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.
Tip: Affect is usually the Action (verb); effect is the End result (noun).
Commonly Confused Words in English
Affect or effect? Lose or loose? Borrow or lend? 39 pairs and groups of words that English learners and native speakers mix up, each with a one-line rule and example sentences. Then test yourself with a ten-sentence quiz.
- 39 pairs
- One-line rules
- Fill-the-gap quiz
- Printable
Test yourself: which word fits?
Ten sentences, each with a gap. Choose between two or three words that learners often mix up, then see a short rule to remember the difference.
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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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?
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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?
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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?
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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?
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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!
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: -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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: Stationery with e is for envelopes.
historic vs historical
- historic
- important in historyIt was a historic victory.
- historical
- about the pastShe writes historical novels.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: 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.
Tip: A career is your working life; a carrier carries people, goods or a disease. Career is stressed at the end: ca-REER.
Why are some English words so easy to confuse?
Most mix-ups fall into one of four groups. Knowing which group a pair belongs to already tells you how to learn it.
- Same sound, different spelling: their / there / they're, its / it's, to / too / two. Only spelling separates them, so they matter most in writing.
- Similar spelling: lose / loose, quiet / quite, dessert / desert. One letter changes the word.
- Related meanings: borrow / lend, bring / take, say / tell, make / do. Many languages use one word for both.
- False friends: sensible does not mean sensitive and actually does not mean currently, even if a similar word in your language does.
Quick reference: the ten most common mix-ups
| Pair | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| affect vs effect | Affect is the action (verb); effect is the result (noun). |
| their / there / they're | Owner / place / they are. |
| its vs it's | It's = it is or it has. The possessive has no apostrophe. |
| then vs than | Than compares; then is about time. |
| lose vs loose | Lose your keys; loose trousers. |
| borrow vs lend | Borrow from someone; lend to someone. |
| say vs tell | Tell someone something; say something. |
| make vs do | Make creates; do performs a task. |
| fewer vs less | Fewer things you can count; less of things you can't. |
| since vs for | Since a point in time; for a period. |
How to stop mixing them up
- Learn the pair together, not each word on its own: the rule only makes sense next to the other word.
- Use one memory trick per pair (the tips on each card) and say the example sentence out loud.
- Test yourself with the quiz above. Every answer shows the rule, so wrong answers teach too.
- Read. Each time you meet lend or effect in a real sentence, the right use becomes more automatic. In the Okuzeka reader you can tap any word in a book and see what it means in that sentence.
Read with Okuzeka
Meet these words in real stories
Rules help, but context makes them stick. Read graded books in Okuzeka, tap any word and see what it means in that sentence, in your own language.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between affect and effect?
In everyday English, affect is a verb meaning to influence (The weather affects my mood) and effect is a noun meaning a result (The weather has an effect on my mood). Tip: Affect is the Action, effect is the End result.
What is the difference between borrow and lend?
You borrow something from someone (you receive it) and you lend something to someone (you give it). Can I borrow your pen? / Can you lend me your pen? "Can you borrow me…" is not standard English.
What is the difference between say and tell?
Tell is normally followed by the person you are speaking to: She told me the news. Say is not: She said that she was tired, or She said it to me.
When do I use make and when do I use do?
Make is for creating or producing something (make a cake, make a decision); do is for tasks and activities (do homework, do the dishes). Many combinations are fixed and simply have to be learned: make a mistake, do your best.
Is it fewer or less?
Use fewer with plural countable nouns (fewer cars) and less with uncountable nouns (less traffic). In informal speech less is often heard with plurals, but fewer is correct in writing.
Can I print the list?
Yes. Press "Print / save as PDF" above the list; only the cards are printed.
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