We have many words in the English language that are pronounced the same, but the spelling and meaning are different. Many people confuse these words and often choose the word that’s incorrect. This can change the whole meaning of what the writer intended to say because the message often becomes unclear.
In most cases, the reader understands the misuse and mentally makes the connection, but for those whose first language isn’t English it can be quite confusing.
In this post we will cover some of the common misused words that I’ve ran across lately. If you would like to add to this list, please feel free to post comments and share with us.
Common Misused Words:
affect, effect
farther, further
since, sense, cents
to, too, two
then, than
The first set, affect and effect, are difficult for most people, myself included.
Effect, when used as a noun refers to a result. When used as a verb it means to bring about or to accomplish.
Affect, on the other hand, means to influence.
The speech was effective because it affected the crowd.
Two things that may effect or influence people are music and art.
The next set is further and farther. These are difficult as well.
Farther refers to distance.
How much farther to our destination?
England is farther away from my home than Maine.
Further refers to time or quantity.
You can further your education.
You can increase your skills further.
In the next set we cover the use of cents, since and sense.
Cents refers to coin amounts of the US denomination of currency.
I have 25 cents.
Since is used as a time reference.
I’m lost since you left.
I haven’t returned since last year.
Sense refers to feeling and intelligence.
I have a sixth sense.
I sense something is wrong.
I have common sense.
Our next set is to, too and two.
Two refers to the number 2.
Too means the same thing as also. It also means something in excess.
I want ice cream too. (also)
Your music is too loud. (excess)
Unless you are referring to the number two, also or in excess, you use the word to.
I went to town.
I went also town. (does not fit)
I went (2) town. (isn’t correct either)
And last but not least is the use of then and than. This is the one I see misused the most.
Than is used to replace instead of, or to mean a preference.
I’d rather have cake than cookies.
Then is a reference to time or to state that something happens after something else. The easiest way to see if then is used correctly is to add ‘and’ in front of it.
She was screaming at me, then she screamed at the lady next to me, and we were both in shock.
If you can write the sentence as, “She was screaming at me and then she screamed at the lady next to me…” then you have properly used then.
Using these words properly just takes a little forethought and proofreading to make sure you’ve used chosen the correct one.
Do you have any words that are commonly misused other than the ones listed?
I'm enjoying reading these posts. I read the one the other day on its, it's and it is. This is another good one.
These are great! However, I'd like to point out an error in your grammar.
In your example for affect and effect, you have the following sentence:
"Two things that may effect or influence people is music and art."
But since you are you using the word 'two' which is plural, you should say:
"Two things that affect or influence people ARE music and art."
The word 'is' should be used when referring to a singular item and 'are' should be used for plurals.
I hope that helps!
~Annie
Another common misuse of words is lay and lie.
People or animals lie down. However, if you want to put something down, you lay it down.
My mnemonic on this is I rhymes with lie. So, I lie or it lies, but if you put down a book, you lay it down.
This is about transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive verbs require an object, intransitive verbs don't. I lay down (an object), while I lie down (requires only the speaker).
If you are listening to some corrupt official on the radio while you're moving the audio cones from which the sound arises, then while you're laying down your speaker, the speaker is lying. Go figure.
Someone else can tackle "your" and "you're".
Thanks for bring up this! I have many friends always get confused with words – "affect" and "effect"
@Al– See, I purposely left those off hoping someone else would cover them. They confuse me every time.
@Annie – Thanks for pointing that out. I'll correct it now.
@Patti – No problem! Glad I could be of help. When I was a kid, my family called me the Grammar Police and the Walking Dictionary. LOL
You're is always a contraction for you are. If the sentence cannot be written with the words "you are", then you would use your.
Examples:
I see you're enjoying your ice cream.
* I see you are enjoying your ice cream.
Is that your coat you're wearing?
*Is that your coat you are wearing?
Another common mistake I see which seems to be the norm (and maybe I'm wrong) but in writing "You're welcome" shouldn't it be the contraction form and not written as "Your welcome"?
Now with that said, you can wear out your welcome, but when using it as a complimentary response to someone writing "Thank you", it should be written as "You're welcome", to indicate "You are welcome".
Does this clear it up or make it more confusing? Any one else have thoughts?
Thanks for all the comments,
Patti
Similar to the your/you're question is their and they're.
Their is possessive for they. They're is a contraction of "they are."
possessive for he-> his
possessive for they-> their
contraction of "he is" -> he's
contraction of "they are" -> they're
Keep in mind too that talking robots cannot use contractions. Many aliens have trouble with their contractions too, depending on where they're from (and the writer's tendency toward cliche.)