NAME: _____________________________________________ Year & Section: ______________________

COMMON USAGE PROBLEMS

Words with nearly the same spelling and meaning are confusing.
Here is a list of common usage problems.

Legend:

(n.) – noun (adv.) – adverb

(pron.) – pronoun (prep.) – preposition
(v.) – verb (conj.) – conjunction
(adj.) – adjective

1. A lot (adj.) - this is formally means “many”

Alot - this is a nonstandard spelling.
Ex. I have a lot of work to do.
2. Accept (v.) - to receive; to believe
Except (prep.) - but or other than
Ex. Please accept my invitation.
All went to the concert except Malou.
3. Accuse (v.) - to lay blame on someone
Allege (v.) - to state something as a fact even if it is still unproven
Ex. Don’t accuse me of stealing your necklace.
They allege that the real culprit is the delivery man.
4. Adapt (v.) - to modify or to adjust
Adopt (v.) - to take on or to assume; to take as one’s own
Ex. It is difficult to adapt to this cool weather.
She has to adopt the British accent.
5. Advice (n.) - an opinion or a suggestion
Advise (v.) - to give an opinion or a suggestion
Ex. He did not follow my advice.
They advise me to travel light when I go abroad.
6. Affect (v.) - to influence
Effect (n.) - a change or a result
(v.) - to make something happen or to bring about
Ex. Television affects people in many ways.
Watching television has positive effects. (n.)
It took days to effect discipline in the class. (v.)
7. All ready (adj.) - prepared or set
Already (adv.) - by now
Ex. We are all ready to eat dinner.
We already ate dinner.
8. All right (adj.) - well or satisfactory; yes
Alright - this is a nonstandard spelling.
Ex. Do I look all right?
9. All together (adj.) - with each other
Altogether (adv.) - completely or entirely
Ex. We were all together when we left the house.
We were altogether surprised when she became angry.
10. Among (prep.) - This speaks of three or more things.
Between (prep.) - This speaks of two things.
Ex. Alexis is the smartest among the group.
She is the smarter between the two lawyers.
11. Amount (n.) - This is used for noncount nouns.
Number (n.) - This is used to count separate units.
Ex. I would need a small amount of sugar for the recipe.
I would buy a number of packs of sugar for my pantry.
12. Anyone (pron.) - This refers to any person.
Everyone (pron.) - This refers to all people.
Any one, Every one- These refer to any single person or thing and are followed by the of.
Ex. Anyone can attend tomorrow’s lecture.
Everyone has a responsibility.
Any one of the chairs may be used.
Every one of students passed the test.
13. Any way - This refers to any means.
Anyway (adv.) - nevertheless or in any case
Anyways - this is a nonstandard spelling
 Ex. You can express your ideas any way you want.
She shouldn’t drink alcohol. Anyway, it’s her body that will suffer not ours.
14. As (conj.) - this is used to introduce a dependent or a subordinate clause
Like (prep.) - this means “similar to” and is followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase
Ex. He sings as his father does.
He sings like his father.
15. Awhile (adv.) - in a short time (this form is found after verbs)
A while (n.) - a short time (this form has the preposition for)
Ex. Relax awhile before you eat dinner.
Relax for a while before you eat dinner.
16. Beside (prep.) - by the side; near
Besides (prep.) - in addition to or aside from
Ex. The vase is beside the picture frame.
Good diet, besides exercise, is healthful.
17. Borrow (v.) - to receive for temporary use
Lend (v.) - to give for temporary use
Ex. I might borrow Franco’s car.
Franco might lend me his car.
18. Breath (n.) - a mouthful of air
Breathe (v.) - to inhale a mouthful of air
Ex. Angela’s breath is similar to that of a baby.
Grace breathes slowly and deeply to relax herself.
19. Bring (v.) - to carry from a far place to somewhere near
Take (v.) - to carry from a near place to somewhere distant
Ex. Please bring those books here.
We will take the books to the library.
20. Clothes (n.) - attire or covering for the body
Cloths (n.) - woven fabric
Ex. We brought new clothes last week.
Do you have cloths for dusting?
21. Compare to - this compares two dissimilar things
Compare with - this compares two similar things
Ex. We can compare Ben’s strength to that of a horse.
The crime rate has declined this year compared with last year’s.
22. Compliment (n.) - an admiring comment or praise
Complement (n.) - an accompaniment to balance something
Ex. Most women love compliments.
My dad is the perfect complement for my mom.
23. Condemn (v.) - to blame or to criticize someone for a wrongdoing; to bring guilt to
Condone (v.) - to ignore or to disregard a wrongdoing
Ex. Don’t condemn but forgive those who wronged you.
You cope with the problem and don’t condone it.
24. Connote (v.) - to serve as a symbol; to signify
Denote (v.) - to indicate the actual meaning
Ex. The red color in the Philippine flag connotes bravery.
Being brave denotes fighting one’s fears.
25. Continual (adj.) - occurring again and again with intervals
Continuous (adj.) - non-stop
Ex. Rain has been continual this year.
Rain has been continuous for the past two days.
26. Convince (v.) - to overcome the doubts of
Persuade (v.) - to move someone to follow what is said to him
Ex. We are not convinced of his sincerity.
Do you think you can persuade Mariz to join us?
27. Corps (n.) - a group or a company usually in an army
Corpse (n.) - a dead body
Ex. The military corps starts training at dawn.
She reported to the police the corpse that she saw.
28. Council (n.) - an assembly
Counsel (n.) - guidance or direction; consultation
(v.) - to give advice
Ex. A meeting for the new council will be held tomorrow.
You can seek counsel from the mayor. (n.)
The mayor can counsel you on legal matters. (v.)
29. Desert (n.) - a barren region
(v.) - to abandon
Dessert (n.) - sweet food taken after the main meal
Ex. Is the Sahara the largest desert in the world? (n.)
A renegade is a soldier who deserts his post. (v.)
My favorite dessert is cake and ice cream.
30. Disinterested (adj.) - fair or unbiased
Uninterested (adj.) - unconcerned about or bored by
Ex. A referee must be disinterested in the game
 I am uninterested in politics.
31. Each other, one another - these two can be used interchangeably in the international
Media
Ex. My parents love each other very much.
My parents love one another very much.
32. Emigrate (v.) - This means “to leave one’s own country or region in order to settle to another.” This is followed
by the preposition from.
Immigrate (v.) - This means “to establish oneself into another country or region.” This
is followed by the preposition to.
Ex. Many people are emigrating from their countries.
Many people are immigrating to other countries.
33. Every day (adv.) - This is an adverb of time which indicates how often an action is done.
Everyday (adj.) - This means “daily.”
Ex. You should take a bath every day.
Taking a bath should be an everyday practice.
34. Farther (adj./adv.) - afar (This refers to physical distance.)
Further (adj./adv.) - additional (This refers to a greater extent.)
Ex. We need to go further to find the new building.
Would you please explain your answer further?
35. Fewer (adj.) - This is used with count nouns.
Less (adj.) - This is used with non-count nouns.
Ex. We have bought fewer books this time.
We have bought less sugar this time.
36. Former, Latter - These are considered pronouns because they refer to the two nouns that are mentioned.
Former refers to the first noun mentioned, while latter, the last.
37. Good (adj.) - fine or above reproach
Well (adj.) - healthy
(adv.) - pleasingly or favorably
Ex. Both Lea and Monique joined the theater play. The former played the lead, while the latter played a
supporting role.
38. Hanged (v./adj.) - killed (as in the gallows)
Hung (v./adj.) - suspended or put up
Ex. The man was hanged after he was found guilty.
The clothes were hung at the back of the house.
39. Healthful (adj.) - This describes things or activities that are useful in making the body healthy.
Healthy (adj.) - This describes those that have bodies such as people, animals, and plants.
Ex. Music is very healthful for the mind.
Our plants grew healthy because of fertilizer.
40. In (prep.) - This refers to location.
Into (prep.) - This refers to movement.
Ex. The guests are in the house already.
Run into the house now!
41. Lay, Lie - Look at the table below to know their differences.

