* Try to learn a way to make sure you are using these words correctly in your writing.*

CONFUSING WORDS

In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., accepted the Nobel

Prize for peace. verbTo receive with

consentTo give approval to

Everyone except Ruben will be there.

verbTo leave out from a

groupBut; other than

ACCEPT EXCEPT

Advice may be easy to give but hard to follow.

nounA recommendation

about a course of action

I advise you to continue your music lessons.

verbTo recommendTo give advice

ADVICE ADVISE

The volcanic eruption aff ected the sunsets al l over the world.

VerbTo influenceTo produce an effect

upon

The phases of the moon have an effect on the tide.

NounThe result of an

actionA consequence

AFFECT EFFECT

The players are all ready for the big game.

Adjectiveall prepared

Our class has already had two tests.

Adverbpreviously

ALL READY ALREADY

Was my answer all right?

AdjectiveSatisfactory

Maria did all right in the track meet.

AdverbSatisfactorily; in a

satisfactory manner

ALL RIGHT

The altar was covered with lilies.

NounA table for a

religious ceremony

The outcome of the election may alter the mayor’s plans.

VerbTo change

ALTAR ALTER

The family was all together, then.

AdjectiveIn the same place;

at the same time

Nina seemed altogether thrilled to see us .

AdverbEntirely; completely

ALL TOGETHER ALTOGETHER

Can you fix the brake on my bicycle?

NounA device to stop a

machine

A high-pitched noise can break glass.

VerbTo fracture; to

shatter

BRAKE BREAK

Olympia is the capital of Washington state.

NounA city; the seat or

central location of a government

Where is the capitol in Albany?

NounA building; a

statehouse

CAPITAL CAPITOL

Did you choose photography or art as your elective?

Verb (rhymes with whose)

To select

Sara chose a red pen, not a blue one.

Verb (rhymes with grows)

Selected --- past tense

CHOOSE CHOSE

Patsy has the most stylish clothes.

Nounapparel

Some cleaning cloths are stored in the closet.

NounPieces of fabric

CLOTHES CLOTHS

The beach is covered with coarse brown sand.

AdjectiveRough; crude

If you follow that course, you will succeed.

NounPath of action; unit

of study; route

COARSE COURSE

The chef’s kitchen contains a full complement of appliances.

NounSomething that

completes or makes perfect

VerbTo complete or make

perfect

The ambassador paid Susan a compliment for her quick thinking.

NounA remark that

expresses approval, praise or admiration

VerbTo praise

COMPLEMENT COMPLIMENT

Who is the Guatamalan The mayor called Seek counsel consul in Miami? a meeting of the from more

city safety council. experiencedpeople.

Noun Noun Noun

A representative of a A group of peopleAdviceGovernment in a foreign who meet togethercountry Verb

to give advice

CONSUL COUNCILCOUNSEL

The councilors discussed several issues of importance.

NounMember of a council

Who is your guidance counselor?

NounOne who advises

COUNCILOR COUNSELOR

The Sahara is the Most dogs will not Fruit salad islargest desert in desert a friend in my favoriteAfrica. trouble. dessert.

Noun Verb Noun

a dry, sandy region to abandon; to leave the sweet,

final courseof a meal

DESERT DESERT DESSERT

The mayor delivered the speech formally.

Adverbwith dignity;

according to strict rules or procedures

Mr. Crane was formerly the principal of the school.

AdverbPreviously; in the

past

FORMALLY FORMERLY

I can hear you all the way down the hall.

VerbTo receive sounds

through the ears

The treasure is buried here.

AdverbIn this place

HEAR HERE

Mount Fuji is noted for its beauty.

Possessive form of itBelonging to it

It’s a good idea to relax.

Contraction of it is or it has

ITS IT’S

Grace often leads Mr. Troy led the troop Many fishing the band in the back to the campground. nets areannual parade. weighted with

lead so theysink to thebottom.

Verb (rhymes with Verb (past tense of lead)Noun (rhymesfeed) with red)

To go fi rst; to be went fi rst a heavy metala leader graphite in a

pencil

LEAD LED LEAD

Harry’s tooth was loose.

Adjective (rhymes with moose)

Not securely attached; not fitting tightly

Vegetables lose some of their vitamins when they are cooked.

Verb (rhymes with whose)

To suffer loss

LOOSE LOSE

The people in the car waved as they passed us.

VerbPast tense of passWent by

Some people long to learn about the past.

NounThat which has gone

byPrepositionBeyondAdjective Ended

PASSED PAST

Creating world peace is a challenge we all face.

NounSecurity and quiet

order

I would love a piece of pie for dessert.

NounA part of something

PEACE PIECE

The plain costumes did not draw the audience’s attention.

AdjectiveSimple; common;

unadorned

I learned to fl y a plane when I was only sixteen.

Noun A tool; an airplane;

a flat surface

PLAIN PLANE

Mr. Greenland is our building’s principal.

NounThe head of a schoolMain or most

important

Honesty is a principle I believe in.

NounA rule of conductA main fact or law

PRINCIPAL PRINCIPLE

Let’s fi nd a quiet room in which to study.

AdjectiveStill and peacefulWithout noise

Winters in New England can be quite severe.

AdverbWholly or entirelyTo a great extent

QUIET QUITE

The jeweler polished the silver until it shone.

Verb (past tense of shine)

Gleamed; glowed

The model of the building wil l be shown to the public next week.

Verb (past tense of show)

Revealed

SHONE SHOWN

The items in the space station or mostly stationary.

AdjectiveIn a fixed position

I need a new box of stationery to write thank you letters.

NounWriting paper

STATIONARY STATIONERY

My dog is bigger than your dog.

Conjunction – used to compare

In comparison to

If we are awake by six, we will leave then.

AdverbAt that time

THAN THEN

My neighbors sold their We will travel I heard they’rehouse. there this fall. moving to France.

Possesive pronoun Adverb Contraction

Belonging to them at or in that place they are

THEIR THERE THEY’RE

Jose’ threw the ball to Trevor.

Verb (past tense of throw)

TossedPitched

We traveled through the Panama Canal.

Preposition

In one side and out the other

Across

THREW THROUGH

I began my letter to I am too hungry We found twoMilly. To wait for supper. lost kittens.

Preposition adverb noun

In the direction of; also numberToward more than enough

adjectiveone more than one

TO TOO TWO

These pants are too loose in the waist.

NounThe middle part of

the body

Most of the waste can be recycled.

Noun

Unused material

Verb

To squander

WAIST WASTE

Our patient is too weak to have visitors.

AdjectiveNot strong; feeble

At the end of the week, we will have a quiz.

NounSeven day period of

time

WEAK WEEK

The weather is hot and humid in summer.

NounCondition of the air

or atmosphere

Jessica wondered whether she should go.

ConjuctionIf

WEATHER WHETHER

Who’s representing the yearbook at the meeting?

Contraction

Who is or Who has

Whose shoes are these?

Possessive form of who

Belonging to whom

WHO’S WHOSE

Your hard work is obvious.

Possessive form of you

I heard you’re joining the club!

ContractionYou are

YOUR YOU’RE