Words that are often confused (a lesson)
By Jackie Walters
EuroLogos.com
www.eurologos.com
Become a member of TranslationDirectory.com at just
$12 per month (paid per year)
There are many pairs of words in English that
are frequently confused with each other because
they are similar in appearance or in meaning.
Your incorrect use of these words makes a glaring
statement about you to well-educated people
- that if you are sloppy or inaccurate in using
language, how dependable will you be in other
areas? Here is your chance to fix some of those
errors.
- ACCEPT: This is a verb meaning "to
take" or "to receive" or "to willingly take
possession of."
- EXCEPT: Usually a preposition, but
sometimes also used as a verb meaning "to
omit."
When speaking, it is important to pronounce
these words accurately to keep them clear in
your mind. Accept begins with the A sound in
HAT or CAT. Except begins with the short E sound
in PET or MET.
1. Will you accept our apology for the
mistake on your bill?
2. Everybody delivered his or her homework except
Fred and Violet.
3. The hiring committee decided to except
John Harris from future consideration. (to omit
him from consideration)
- AFFECT: a verb meaning "to influence."
- EFFECT: usually a noun meaning "result",
but sometimes used as a verb meaning "to achieve."
These words are commonly pronounced nearly
the same, but the dictionary tells us that AFFECT
should begin with the same sound as ABOUT. EFFECT
should begin with a short I sound as in SIT
or BIT. The more exact you are in your pronunciation
of these words, the easier it will be to keep
them separate in your mind.
1. This bad weather will affect our
business.
2. The bad weather had a negative effect
on our business.
3. The football player effected a difficult
pass to the forward. (successfully achieved
a pass)
CAN: shows or refers to ability
to do something. "The juggler can twirl
six plates at the same time." |
MAY: Shows permission. "May I take
you to the party?" |
FEWER: used with plural nouns |
LESS: used with singular nouns |
BRING: toward the place from which
the action is being regarded |
TAKE: away from the place from
which the action is being regarded |
PERSECUTE: annoy, harass |
PROSECUTE: bring legal action |
HANGED: executed by hanging (killed) |
HUNG: anything that is suspended |
PRINCIPLE: law, doctrine, code
of conduct |
PRINCIPAL: most important, thing
or person of primary importance |
TEACH: to share knowledge |
LEARN: to gain knowledge |
ROB: remove the contents |
STEAL: to take completely |
THAN: in comparison with |
THEN: soon after (time) |
INFER: draw a conclusion |
IMPLY: hint or express indirectly |
Fun Exercise: Circle the correct word inside
the parentheses in the following sentences.
1. Having long hair and a nose ring may (affect,
effect) a young man's ability to get a good
job.
2. Mary asked her boss, "(Can, May) I take my
lunch break early today?"
3. The men were sentenced and (hung, hanged)
on the town square.
4. Please (take, bring) me that dictionary!
5. There are (less, fewer) than ten brochures
left in the cabinet.
6. Do you (infer, imply) from what he says that
he dislikes you?
7. My slice of cake is bigger (then, than) yours!
8. His house was (stolen, robbed) last night,
but they didn't (steal, rob) his TV.
9. The patient was seeing a psychiatrist because
he had a (prosecution, persecution) complex.
10. My mother (taught, learned) me to always
say "thank you".
(Answers: affect, may, hanged, bring, fewer,
infer, than, robbed, steal, persecution)
Test: Use the correct words from the list to
fill in the blanks in the following sentences.
All of the words should be used, but each word
should only be used one time.
can |
accept |
affect |
farther |
may |
except |
effect |
further |
1. All of the teachers ________________ Mr.
Nelson received merit increases.
2. He thought that he went ________________
than most of the other teachers in preparing
his lessons.
3. " _________ I help it if my students could
not learn?" he thought.
4. He wondered if this would _________________
his promotion.
5. He walked several paces _________________
down the hall before he got an idea.
6. Mr. Nelson went to the office and asked,
"_____________ I speak to the principal?"
7. The principal said, "I am ready to __________________
your proposal for the new programme."
8. He added, "This will have a serious ________________
on your career if it doesn't work."
(Answers: except, further, can, affect, farther,
may, accept, effect).
Submit your article!
Read more articles - free!
Read sense of life articles!
E-mail
this article to your colleague!
Need
more translation jobs? Click here!
Translation
agencies are welcome to register here - Free!
Freelance
translators are welcome to register here - Free!
|