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Lecture
Notes
Usage
(Using the Sound-Alike and
Look-Alike Words Correctly)
I call all these confusing sound-alike/look-alike words the "evil twins."
The best piece of advice I can give is this: if you have a history of getting
any of the words below mixed up in your writing, learn the trick.
Then every time you use any one of the "evil twins," stop, slow down, look
carefully at what you have written, apply the trick, and then correct any
error that you find. (The list here and some of the examples come
from Passages, pp. 366-375.)
*not in Passages
Examples: a horse, a college, a university (Although the first letter of university is a vowel, the first sound is actually a consonant sound: [y].)Use an before words that start with vowel sounds, whether or not the words actually start with a vowel.
Examples: an apple, an elephant, an honest mistake (Although the first letter of honest is a consonant, the first sound is actually a vowel sound: [the short o].)Use and as a conjunction between like items that you want to join. As you read your work back to yourself, try exaggerating the d sound [duh] whenever you say "and."
Examples: Jack and-duh Jill; You can have your cake and-duh eat it too.
Example: I will accept no more excuses. (In this sentence, accept means take, sort of. I will "take" no more excuses; therefore, I will spell accept with an a.)To use except with an ex, think of other ex's. Ex-husband, ex-girlfriend, exit—all these words imply that something is out. Except sort of means that something is left out.
Example: Everyone except Janet went swimming. (Janet was left out.)To not confuse except with expect, read your work out loud, slowly and carefully, saying every letter of the word and paying attention to which letter comes after the ex.
Example: I exPect you to pay me.
Example: The advice you gave me resulted in my arrest. Please don't advise me again.
Generally, affect is usually used as a verb. So any time you want to throw an –ed ending or an –ing ending onto the word, you probably want to use the word affect.
Example: The controversy over artificial sweeteners has not seriously affected the sales of diet soft drinks.Generally, effect is used as a noun. Look for noun markers like articles (the, a, an) or numbers in front of the word effect. As you read your work out loud, ask yourself especially if you are talking about "the effect" of something. Let the e at the end of the remind you to put an e at the beginning of effect.
Examples: the effect, an effect, a typical effect, two unusual effects . . .
Examples: an amount of water, an amount of energy, an amount of moneyUse number when you are talking about a group of things: a number of them.
Examples: a number of gallons, a number of kilowatts, a number of coins.See also few or little and much or many.
Example: His diploma stands beside the soccer trophy. (His diploma stands "next to" the soccer trophy.)Besides is interchangeable either with the words "in addition to" or with the words "in addition." Try using either of these phrases instead. If the sentence still makes sense, go ahead and use besides.
Example: Besides being a great athlete, Bill is a top scholar. ("In addition to" being a great athlete, Bill is a top scholar.)
Example: I could not breathe because I was out of breath.
Examples: I choose to go. He chose not to go. I hope that I have chosen wisely.
Example: Crazy Jane's clothes appear to be made out of old cloths pieced together.
Example: Hillary's shoes complemented her new tweed suit.A compliment is a form of flattery. To remind yourself to spell this compliment with an i, remember that most compliments mean "I like it," whatever it is.
Example: Bill complimented Hillary on her new tweed suit.
Example: Pinocchio did not listen to his conscience. (He did not listen to his inner voice.)Conscious means "aware" or "awake." If you can substitute "aware" or "awake" in the sentence and it still makes sense, then go ahead and use conscious. Also, you could think of the opposites conscious and unconscious. Remember the u's in those words.
Example: Jack was not conscious after the accident. (He was not "awake" after the accident.)
Example: The device you gave me did not work. Now we have to devise some other solution.
Examples: little water, less energy, little moneyUse few (or fewer) when you are talking about a group of things: a few of them., or fewer of them.
Examples: a few gallons, a few kilowatts, fewer coins.See also number or amount and much or many.
Examples: I would have done it; I should have done it; I could have done it; I must have done it; I might have done it; I may have done it.Repeat those over and over until you get used to hearing the word have in those combinations.
Example: I hear you knocking, but you can't come in.Here is the opposite of there; here tells you where. Here, there, and where all end in ere.
Example: Jack found his keys here on the coffee table.
Example: She was hoping that her hopping would not wake up the downstairs neighbors.
| send >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> | message >>>>>>>>>>>>> | receive |
| speak >>>>>>>>>>>>>> | message >>>>>>>>>>>>> | listen |
| write >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> | message >>>>>>>>>>>>> | read |
| imply >>>>>>>>>>>>>> | hidden message >>>>>>>> | infer |
Example: This newspaper report implied that one of the employees started the fire. (The report is written.)
