affect vs effect
- affect
- verb: to influenceThe cold weather can affect your mood.
- effect
- noun: a resultThe new rule had a positive effect on sales.
Consejo: Affect is usually the Action (verb); effect is the End result (noun).
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39 pairs of commonly confused words
their vs there vs they're
- their
- belonging to themThe students left their bags in the classroom.
- there
- in that place; there is/areThere is a café near the station.
- they're
- they areThey're going to the cinema tonight.
Consejo: Their has "heir" (owner) in it; there has "here" (place); they're = they are.
your vs you're
- your
- belonging to youIs this your phone?
- you're
- you areYou're my best friend.
Consejo: If you can say "you are", write you're.
its vs it's
- its
- belonging to itThe dog wagged its tail.
- it's
- it is / it hasIt's raining again.
Consejo: It's always means "it is" or "it has". The possessive its has no apostrophe.
then vs than
- then
- next; at that timeWe had dinner and then went for a walk.
- than
- used in comparisonsShe is taller than her brother.
Consejo: Than compares; then is about time.
lose vs loose
- lose
- verb: not have any more; fail to winDon't lose your keys again.
- loose
- adjective: not tightThese trousers are too loose.
Consejo: Loose has a loose extra o; lose lost one.
accept vs except
- accept
- verb: agree to takeI accept your apology.
- except
- preposition: not includingEveryone came except Tom.
Consejo: Except has "ex" as in excluding.
advice vs advise
- advice
- noun: a suggestionCan you give me some advice?
- advise
- verb: to give adviceI advise you to book early.
Consejo: Advice (with c) is the noun; advise (with s) is the verb. Advice is uncountable: some advice, not an advice.
borrow vs lend
- borrow
- take something and give it back laterCan I borrow your pen?
- lend
- give something that will be returnedCould you lend me ten pounds?
Consejo: You borrow from someone; you lend to someone.
bring vs take
- bring
- move something towards the speakerPlease bring a cake to my party.
- take
- move something away from the speakerTake an umbrella when you go out.
Consejo: Bring comes here; take goes there.
say vs tell
- say
- used without a person as objectWhat did you say to her?
- tell
- used with the person you speak toWhat did you tell her?
Consejo: You tell someone something; you say something (to someone).
make vs do
- make
- create or produce somethingI'll make a cake for your birthday.
- do
- perform an activity or taskI need to do my homework.
Consejo: Make creates something; do carries out a task. Many uses are fixed: make a mistake, do the dishes.
fewer vs less
- fewer
- with countable nounsThere are fewer cars on the road today.
- less
- with uncountable nounsI drink less coffee than before.
Consejo: Fewer things you can count; less of things you can't.
many vs much
- many
- with countable nounsHow many brothers do you have?
- much
- with uncountable nounsHow much water should I drink?
Consejo: Many people, much time.
since vs for
- since
- from a point in timeI've lived here since 2019.
- for
- a length of timeI've lived here for five years.
Consejo: Since + a starting point; for + a period.
quiet vs quite
- quiet
- with little noiseThe library is very quiet.
- quite
- fairly; completelyThe film was quite good.
Consejo: Quiet (two syllables) is about noise; quite (one syllable) means fairly.
whose vs who's
- whose
- belonging to whomWhose jacket is this?
- who's
- who is / who hasWho's coming to dinner?
Consejo: Who's = who is or who has.
to vs too vs two
- to
- preposition; infinitiveI walk to school every day.
- too
- also; more than enoughThis soup is too hot.
- two
- the number 2I have two cats.
Consejo: Too has too many o's; two is a number.
remember vs remind
- remember
- keep something in your memoryI remember my first day at school.
- remind
- make someone rememberPlease remind me to call my mother.
Consejo: You remember; someone or something reminds you.
rise vs raise
- rise
- go up (no object)Prices rise every year.
- raise
- lift or increase somethingRaise your hand if you have a question.
Consejo: Raise needs an object; rise does not.
lie vs lay
- lie
- be in a flat positionI need to lie down for a while.
