Easily Confused Words

Easily Confused Words The Final Frontier!

there • (adverb) in that place • Example: You will find the secret treasure hidden over there, underneath the weeping willow tree.

their • (pronoun) the possessive form of they • Example: While the Irish are infamous fortheir bland food, it is their polite hospitality that sets them apart in the tourism industry.

they’re • Contraction of they are • The New York Giants were victorious in last year’s Super Bowl, so they’re undoubtedly the best team out of all the other teams in the NFL.

for there • There refers to location or a particular space, and so does where. Both words are spelled the same except for the first letter.

tricks for their • You can also connect the word heir in the word their by taking away the “t”: an heir implies ownership (An heir is someone who inherits something) and their indicates ownership as well. • Example: Because they wereheirs, theirinheritance included not only crown jewels but also a cool castle!

tricks for they’re • Since they’re is a contraction, just take out the apostrophe and plug in “a.” If theyare works, then you know you’ve used the correct there/their/they’re! • Example: They’re goat ate the lettuce in our garden. (Plug in they are… They are goat ate the lettuce in our garden. Umm…not so much. Wrong there/their/they’re.

too • (adverb)- also, or in addition; very • Example: Due to our thieving siblings, I too prefer to hide my Halloween candy on top of the refrigerator. • I think I put too much candy in my belly!

to • (preposition) toward, or in the direction of • If I head up Church Street and drive over the bridge, do you think I can find my way to Sesame Street?

to versus too tricks • It’s all in the extra “o”! If you are saying also, or in addition, add the “o.” Think this trick is easy? I do too! or • The Bond, James Bond trick. He wouldn’t be too cool if he were called agent “single o seven.”

whose • the possessive form of who • After the Halloween Dance, I’ll need to know whose dance moves were the best and whose were, umm, lacking in skill.

who’s • the contraction of who is or who has • Example: Before I plan my camping trip, I need to know who’s coming with me, because if it’s Mrs. Hayash, then the normal gear is fine, but if it’s Mr. Giles, I may need to bring some ear plugs (I hear he snores louder than a bear!).

Simple trick: If you can replace who’s with who is or who has, use who's. If not, use whose. • Who’s Batman, and where does he keep his Batmobile? Does this sentence work? • Who’s car keep jumping over buildings? Does this sentence work?

your • the possessive form of you • Along with Pete Seeger’s “We Shall Overcome,” Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” is one of the most famous American folk songs ever written. Pete Seeger Woody Guthrie

you’re • the contraction of you are • If you’re ever going to reach the mountain’s peak, you’ll have to go up the east side of the mountain, but stay beneath the cover of night.

than • Than is a conjunction used in comparisons • Example: Mrs. Robertson likes country music much more than Mr. Day does.

then • Then is an adverb with many meanings such as… • At that pointin time • Next, afterward • In addition, also • In that case, therefore EXAMPLE: First you went to BMS; then you entered incredible Adams Middle School.

Than vs. then • TRICK: Remember, than is only used in comparisons, so if you’re comparing things, use than. If you’re not comparing, use then. EXAMPLE: I like Kit Kats more than Skittles. (I am comparing Kit Kats to Skittles.)

Easily Confused Words