Example: Jack inferred from the report that the police have a suspect. (Jack read the report.)
Example: I'll be home in an hour.Use in to establish a particular location.
Example: He lives in a little house in Milwaukee.Use into to show a change (as from one location to another).
Example: He walked from the kitchen into the living room.
Example: "Of course she's a witch. She turned me into a newt."
Example: Every dog has its day. (Is this correct?)Step 1: Every dog has "it is" day, or every dog has "it has" day.Example: The weatherman said its going to rain. (Is this correct?)
Step 2: Yuck! Both of those sound weird.
Step 3b: Every dog has its day. (for sure, no apostrophe)Step 1: The weatherman said "it is" going to rain.
Step 2: That sounds OK.
Step 3a: The weatherman said it's going to rain (use the apostrophe), or The weatherman said it is going to rain (use two words).
Example: Sandra laid her towel on the beach. (Meaning: She put down something else.)Use lie when the subject itself reclines (himself, herself, or themselves).
Example: Every afternoon, the cats lie in the sun underneath the window. (Meaning: They recline.)*NOTE: Most of us are not accustomed to hearing the proper past tense form of lie in conversations, as in "Yesterday the cats lay in the sun." Although we are not used to it, lay is standard English. Force yourself to use it in the past tense even though it may sound weird. Note the difference between the past tense forms of lay and lie in the following example:
Example: Yesterday, the cats lay* in the sun underneath the window. (Meaning: They reclined.)
Example: Until yesterday, the cats have lain in the sun underneath the window. (Meaning: They have reclined.)
Example: Sandra laid her towel on the beach, and then she lay down to get a tan.
Example: He sharpened his pencil when the lead broke.Use lead when you are talking about the metal.
Example: Miss Scarlet hit him in the skull with the lead pipe in the conservatory.Use lead when you are talking about what leaders do in the present or future.
Example: The dean will lead the graduates onto the podium.But use led when you are talking about what leaders did in the past.
Example: Washington led his troops into battle.
Example: The knob on the radio is loose. (The knob is still there, so is the second o in loose.)Use lose when whatever it is goes away. It gets lost (one o). It's gone. Wherever it went, the o went with it; so you lose one o whenever you talk about losing something.)
Example: We have to be careful not to lose that knob. (We're afraid that the knob will get lost, which means that we would lose that second o as well.)
Examples: much water, much energy, much moneyUse many when you are talking about a group of things: many of them.
Examples: many gallons, many kilowatts, many coins.See also number or amount and few or little.
Example: Maybe Omar is hiding in his room. (Meaning: "Perhaps" Omar is hiding in his room—one word.)Use may be (two words) if you can substitute with "might be" (two words).
Example: Omar may be hiding in his room. (Meaning: Omar "might be" hiding in his room—two words.)
Example: The police car passed us on the freeway. (What did the police car do? It passed us.)Past is not a verb. Look for some other action in the sentence, and past will tell you either where or when it happened.
Example: The police car sped past us. (What did the police car do? It sped. It sped where? Past us!)
Example: Police cars have sped in the past. (When? In the past!)
Example: The storms of April precede the gentle rains of May.Pro– is a prefix meaning "forward" or "forth." Think of some other words that start with pro–: pronounce (meaning "to speak forth") or protest (meaning "to speak forth or to stand forth in opposition"). So use proceed when you are talking about something going forth.
Example: After detaining us for several minutes, the guard let us proceed.
Example: Tony was called to the principal's office. (This principal is a person.)Use principal when you talk about banking and lending money.
Example: The Johnsons still owe $16,000 toward the principal of their loan.Use principal when it means the same as main. Listen to the A sound in main; remember the A in principal.
Example: Jack's principal ambition now is to tend his garden. (Meaning: his "main" ambition. Hear that A sound!)Use principle when you talk about rules (of behavior) or scruples. Notice the le in rule, the le in scruples, and the le in principle.
Example: The Golden Rule is a simple principle: treat others the way you yourself would like to be treated.
Here's another trick: Remember the movie ET? The boy Elliot has to hide ET in his closet, so he tells ET to be very quiet. "ET, be quiet." (See the et in quiet? Remember ET. Shhhhhh!)
Example: I suppose I should clean the kitchen. (It sounds OK to say, "I guess I should clean the kitchen.")However, if you write the word to after the word suppose, then you probably can't substitute the word "guess." Supposed to means that the action is expected. If the to appears after suppose, add the d.
Example: Susan was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. (Notice how this means that Susan was expected. There's no guessing about it.)
Example: longeR than, sooneR than, ratheRthan. Fred worked longeR hours than Steve.The word then is used as a time signal. Look for changes in time.
