These words are often confused because of their related meanings but differing spellings.
Affect is a verb meaning “to influence.”
Effect can be both a verb and a noun. (more…)
Leave a response to “affect/effect”These words are often confused because of their related meanings but differing spellings.
Affect is a verb meaning “to influence.”
Effect can be both a verb and a noun. (more…)
Leave a response to “affect/effect”Alter and altar can be easily confused because of their one-letter spelling difference. Usually writers know which meaning they want to convey, but they can’t remember which spelling goes with which word.
Alter (with an “e”) is to change or make something different. Altar (with an “a”) has the religious meaning of a place of sacrifice or center of worship.
Here’s a tip for remembering the difference between the two:
Alter is an action, so it requires effort; effort is a word that starts with the letter “e”.
Leave a response to “alter/altar”Do you say anyway or anyways? What’s the difference between them? (more…)
Leave a response to “anyway/anyways”Do you feel bad or badly?
Should you want something bad or badly?
Whether to use bad or badly can be determined by identifying the type of verb in the sentence and understanding how bad and badly differ as parts of speech.
Leave a response to “bad/badly”Bring and take are very easily confused as their meanings are similar. To prevent confusing these two words, remember that bring means to carry something towards yourself, while take means to carry something away from yourself.
Leave a response to “bring/take”Is it a complimentary gift or a complementary gift?1
Were you paid a compliment or a complement?2
Do peanut butter and jelly compliment or complement each other?3 (more…)
Leave a response to “complimentary/complementary”If you skip dessert, will you forego or forgo it?
Forego is to precede or come before.
Forgo (without an “e”) is to do without. (more…)
Leave a response to “forego/forgo”Further and farther are often used interchangeably, although they actually have slightly different meanings. Both words refer to distance, but the distinction is in the type of distance. Further refers to mental distance, while farther refers to physical distance. Take a look at the differences as illustrated in the sentences below:
Example 1 (further-correct usage): The student read further in the textbook. (Note that the distance traveled is only mental.)
Leave a response to “further/farther”Example 2 (farther-correct usage): I have to drive farther to work than to school. (In this sentence, we are referring to an actual distance that is measurable in miles, kilometers, etc., so the word farther is used.)