Grammar Boot Camp: commonly confused words

Words that sound alike or are spelled similarly often confuse writers. This week we
will be studying commonly confused words to make sure we are using the correct
words in our speech and writing.
All ready vs. Already
all ready = prepared
*The dinner was all ready when the guests arrived.
already = by this time
*The turkey was already burnt when the guests arrived.
Write a sentence using all ready and already.
All ready: ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Already: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
A part vs. Apart
a part = to be joined with, belonging to
*I hoped to be a part of the team when I tried out.
apart = to be separated
*I hate to be apart from my friends during breaks.
Write a sentence using a part and apart.
A part: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Apart: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Accept vs. Except
accept = to receive
*She would not accept my marriage proposal.
except = all but
*Everyone went to the party except John.
Write a sentence using accept and except.
Accept: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Except: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Compliment vs. Complement
compliment = praise (noun) or to praise (verb)
*Thank you so much for the kind compliment on my shoes.
complement = something that completes (noun) or to complete (verb)
*The green of your shirt complements your eyes very nicely.
Write a sentence using compliment and complement.
Compliment: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Complement: _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Practice Time! Circle the correct form of the word to complete the sentence.

1. Do you (accept/except) checks?

2. Why dont you (compliment/complement) him on the good job he is doing?
3. Is it dinnertime (already/all ready)?
4. Are you (already/all ready)?
5. That hat is an excellent (compliment/complement) to your suit!
6. I want to be (a part/apart) of your school.
7. It is my desire to be (a part/apart) from people who do bad things.
8. Everyone is passing (accept/except) Hank.
9. Girls like it when boys (compliment/complement) them.
10. I hope to be (accepted/excepted) to Howard.

Woo hoo! Grammar Boot Camp is improving our writing one day at a time!
Tomorrow, were continuing with commonly confused words!
 Grammar Boot Camp: commonly confused words Day 2
Words that sound alike or are spelled similarly often confuse writers. This week we
will be studying commonly confused words to make sure we are using the correct
words in our speech and writing.
Affect vs. Effect
affect = to influence
*Lack of sleep affects the quality of your work.
effect = a result (noun) or to accomplish/cause (verb)
*The effects of Katrina are still seen in New Orleans.
Write a sentence using all ready and already.
Affect: ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Effect: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Conscience vs. Conscious
conscience = sense of right and wrong
*The students conscience kept him from cheating on the test.
conscious = awake or aware
*I was conscious when they drilled on my tooth and it hurt!
Write a sentence using a part and apart.
Conscience: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Conscious: ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Loose vs. Lose
loose = not tight
*It is stylish to wear loose tunics now.
lose = to misplace or not to win
*If you lose your paper you will have a hard time studying.
Write a sentence using accept and except.
Loose: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Lose: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Passed vs. Past
passed = past tense of to pass, to have moved or accomplished
*The tornado passed through the town without destruction.
past = belonging to a former time or place
*Who is the past governor or New York?
Write a sentence using compliment and complement.
Passed:______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Past: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Practice Time! Circle the correct form of the word to complete the sentence.

1. The (affect, effect) of carefully rereading my rough draft and correcting my

errors was that I earned an A on my paper!
2. Dont worry about the fight. Its all in the (passed, past).
3. The noise in the room (affected, effected) my ability to concentrate, so I had to
leave to find a quieter spot to study.
4. When Jim stopped eating desserts and snacks for two weeks, he began to
(loose, lose) five extra pounds.
5. I was (conscience/conscious) of the fact I was being watched.
6. The new brightly colored wallpaper (affects, effects) my mood and makes me
feel happier.
7. I was so happy I (passed, past) the test.
8. I was knocked (unconscience/unconscious) by the ball to the head.
9. I was afraid that I would (loose, lose) my place in line, so I waited for thirty
minutes before my name was called.
10. Mary was so depressed that she showed no (affect, effect) in her emotions. She
showed no emotion.
11. Taking that drug has negative (affects, effects), so I looked for another
medicine.
12. Today's fashions call for (loose, lose) clothing, which are far more comfortable
than last year's skin-tight themes.
 13. Jiminy Cricket acted as Pinnochios (conscience, conscious).
Woo hoo! Grammar Boot Camp is improving our writing one day at a time!
Grammar Boot Camp: commonly confused words Day 3
There vs. Their vs. Theyre
there = in that matter, respect, or relation, can point out direction
*Please put the papers over there.
their = belonging to or relating to them (possessive)
*That is their table.
theyre = contraction of they are
*Theyre the top students in the class.
Write a sentence using there, their, and theyre.
There: ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Their: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Theyre: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
To vs. Too vs. Two
to = indicates an action is in progress
*I am going to school tomorrow.
too = excessively
*She was wearing too much make-up.
two = the number more than one
*I have two cats at home.
Write a sentence using to, too, and two..
To: ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Too: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Two: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Threw vs. Through vs. Thorough
threw = past tense of throw, to toss
*Jeff threw a perfect pass to the end zone.
through = from one point to its end
*I was a cheerleader through high school.
thorough = careful or complete
*After the thorough cleaning of my room, no dust was to be found.
Write a sentence using threw, through, and thorough..
Threw: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Through: ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Thorough: ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Practice Time! Circle the correct form of the word to complete the sentence.

1. (Their/There/They're) are three of us who comprise the carpool.

