS

A good writer cares about words and their distinctions. As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the
right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” The
writer who uses “simplistic,” for example, when she means “simple” risks being labeled a simpleton.
Referring to a comprehensive dictionary like The American Heritage is essential. Usage books, like
American Usage and Style: The Consensus, edited by Roy Copperud, are also helpful tools for indicating
the spread of opinion on points of usage. A thesaurus can be helpful when used to trigger a word already
in your vocabulary. But simply plucking out a near-synonym can result in some disastrous prose because
the word may not fit the context of your sentence. So use a thesaurus judiciously.

The sentences below present some pairs of commonly confused words. Test your sensitivity to the
language by choosing the word that best completes the sentence. Answers are on the back of this sheet.

1. Conditions were (adverse/averse) to her undertaking.


2. She was (adverse/averse) to his proposal.
3. This (affected/effected) the entire course of events.
4. He (affected/effected) a stunning reversal.
5. How will this (affect/effect) you?
6. What is the (affect/effect) on you?
7. He made an (allusion/illusion) to Shakespeare.
8. Laser photography gives an (allusion/illusion) of reality.
9. She is (altogether/all together) convinced.
10. They were (altogether/all together) at the reunion.
11. They hoped to find one gem (among/between) all the applicants.
12. We had difficulty choosing (among/between) the two applicants.
13. We had the property (apprised/appraised).
14. She (apprised/appraised) us of the situation.
15. Her yawn revealed that she was (disinterested/uninterested).
16. Umpires should be (disinterested/uninterested) observers.
17. She tried unsuccessfully to (illicit/elicit) an answer.
18. He was arrested for engaging in (illicit/elicit) activity.
19. The writer (immigrated/emigrated) from his native country and gained status as an
(immigrant, emigrant) in Mexico.
20. I would like to make one (farther/further) remark.
21. She could walk much (farther/further) than I.
22. An apple a day is (healthy/healthful).
23. An apple a day keeps you (healthy/healthful).
24. Her actions (implied/inferred) that she still liked him.
25. He (implied/inferred) from her actions that she liked him.
26. In his will he made (explicit/implicit) some provisions that had previously been left
(explicit/implicit).
27. I have (laid/lain) in bed all day.
28. He (lay/laid) the book on the counter.
29. Pharmacists are (prescribed/proscribed) from (prescribing/proscribing) medicine
without a license.
30. She was praised for her wit and her (simple/simplistic) style.
31. Her (simple/simplistic) answer ignored the complexities.
32. Many animals (comprise/constitute) a zoo.
33. A zoo (comprises/is comprised of) many animals.

Last Edited 4/2/2009 Page 1 of 2


Common Confusing Words
Or Are They Commonly Confused?
Sponsored by The Center for Teaching and Learning at UIS

34. I want the car (irregardless/regardless) of its cost.


35. He had (less/fewer) men than in the previous campaign.
36. We spent the evening (like/as) in the old days.
37. She looks (like/as) her father.

Answers:
1. adverse 13. appraised 25. inferred
2. averse 14. apprised 26. explicit; implicit
3. affected 15. uninterested 27. lain
4. effected 16. disinterested 28. laid
5. affect 17. elicit 29. proscribed; prescribing
6. effect 18. illicit 30. simple
7. allusion 19. emigrated; immigrant 31. simplistic
8. illusion 20. further 32. constitute
9. altogether 21. farther 33. comprises
10. all together 22. healthful 34. regardless
11. among 23. healthy 35. fewer
12. between 24. implied 36. as
37. like

Last Edited 4/2/2009 Page 2 of 2

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