- lay
- put something downLay the papers on the table.
Consejo: You lay something; you lie yourself down.
hear vs listen
- hear
- notice a soundDid you hear that noise?
- listen
- pay attention to a soundI listen to podcasts on the bus.
Consejo: You hear without trying; you listen on purpose. Listen to something.
see vs watch vs look
- see
- notice with your eyesI can't see a thing without my glasses.
- watch
- look at something that moves or changesWe like to watch TV in the evening.
- look
- direct your eyes on purposeLook at this photo!
Consejo: See happens; look and watch are deliberate. Look at a picture, watch TV.
economic vs economical
- economic
- about the economyThe country is facing economic problems.
- economical
- saving moneyThis small car is very economical.
Consejo: Economic policy; an economical car.
sensible vs sensitive
- sensible
- reasonable, practicalWearing a coat in winter is sensible.
- sensitive
- easily upset; reacting quicklyShe is very sensitive to criticism.
Consejo: A false friend for many learners: sensible means reasonable.
actually vs currently
- actually
- in factI thought he was Spanish, but actually he's Italian.
- currently
- at the momentThe shop is currently closed, but it will open again in May.
Consejo: Actually does not mean "now".
alone vs lonely
- alone
- without other peopleI like to walk alone in the morning.
- lonely
- sad because you are aloneHe was a lonely man with no friends.
Consejo: You can be alone and happy; lonely is a feeling.
bored vs boring
- bored
- how you feelI'm bored. Let's do something.
- boring
- what causes the feelingThe lecture was boring.
Consejo: -ed describes the feeling, -ing the cause: interested/interesting, tired/tiring.
already vs yet vs still
- already
- sooner than expectedI've already finished my homework, so I can go out.
- yet
- until now (in questions and negatives)I haven't finished my homework yet.
- still
- continuingIt's 10 p.m. and he's still at the office.
Consejo: Already in positives, yet in questions and negatives, still for something continuing.
during vs while
- during
- + a nounHe fell asleep during the film.
- while
- + a clause (subject + verb)He fell asleep while he was watching the film.
Consejo: During the film; while I was watching.
beside vs besides
- beside
- next toCome and sit beside me.
- besides
- in addition to; alsoBesides English, she speaks French.
Consejo: Beside is a place; besides adds something.
dessert vs desert
- dessert
- sweet food after a mealWe had ice cream for dessert.
- desert
- a dry area with sandCamels can live in the desert.
Consejo: Dessert has two s's, like "so sweet".
principal vs principle
- principal
- head of a school; mainThe principal spoke to the students.
- principle
- a basic rule or beliefHonesty is an important principle.
Consejo: A principle is a rule; the principal is your pal at school.
compliment vs complement
- compliment
- praiseShe paid me a nice compliment.
- complement
- something that completes or goes well withThe wine is a perfect complement to the meal.
Consejo: I like compliments; a complement completes.
stationary vs stationery
- stationary
- not movingThe car was stationary at the lights.
- stationery
- paper, pens and envelopesI bought some stationery for school.
Consejo: Stationery with e is for envelopes.
historic vs historical
- historic
- important in historyIt was a historic victory.
- historical
- about the pastShe writes historical novels.
Consejo: A historic day changes history; a historical novel is set in the past.
emigrate vs immigrate
- emigrate
- leave your country to live abroadHis grandparents decided to emigrate from Italy in 1950.
- immigrate
- come to live in a new countryMany people immigrate to Canada every year.
Consejo: Emigrate = exit; immigrate = come in.
practice vs practise
- practice
- noun (and US verb)Piano practice takes an hour every day.
- practise
- verb in British EnglishI practise the piano every day.
Consejo: In British English, practice is the noun and practise the verb; American English uses practice for both.
career vs carrier
- career
- your working lifeShe started her career as a nurse.
- carrier
- a person or company that carriesThe airline is a major carrier in Europe.
Consejo: A career is your working life; a carrier carries people, goods or a disease. Career is stressed at the end: ca-REER.
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