Words Frequently Confused Part A Notes and In-class exercises

Exercise A Affect –a verb meaning to influence –Did that tearful movie affect you? Effect –a noun meaning the result of some action –a verb meaning to bring change –New glasses effected a remarkable change in his vision, but they had little effect on his looks.

Exercise A All right – correct spelling Alright –incorrect spelling

Exercise A Already – previously –We’re already on top of the mountain. All ready –all are ready –We were all ready to leave.

Exercise A All together –everyone in the same place –The teammates were all together in the gym. Altogether –entirely –I am not altogether convinced that we should go. Let’s pull all together.

Brake –verb meaning to slow yourself down –noun meaning the device to slow down –Skateboarders can use a rake as a brake if they need to brake. Break –verb meaning to fracture –noun meaning something broken –Don’t break your arm while skateboarding; a nasty break like that will require a cast. Exercise A _b100769a50.jpg?v=0 cations/clipart/gifs/rake2.gif ages/CB jpg

Exercise A Capital –serious or important –upper case letter –representative city –money –What is the capital of the United States? –You need capital to start a business. –Capital punishment is controversial. Capitol –government building –We could see the capitol from our hotel.

Exercise A Consul –person appointed to live in a foreign land –The American consul in Iraq is a busy man. Council, Councilor –group that meets –member of such group –The councilors on the Security Council voted for the Canadian resolution. Counsel, Counselor - to advise - advice or adviser - Sue’s aunt counseled her to take judo lessons. - Ask your guidance counselor for help.

Exercise A Desert – a dry region –The car crossed the desert at night. Dessert –last part of a meal –For dessert we ate strawberry pie. Desert - to leave - The rats deserted the sinking ship.

The illness had a strange (affect, effect) on my vision. Exercise A, #1

Exercise A, #2 During lunch, the soccer team was (all together, altogether) at one huge table.

Exercise A, #3 My young cousin knows the (capitol, capital) city of every state in the country.

Exercise A, #4 The (coarse, course) material made her skin itch.

Exercise A, #5 Of (course, coarse), you burned the (desert, dessert) again.

Exercise A, #6 The British (council, consul) took back his insult, but he (counciled, counseled) the representative to leave.

Exercise A, #7 We walked several miles before we reached the door of the (capital, capitol).

Exercise A, #8 Your answer isn’t (all together, altogether) correct, but you’re on the right track.

Exercise A, #9 After all his worry, everything turned out (all right, alright).

Exercise A, #10 Our two fast guards are (complimented, complemented) perfectly by an exceedingly tall center.

Exercise A, #11 A computer (coarse, course) is recommended for anyone planning to go to college.

Exercise A, #12 We traveled for three days across the (desert, dessert).

Exercise A, #13 The actors were (all ready, already) to audition for the play.

Exercise A, #14 If you don’t have your car’s (brakes, breaks) inspected every year, you will be (braking, breaking) the law.

Exercise A, #15 Did you (choose, chose) a topic for your essay yet?