Vocabulary

Everyday / Every day Everyday is an adjective that means commonplace, ordinary, or normal. – These shoes are great for everyday wear – You shouldn't wear an everyday outfit to the wedding – Don't use the everyday dishes - it's a special occasion Every day Every day means "each day." – I go to the park every day – I have to work every day this week except Friday – Every day I feel a little better

Farther / Further Farther refers to length or distance. It is the comparative form of the word far when referring to distance. comparative – London is farther north than Juneau. Refers to distance Further means "to a greater degree," "additional," or "additionally." It refers to time or amount. It is the comparative form of the word far when meaning "much."comparative – This plan requires further study. (Meaning "additional study," refers to amount) – According to my timetable, we should be further along. (Refers to time)

Formerly/Formally Formerly means earlier (adv.) – Formerly, I was a farmer. Formally means properly or officially (adv.) – My attendance was formally requested.

Its/It’s It's is a contraction for it is or it has. – It's been good to know you. Contraction: it has – It's a bird! It's a plane! Contraction: it is Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or belonging to it. – The dodo bird is known for its inability to fly. A simple test – If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is or it has, then your word is it's; otherwise, your word is its.

Later / Latter Later -refers to time. – Though Amy said that she would join me later, I never saw her again. latter -refers to the second of two persons or things mentioned previously. – "There are two kinds of worries: those you can do something about and those you can't. Don't spend any time on the latter." (Duke Ellington)

Lay / Lie Lay means "to place something down." It is something you do to something else. It is a transitive verb. – Lay the book on the table. (It is being done to something else.) Lie means "to recline" or "be placed." It does not act on anything or anyone else. It is an intransitive verb. – Lie down on the couch. (It is not being done to anything else.) The reason lay and lie are confusing is their past tenses. The past tense of lay is laid. I laid it down here yesterday. (It is being done to something else.) The past tense of lie is lay. Last night I lay awake in bed. (It is not being done to anything else.)

Less / Fewer Use fewer with objects that can be counted one-by-one. – Incorrect: There were less days below freezing last winter. Use less with qualities or quantities that cannot be individually counted. – Correct: I drank less water than she did. (Water cannot be counted individually here.) When referring to time or money, less is normally used even with numbers. Specific units of time or money use fewer only in cases where individual items are referred to (I have fewer dollar coins in my collection than you). There were fewer days below freezing last winter. (Days can be counted.)

Liable/Libel liable (a three-syllable word) (adj) means subject to, obligated to, or responsible for something. – The court ruled that school officials cannot be held financially liable for the improper search. libel (a two-syllable word) (n. or v.) refers to a false publication that damages a person's reputation. – Because of rising legal costs, regional newspapers may not be able to defend themselves in libel actions.

Maybe / May be Maybe, the compound word, is an adverb meaning "perhaps" or "possibly." – Maybe I will go out tonight. May be is a verb phrase meaning "might be" or "could be." – I may be going out tonight.

Prosecute / Persecute Prosecute means "to begin or carry out a legal claim against someone, usually for a crime" or "to carry or accomplish.” – He will prosecute the man for his crime. Persecute means "to harass, or pursue in order to injure or afflict.” – People may be persecuted because of their religious beliefs, political beliefs, ethnicity, sexual orientation or social grouping.