accept/except
Use 'accept' with an 'a' as a verb meaning 'to take.'
Use 'except' with an 'e' as a preposition meaning 'other than.' advice/advise/inform
Use 'advice' as a noun and 'advise' as a verb. Unless actually offering advice, use 'inform.' a lot / allot
Spell 'a lot' as two words; 'alot' is not a word. Use 'allot' as a verb meaning to distribute. a part / apart
Spell 'a part' as two words meaning a piece of something. Spell 'apart' as one word meaning separated. alumni, alumnus, alumna, alumnae
Use 'alumnus' for a male, 'alumna' for a female, 'alumnae' for females, and 'alumni' for males.
anxious/eager
Use 'anxious' to imply anxiety and a negative feeling. Use 'eager' for a positive feeling.
beside/besides
Use 'beside' to mean 'next to' and 'besides' to mean 'except' or 'also.' between/among
Use 'between' for two things and 'among' for three or more. breath/breathe
Use 'breath' as a noun and 'breathe' with an e as a verb. complement/compliment
Use 'complement' with an 'e' for things that go together well or match.
Use 'compliment' with an 'i' for a flattering comment.
Use 'complimentary' with an 'i' for things that are free of charge. conscience/conscious
Use 'concsience' to mean 'a sense of right and wrong' and 'conscious' to mean 'aware or deliberate.'
Do not confuse 'conscience' with 'consciousness.' dessert/desert
Use 'dessert' with a double 's' for an after-dinner meal or delicious food.
Use 'desert' with one 's' for a dry location, as a verb meaning 'to abandon' (as if in a desert).
The phrase 'just deserts' (what is justly deserved) has one 's.' different from/different than
Use 'different from' instead of 'different than.' effect/affect
Use 'effect' with an 'e' as a noun and 'affect' with an 'a' as a verb, with the following exceptions: - Use 'effect' with an 'e' as a verb in the expression 'to effect change.'
- Use 'affect' with an 'a' as a noun meaning an outward display.
e.g./i.e.
Use 'e.g.,' before a list of examples and 'i.e.,' before a clarification or restatement. ensure/insure
Use 'insure' with an 'i' only in relation to insurance. farther/further
Use 'farther' for physical distance and 'further' for time, amount, or intensity. good/well
Use 'good' as an adjective and 'well' as an adverb (a good dog that hunts well).
In usage meaning healthy or fine, 'to feel well' and 'to feel good' are both acceptable. hers/his
Do not put an apostrophe in the words 'hers' or 'his' (This jackets is hers). historic/historical
Use 'historic' to imply importance and 'historical' for things related to history or time. in/during
Use 'in' for physical proximity and 'during' for time (during the 80s). it’s/its
Use 'it’s' with an apostrophe to mean 'it is' (It’s a terrible shame).
Use 'its' without an apostrophe as a possessive (Its color is faded). lay/lie
Use 'lay' when a noun follows (Chickens lay eggs.) and 'lie' in the expression 'to lie down.'
In the past tense, 'lay' becomes 'laid' (not 'layed') and 'lie down' becomes 'lay down' or 'had lain down.' less/fewer
Use 'fewer' for items that can be counted individually (fewer coins, less money). many/much
Use 'many' for items that can be counted individually (many storms, much bad weather). may/might
Use 'may' for permission and 'might' for possibility. more/higher/above/over
Replace 'higher,' 'above,' 'over,' and other physical descriptions with 'more' for amounts. - Unclear: Profits this year are above last year’s (displayed physically above, but a lesser amount).
- Preferred: Profits this year are more than last year’s.
of/have
Use 'have' and not 'of' in phrases like 'must have' or 'could have.' on/about
Use 'on' for physical proximity and 'about' to mean 'concerning' or 'related to.' - Unclear: a presentation on helicopters (unless literally standing on actual helicopters)
- Preferred: a presentation about helicopters
once/when
Replace 'once' with 'when' if it cannot be changed to 'one time' and still make sense. principle/principal
Use 'principle' with an le 'as' a noun for a law or standard.
Use 'principal' with an 'al' as an adjective meaning important or as a noun (principal of my school). since/because
Use 'since' to mean a timeframe and 'because' to mean cause and effect. then/than
Use 'than' for comparisons only (more than, better than, rather do this than that). there/they’re/their
Use 'they’re' with an apostrophe to mean 'they are.' Use 'their' as a possessive (their house). there’s/theirs
Use 'there’s' with an apostrophe to mean 'there is.' Use 'theirs' as a plural possessive (it is theirs). thru/through
Use 'through' instead of 'thru' in formal writing. which/that/who - Use 'which' for independent clauses (The program, which is new to the College, has become very popular).
- Use 'that' for dependent clauses (The class that she wanted was full).
- Use 'who' for independent or dependent clauses referencing a person (the person who took the last spot).
who’s/whose
Use 'who’s' with an apostrophe to mean 'who is' (Who’s the boss?).
Use 'whose' without an apostrophe as a possessive (Whose line is it?). you’re/your
Use 'you’re' to mean 'you are' and 'your' as a possessive (You’re wearing your new hat). yours and ours
Do not use an apostrophe in 'yours' or 'ours' as possessives (They’re all yours). |