SOME PROBLEM WORDS
accept, except:
to accept = to receive; He accepted the book even though it was damaged.
to except = to exclude; I will except payment for the damaged book.
adapt, adopt:
to adapt = to become accustomed; She adapted well to the hot climate.
to adopt = to take as one’s own; They adopted the baby after his parents died.
adverse, averse:
adverse = unfavorable; His response to the suggestion was adverse.
averse = opposed; He was averse to the suggestion.
affect, effect:
to affect = to influence; He wanted to affect change in the school.
effect = the result; The effect of the change will be important to the school.
all ready, already:
all ready = completely prepared; I was all ready to take my exam.
already = previously; I had already studied for the exam.
all together, altogether:
all together = everyone gathered; They will be all together at the airport.
altogether = entirely; It is altogether possible that the plane will be late.
allusion, illusion:
allusion = reference; They made allusion to the emergency.
illusion = false impression; The smoke gave the illusion of a serious accident.
anyone, any one:
anyone = any person at all; Anyone who was waiting over there may go in.
any one = a particular person in a group; Any one with a ticket may go in.
beside, besides:
beside = at the side of; He was standing beside the house.
besides = except; He took everything besides the things inside the house.
capital, capitol:
capital = city or wealth; Washington, D.C. is the United States’ capital.
There is enough capital on hand to finish the project.
capitol = government building; The capitol is in Washington, D.C.
censor, censure:
to censor = to remove; The school librarian censored the book.
to censure = to criticize; The librarian censured the students for talking.
cite, site:
to cite = to quote; She did not cite enough references in her article.
site = a place; Her article described a site in New York.
climactic, climatic:
climactic = highest intensity; It was the climactic event of the day.
climatic = weather; The climatic conditions were excellent.
coarse, course:
coarse = rough; The road is covered with coarse rocks.
course = a study; The course will include everything to the advanced level.
complement, compliment:
to complement = to go with; That hat will complement her new coat.
to compliment = to flatter; I complimented her on her hat.
conscience, conscious:
conscience = moral principle; His conscience bothered him after he said it.
conscious = aware; He was conscious of his mistake.
continual, continuous:
continual = repeated regularly; The noise was continual throughout the day.
continuous = extended without interruption; It was a continuous problem.
elicit, illicit:
to elicit = to bring out; The police officer finally elicited the truth from him.
illicit = unlawful or immoral; He sold illicit drugs before.
emigrate, immigrate:
to emigrate = to leave a country; Their entire family emigrated from Russia.
to immigrate = to enter a country; Three of the brothers immigrated to the U.S.
eminent, imminent:
eminent = outstanding; The symphony’s performance was eminent.
imminent = about to happen; The conductor’s entrance was imminent.
everyone, every one:
everyone = unspecified number of people; Everyone was waiting.
every one = each individual; Every one will need a ticket to enter.
farther, further:
farther = distance; The house you are looking for is farther from here.
further = quantity or degree; It is still further up the road.
imply, infer:
to imply = to suggest; The author implied that his book was finished.
to infer = to conclude; We can infer that it will be another good book.
in, into
in = location; The house is in that direction.
into = direction; We walked into the house together.
lie, lay:
to lie = to recline or rest; Go ahead and lie down on the bed.
to lay = to put or place; You may lay your things over there.
loose, lose:
loose = not securely fastened; The money in his pocket was loose.
to lose = to misplace; If you are not careful, you will lose your money.
maybe, may be:
maybe = possibly; Maybe I can find another book if I hurry.
may be = might be; That may be the book you are looking for.
precede, proceed:
to precede = to come before; Her part in the play preceded the music.
to proceed = to go forward; They proceeded with the play even though it was late.
principal, principle:
principal = head of a school; The principal spoke to the students yesterday.
principle = a basic truth; He suggested that fairness be a principle of all behavior.
raise, rise:
to raise = to move upward; He raised the flag at sunrise.
to rise = to go up; You will need to rise early to see the sunrise.
respectfully, respectively:
respectfully = showing respect; The children respectfully helped their parents.
respectively = each in the order given; Their father and mother died respectively.
set, sit:
to set = to put or place; They set the plates on the table.
to sit = to be seated; They will sit at the table when they eat.
sometime, some time, sometimes:
sometime = at an unstated time; I will be here sometime before noon.
some time = a period of time; It was some time before she finally arrived.
sometimes = now and then; They sometimes arrive early.
there, their, they’re:
there = place; Why don’t you set the books there on the table?
their = ownership; They will want to get their books from off the table.
they’re = they are; They’re supposed to have their own books.
weather, whether:
weather = climate; I think the weather will be nice tomorrow.
whether = choice; Decide tomorrow whether or not you want to come.
your, you’re:
your = ownership; I think this is your coat.
you’re = you are; You’re not leaving your coat there, are you?