1. Confused and Misused Words and Phrases
Dude, the right word is affect, with an a.
No, you’re wrong. The word should be effect, with an e.

2. Recognize the distinctions among related words.
3 or more;
Among my friends
 Among ●
Between 
2 only;
Between Fred and me
Formal request; ask permission May I come in?
 May
Can
Form a question, higher possibility; I can eat fast.
Information goes out when you teach
 Teach
Learn 
A person receiving information learns
Movement away from a place; Leave your keys.
 Leave
Let 
Idea that you’re allowing someone to do something; I let her go home.

3. Know the difference a change to a single letter can make.
Influence in a physical or emotional way
 Affect (USUALLY verb) ●
Effect 
(USUALLY noun)
Result of something
City (capital of state or country), money, important
 Capital (noun – city) or adj.- important)
Capitol 
(Proper noun)
Seat of government of U.S. Congress
Rough
 Coarse (adj)
Course 
(adj, n, v)
Path, route
Change something
 Alter (verb)
Altar (noun) 
Religious worship; sacrifice
Not moving; still
Stationary
(v, adv)
Stationery 
(adj, n)
Paper

4. To, Too, Two Use to as a preposition. Use to to begin an infinitive.
Jonathan drove to the seafood shop.
Use to to begin an infinitive.
He hoped to buy fresh squid.
Use too to show degree.
The squid was too expensive to purchase.
Use too as a synonym for also.
So too was the fresh octopus.
Use two when you mean the number.
Jonathan bought two flounder filets instead.

5. Practice with white boards
Which word has an error in each sentence?
1) I pulled out my stationary to write a letter to leave at the altar at church.
2) I can walk to the Capital building all by myself if you let me.

6. Know the difference that a single new letter can make.
Wholly; to the full extent
Altogether ●
All together 
Pertains to a group collectively
Before
 Already
All ready 
Completely prepared
Past tense of choose
 Chose
Choose
Present verb tense
To suffer the deprivation of
 Lose
Loose 
Free from restraint
Present tense verb
Mineral (n)
Important (adj)
 Lead (v, adj, n)
Led (v)
Past tense of led

7. Know the difference that an apostrophe can make.
Possessive pronoun; belonging to it
 Its ●
It’s 
Contraction for it is or it has
Possessive pronoun; belonging to whom
 Whose
Who’s 
Contraction for who is or who has
Possessive pronoun; belonging to you
 Your
You’re 
Contraction for you are
Possessive pronouns never contain an apostrophe.
Contractions do contain an apostrophe.

8. Don’t let these homophones [sound alike words] confuse you.
Agree to or receive
 Accept ●
Except 
Leave out
Past tense of pass
Passed
(Verb)
Past (n, adj, prep, adv) 
Time before present; movement
Absence of war
 Peace
Piece 
Portion (ex-pizza); join together (ex- quilt)
Chief [person], main
 Principal
Principle 
Truth or rule
To toss or fling
Threw
Through (prep)
Indicates passage
A certain place
Here (Adv)
Hear 
Listen by ear
Fragile; not strong
 Weak (adj)
Week (n)
Time period of 7 days

9. There, Their, They’re
Use there as an expletive, a placeholder to delay the subject.
There is a turtle in the road.
Use there to indicate place.
Across the road is a lake. The turtle hopes to get there before a car hits him.
Use their as a possessive pronoun.
Most drivers don’t see the turtle; their eyes are glued to their cell phones.
Use they’re as a contraction for they are.
They’re also distracted by other devices, like the radio and navigation system.

10. Practice 1 My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re A
hoping that their lunch stays down, for there are
B C
rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.
their
they’re
there
No change is necessary.
My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re A
hoping that their lunch stays down, for their are
B C
rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.
their
they’re
there
No change is necessary.
My friends ate at Tito’s Taco Palace, so they’re
hoping that their lunch stays down, for their are
rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.
their
they’re
there
No change is necessary.
At C, you need there, the expletive, or placeholder, form.
Is the word confused or misused at A, B, or C?

11. Practice 2 Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he A
won’t lose his scholarship. As he walked past
B C
the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.
past
lose
passed
No change is necessary.
Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he
won’t loose his scholarship. As he walked past
the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.
past
lose
passed
No change is necessary.
Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he A
won’t loose his scholarship. As he walked past
B C
the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.
past
lose
passed
No change is necessary.

12. Practice 3 Mr. Ramos hopes to accept the bid on the house. A
He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions
except retiling the master bathroom since it B C
would be too much work.
accept
sense
No change is necessary.
Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house.
He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions
except retiling the master bathroom since it
would be too much work.
accept
sense
No change is necessary.
Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house. A
He has agreed to all of the buyer’s conditions
except retiling the master bathroom since it B C
would be too much work.
accept
sense
No change is necessary.

13. Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and exercises on commonly confused words. Go to chompchomp.com!
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