Confused and Misused Words and Phrases

1. Confused and Misused Words and Phrases Dude, the right word is affect, with an a. No, you’re wrong. The word should be effect, with an e.

2. Recognize misspelled/correctly spelled words and phrases. X X X X X Spelled wrong! Spelled correctly!

3. Recognize the distinctions among related words. Know these differences!

4. Know the difference that a single new letter can make. More to learn!

5. Know the difference that an apostrophe can make. Possessive pronouns never contain an apostrophe. Contractions do contain an apostrophe.

6. Know the difference a change to a single letter can make. Why is English so complicated?

7. Don’t let these homonyms [sound alike words] confuse you.

8. My brain is getting full! Relax, dude, we’re almost there!

9. Usetoas a preposition. • Jonathan drove to the seafood shop. • Use to to begin an infinitive. • He hoped to buy fresh squid. • Use too to show degree. • The squid was too expensive to purchase. • Use too as a synonym for also. • So too was the fresh octopus. • Use two when you mean the number. • Jonathan bought two flounder filets instead. To, Too, Two

10. Usethereas an expletive, a placeholder to delay the subject. • There is a turtle in the road. • Use there to indicate place. • Across the road is a lake. The turtle hopes to get there before a car hits him. • Use their as a possessive pronoun. • Most drivers don’t see the turtle; their eyes are glued to their cell phones. • Use they’re as a contraction for they are. • They’re also distracted by other devices, like the radio and navigation system. There, Their, They’re

11. The End. Watch where you’re going, fool!