1. Complex and unfamiliar words
Some words are
particularly tricky.
Here I will give you some tips and practice on coping with tricky words.
They might be easily
confused with another.
They may be long and
difficult.
They may be
totally
new to you.

2. Confusions
Do these words ever puzzle you?
practice or
practise?
affect or
effect?
accept or
except?
principal or
principle?
choose
or chose?
quite
or quiet?

3. Confusions
Many commonly confused words are homophones - words which sound the same but which are spelt differently. Some words are confused because, whilst not exactly the same, they sound or look very similar.
Knowing the reason behind the difference may help you remember the word. Sometimes you may have to think up a little ‘trick’ or way of remembering the word - like sounding it out.
Read through the following examples, then test yourself with the quiz that follows.

4. Confusions
accept A verb meaning to receive.
I accept your apology
except A word meaning ‘not including’.
Everyone was invited except Mona.
affect A verb meaning to influence or change something.
Alcohol can affect your health.
effect A noun meaning a result.
The effect of the fire was disastrous.
(Effect can also be a verb meaning to bring about: He effected the result with ease.)

5. Confusions
principal This means first, leading or leader.
He was the Principal of the college.
principle This means a basic truth or law.
It was the principle of the matter.
practice A noun.
She went to netball practice.
practise A verb.
He needs to practise penalty kicks.

6. Confusions
chose (Rhymes with goes) Part tense
She chose to leave early.
choose (Rhymes with shoes) Present tense and infinitive
You are free to choose.
weather sunshine, rain, etc
The weather is hot.
whether if
I don’t know whether it’s right.

7. Confusions
quite Means fairly or completely
He was quite angry.
quiet silent, silence
It was quiet in the library.
lose (Rhymes with whose) Means to not win or keep something
He didn’t want to lose the race.
loose (Rhymes with goose) Means to free or untie something.
She let the horse loose.

12. Stationery - as in papers
Stationary - as in still
An extension task could be to list other examples of words with these endings.

13. Students could be encouraged to create their own quiz of really tricky words for a partner.

15. some really tricky words.
Plenary
There may be
certain letter
patterns you can
identify.
Here we have dealt with
some really tricky words.
But the good
news is that
you can do
something!
You need to look for and
study the ones that catch
you out.
You may find the
roots of words
helpful.
Or you may just
need to learn
the words.