Confused and Misused words

accept, except Accept means to receive: "Please accept my apologies." Except means to leave out or omit: "Will you please except the last chapter of the manuscript?"

adapt, adopt Adapt means suited to the purpose, therefore, adapt means to make suitable Adopt means to choose or to make one's own selection

adverse, averse  Adverse means opposing Averse means disinclined, not wanting to

advert, avert  Advert means refer Avert means to ward off

affect, effect Affect mean to influence Effect as a noun means result

aggravate, irritate Aggravate means to make a bad situation worse Irritate means to annoy

aid, aide  Aid means to assist and can be a verb: John will aid Bill with the newsletter.  Aid can also be a noun: The rich should give aid to the poor.  Aide is always a noun and means an assistant: The Prime Minister's aide refused to answer any more questions.

all right (two words) Alright is not all right.

aloud, allowed  Aloud means to vocalize Allowed means to permit

already, all ready  Already means previously All ready means everyone is ready, or prepared

allusion, illusion, delusion An allusion is an indirect reference to a statement by another (written or verbal) An illusion is something that appears to be real, but isn't A delusion is a false perception of self or others based on false beliefs

alternate, alternative  Alternate (verb) means to take turns or to work every other time Alternate (noun) means one who takes the place of another Alternative is a noun meaning to choose between two possibilities, one of which must be rejected

ambiguous, ambivalent  Ambiguous is a statement that can be misinterpreted because it is not clear Ambivalent means to have mixed feelings about a person or an idea

amend, emend  Amend means to alter for the better Emend means to remove errors from text

amiable, amicable Amiable is used to describe people who are kind, friendly and gentle Amicable is used to describe peaceful settlements or arrangements between two parties

among, between  Among is used in connection with more than two Between is used with two people or things. * EXCEPTIONS: If more than two are united in a situation, between is used: They ran fifty miles in one hour between the ten of them. If a comparison or opposition is involved, between is used: He could not choose between the gray suit or the black one. There are vast cultural differences between the 50 American States.

and/or  And/or is a legal term that is quickly becoming common in current English. It is a fad best to be avoided. The word or carries the same meaning (in most cases) and does not draw attention to itself.

ante-, anti-  These prefixes, though similar, are very different in meaning:  Ante means before, as in: antechamber (a small room that comes before a larger one) Anti means against or opposed to, as in: antichrist, antitoxin.

appraise, apprise  Appraise means to give value to Apprise means to tell or inform

aptitude, attitude Aptitude is inclination or talent Attitude is a mental position.

as, like  When used as a preposition, like should never begin a clause: NOT like I said. When introducing a clause, as is used: As he said yesterday, . . .

ascent, assent  Ascent is a noun referring to climbing or upward movement Assent is a noun or verb having to do with agreement

beside, besides Beside means next to or by the side of Besides means in addition to

complacence, complaisance, compliance Complacence means self-satisfaction Complaisance means affability Compliance means conformity or a disposition to give in to others

capital, capitol  Capital refers to the seat of government of a state, province or nation.  Capitol refers to the building where the legislative body meets

confidant, confident Confidant (confidante, if female) is a trusted friend Confident means you are certain continual, continuous  A continual action is one that occurs over a long period of time, with pauses or intermissions A continuous action occurs without the the pauses

deprecate, depreciate Deprecate means to plead or argue against; express strong disapproval Depreciate means to bring down the price or value 

dual, duel  Dual always refers to two things.  Duel refers to a formal contest with guns or pistols ensure, insure, assure These overlap when used to mean "make certain a specific outcome."  Ensure means generally guarantee Insure implies taking specific measures to do so Assure has the connotation of "give support or comfort."

farther, further  Farther means more remote; more distant Further means at or to a more advanced point in time

forceful, forcible  Forceful means powerful; vigorous; effective Forcible means exercising force or by force or violence

fortuitous, fortunate Fortuitous means an event which happens by accident that may or may not be favorable. Fortunate means lucky or receiving good from an uncertain or unexpected source.

hypercritical, hypocritical Hypercritical means over critical or excessively exact Hypocritical means insincere or feigning feelings or beliefs 

its, it's Its (no apostrophe) is the possessive case of it  It's is the contraction of it is 

imply, infer To imply means to suggest To infer means to draw a conclusion

lay, lie Lay, laid, laid are the principal parts of the verb which means to put down or to place Lie, lay, lain are the principal parts of the verb which means to recline 

meantime, meanwhile  Meantime refers to action taking place while waiting for another action or event to occur Meanwhile has the same meaning

oral, verbal Oral is spoken  Verbal means having to do with words, either written or spoken 

precede, proceed Precede means to go ahead of or to go before Proceed means to go ahead with an action

principle, principal  Principle means an aim or ideal  Principal means main or chief (as the principal of a school)

respectively, respectfully  Respectively means individually, in their respective or given order Respectfully means showing respect, courtesy, regard for something or someone else

rightfully, rightly  Rightful or rightfully means having a right or just claim, as to some possession or position Rightly means properly or correctly, without the legal claim

stationary, stationery Stationary means motionless Stationery means writing materials; especially paper

to, too, two To means toward, specifying a point or person to be approached and reached Too means likewise; also; in addition Two is the cardinal number between one and three

wary, weary  Wary means suspicious Weary means tired

who's, whose  Who's is the contraction for who is and who has: I know who's coming to visit.  Whose is the possessive pronoun of who: Whose paper is this