Example: First we'll walk the dog; then we'll go to a movie.
Example: If you build it, then he will come.
Example: Their are geese in the garden. (Is this correct?)Step 1: "They are" are geese in the garden.Example: Their nibbling the roses. (Is this correct?)
Step 2: Yuck! That sounds bad.
Step 3b: Does the word indicates that something belongs to "them"?
Step 4b: No. Therefore use there. There are geese in the garden.Step 1: "They are" nibbling the roses.Example: Their honking can be heard for miles. (Is this correct?)
Step 2: That sounds OK.
Step 3a: They're nibbling the roses (use the apostrophe), or They are nibbling the roses (use two words).Step 1: "They are" honking can be heard for miles.
Step 2: Yuck! That sounds bad.
Step 3b: Does the word indicate that something belongs to "them"?
Step 4a: Yes, the honking belongs to them. Therefore use their. Their honking can be heard for miles.
Example: He drove to the grocery store to buy some bread. Then he had to go to the airport to pick up his uncle.Step 1: Say: "He drove t’the grocery store t’buy some bread. Then he had t’go t’the airport t’pick up his uncle."Example: I am to tired to do any homework tonight. Aren't you tired to?
All those to's sound OK.
Here's the final answer: He drove to the grocery store to buy some bread. Then he had to go to the airport to pick up his uncle.Step 1: Say: "I am t’tired t’do any homework tonight. Aren't you tired t’?"
Notice how "t’tired" and "Aren't you tired t’?" don't sound quite right. But "t’do" sounds OK.
Step 2: Now say: "I am tooooo tired t’do any homework tonight. Aren't you tired tooooo?"
Notice how that sounds OK.
Here's the final answer: I am too tired to do any homework tonight. Aren't you tired too?
Example: I use a non-stick fry pan when I cook. (It sounds OK to say, "I utilize a non-stick fry pan.")However, if you write the word to after the word use, then you probably can't substitute the word "utilize." You are probably saying "used to" to mean that the subject "doesn't do that any more" or that the subject "has gotten accustomed to something." The bottom line is this: if the to appears after use, add the d.
Example: Susan used to play volleyball professionally. (Notice how Susan doesn't do that any more.)
Example: Susan is not used to sitting at home eating Moon Pies. (Notice how Susan is not accustomed to that life style.)
Example: Were driving to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. (Is this correct?)Step 1: "We are" driving to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.Example: We don't know were we'll be staying. (Is this correct?)
Step 2: That sounds OK.
Step 3a: We're driving to New Orleans for Mardi Gras (use the apostrophe), or We are driving to New Orleans for Mardi Gras (use two words).Step 1: We don't know "we are" we'll be staying.
Step 2: Yuck! That sounds bad.
Step 3b: Does the word refer to a place?
Step 4a: Yes! Therefore use where: We don't know where we'll be staying.
Example: Last year we were forced to sleep in the car. (Is this correct?)Step 1: Last year we "we are" forced to sleep in the car.
Step 2: Yuck! That sounds bad.
Step 3b: Does the word refer to a place?
Step 4b: No! Therefore use were: Last year we were forced to sleep in the car.
Example: The plumberwho fixed our toilet is also a fine musician.Use which to refer to things.
Example: Brad's book, which was first published in 1975, is now a bestseller.Use that to refer to things. Avoid using that to refer to people.
Example: The toilet that leaked was fixed by the plumber who plays the violin. (NOT the plumberthatplays the violin.)
Example: Whose turn is it to wash the dishes? (Is this correct?)Step 1: "Who is" turn is it to wash the dishes? or "Who has" turn is it to wash the dishes?Example: Whose going to wash the dishes? (Is this correct?)
Step 2: Yuck! Both of those sound weird.
Step 3b: Whose turn is it to wash the dishes? (for sure, no apostrophe)Step 1: "Who is" going to wash the dishes? or "Who has" going to wash the dishes?
Step 2: "Who is" sounds OK.
Step 3a: Who's going to wash the dishes? (use the apostrophe), or Who is going to wash the dishes? (use two words).
Example: Your car is blocking mine. (Is this correct?)Step 1: "You are" car is blocking mine.Example: Your going to have to move your car. (Is this correct?)
Step 2: Yuck! That sounds weird.
Step 3b: Your car is blocking mine. (for sure, no apostrophe)Step 1: "You are" going to have to move "you are" car.
Step 2: The first one sounds OK, but the second one sounds bad.
Step 3a/b: You're going to have to move your car (use the apostrophe on the first one only), or You are going to have to move your car (use two words for the first one).