2. (To/Too/Two) many of his peers, Sean seemed to lack the commitment he
needed to become a serious artist.
3. (Threw/Through/Thorough) no fault of her own, the senatorial candidate was
forced out of the race when news spread that her campaign manager was
arrested for soliciting a prostitute.
4. There are (to/too/two) things of which I am certain; the moment they become
crystallized in my mind, I will reveal them to you.
5. So that (their/there/they're) is no confusion, Patricia does not speak with a
French accent is because she was reared in Paris, Texas.
6. Before he turned in his college application, David gave it a
(threw/through/thorough) review.
7. If you want proof of the predictability of human behavior, just drive along any
freeway. I guarantee you will find that, at the first sign of carnage, most drivers
will crane (their/there/they're) necks in hopes of getting a better view of it.
8. We are far (to/too/two) willing to accept from our friends the type of treatment
that we would not think of tolerating from our enemies.
9. Unaware that Michael was waiting for her response, Erin merely glanced at the
card he had left on her desk and (threw/through/thorough) it in the
wastebasket.
10. (Their/There/They're) all going to the street fair, despite the fact that
forecasters predict it will rain.
11. Having squandered (to/too/two) much money on their wedding, Annie and
Andy had little left over for their honeymoon.
12. I admit that I desire your affection, but I refuse (to/too/two) beg you for it.
13. Ike (threw/through/thorough) caution to the wind and paraglided off the roof
of the twenty-story office building, only to get caught on a scaffold halfway
down.
14. Because of a judgment rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court, George W. Bush
will succeed Bill Clinton as president, despite the fact that(their/there/they're)
is widespread doubt about the authenticity of his election.
15. If you can suffer (threw/through/thorough) the trials and tribulations of
college, you can control your own destiny.
Woo hoo! Grammar Boot Camp is improving our writing one day at a time!
Tomorrow, were continuing with commonly confused words!
 Grammar Boot Camp: commonly confused words Day 4

Its vs Its
its = possessive, belonging to it
*What is its name?
its = contraction of it is
*Its cold outside.
Write a sentence using its and its.
Its: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Its: ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Knew vs. New
knew = past tense of know
*I knew the answer but couldnt answer in time.
new = made for the first time
*What is the new single from Rhianna?
Write a sentence using knew and new.
Knew: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
New: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Weather vs. Whether
weather = whats happening in the atmosphere or to endure
*Whats the weather like today?
*We had to weather the storm together and wait for it to pass.
whether = if
*Im going whether or not you are going.
Write a sentence using weather and whether.
Weather: ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Whether: ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Practice Time! Circle the correct form of the word to complete the sentence.

1. Some people prefer to read reviews or to poll their friends before they decide
(weather/whether) or not they should see a film.
2. Winter has been damp and cold, but (its,it's) nearly spring time, now.
3. I (knew,new) that person when I was in high school, but we lost contact through the
years.
4. We have seen our neighborhood (weather/whether) several changes over the years,
everything from devaluation to gentrification.
5. The dog happily chewed (its, it's) rawhide chewy bone in the sunshine.
6. The (weather/whether) report calls for snow tomorrow.
7. Some people have discovered that buying a (knew, new) car costs much more than their
budgets will allow due to the additional costs of tax, license, registration fees, and car
insurance.
8. The United States has changed (its,it's) policy for immigration, and there is hope that
the new regulations will be fair for all new immigrants.

Woo hoo! Grammar Boot Camp is improving our writing one day at a time!

There will be a section of commonly confused

words on your vocabulary test
tomorrow. You will do great!
 Grammar Boot Camp: commonly confused words
WE MEET AGAIN!

Than vs. Then

than = compared to
*Lenny is taller than Laquan.
then = at that time OR in that case
*We will do Grammar Boot Camp then begin reading.
*If you have passed the English Regents, then you do not have to take it again.

Write a sentence using than and then.

Than: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Then: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Right vs, Rite vs. Write
right = correct OR a direction
*She always knew the right thing to say to make me feel better.
*Turn right at the park.
rite = a ceremony
*Final rites for the deceased were held in the church.
write = to express ones self in writing, pen to paper, etc.
*You have to write the first draft of an essay by next week.
Write a sentence using right, rite, and write.
Right: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Rite: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Write: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Complete the sentences below using the correct word (than or then).
1. My school is far better ___________ your school.
2. First, we study the homework, __________ we take the test.
3. This class scores higher ____________ any other class.
4. This test seems to be easier ___________ the other one.
 5. His appearance is more __________ can stand.
6. The storm raged, but _________ it quickly ended.
7. The dog bit its master ___________ ran away.
8. Its unfair for him to have more time to study __________ I do.
9. Core the apple __________ rinse it in lemon juice.
10. The discussion lasted much longer __________ we thought it would.

Complete the sentences below using the correct word (write, right, or rite).
1. He learned how to __________ in the first grade.
2. All religions have special __________ to mark occasions.
3. Please turn ___________ at 42nd Street.
4. We have the ___________ to free speech from the 1st Amendment.
5. Will you please __________ your thank you notes?
6. Thats the ___________ answer!
7. Does your family have any ___________ they practice?
8. If you come in late, please walk ________ to your seat quietly.
9. Lauren likes to ________ in her journal almost daily.
10. Get yourself ___________ home after school young lady!

Woo hoo! Grammar Boot Camp is improving our writing one day at a time!