VERB SIMPLE PRESENT PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE PARTICIPLE
Lay (to put down) Laid Laying Laid
Lie (to rest) Lay Lying Lain
Lie (to be untruthful) Lied Lying lied
Ex. Lay the potatoes on the table.
Lie down so that you will feel relaxed.
You should not lie if you want to gain my trust.

42. Learn (v.) - to acquire or to receive information

Teach (v.) - to give information
Ex. I want to learn how to dance.
Matthew will teach me how to dance.
43. Leave (v.) - to go away; to allow something to stay behind
Let (v.) - to allow or to permit
Ex. You should leave before sunrise.
Don’t leave the house without your keys.
Don’t let him leave the house without his keys.

44. Loose (adj.) - untied, free, or unrestricted

Lose (v.) - to fail to find or control; to misplace
Loss (n.) - disappearance; something that was lost
Ex. I like wearing loose clothes.
Don’t lose your money.
The loss of her money was blamed on me.
45. Maybe (adv.) - This means “perhaps.”
May be - This is a verb phrase which expresses a possibility.
Ex. Maybe she will call later.
She may be outside the house.
46. Morale (n.) - spirit or confidence of a group or a person
Moral (n.) - a message or a lesson
(adj.) - ethical
Ex. A captain should lift the morale of his team.
Were you able to get the moral of the story? (n.)
To commit murder is not moral. (adj.)
47. Persecute (v.) - to harass or to maltreat
Prosecute (v.) - to take legal action against
Ex. During Roman times, Christians were persecuted.
The district attorney prosecuted the businessman.
48. Personal (adj.) - private
Personnel (n.) - the people working at a specific job
Ex. Let us not talk about my personal life.
My job is to train new personnel for the company.
49. Precede (v.) - to come first
Proceed (v.) - to advance or to continue
Ex. The manager who preceded him was also upright.
Shall we proceed with the lecture?
50. Principal (adj.) - chief or main
(n.) - a person in authority
Principle (n.) - a standard or a ruling belief
Ex. Our principal goal is to provide academic service. (adj.)
I never saw our principal again after he retired. (n.)
It is my principle to be always on time.
51. Prophecy (n.) - a prediction
Prophesy (v.) - to predict
Ex. She made a prophecy that an earthquake would come.
She prophesied that an earthquake would come.
52. Quiet (adj.) - silent or not noisy
Quit (v.) - to stop
Quite (adv.) - somewhat or rather
Ex. Be quiet!
Don’t quit. Just continue working on the project.
It was quite dark when we got home.
53. Raise (v.) - to lift up something
Rise (v.) - to go up; to stand
Raze (v.) - to destroy
Ex. I can’t raise my leg; it hurts.
Please rise to welcome Prof. Alferez!
Seven houses were razed in the fire.
54. Set (v.) - to place or to arrange
Sit (v.) - to put oneself in a seated position
Ex. Let us set the table.
Let us sit down.
55. Sing (v.) - to give melody to words
Singe (v.) - to burn
Ex. I sing whenever I feel sad.
He wasn’t singed at all after he came out of the burning building.
56. So (conj.) - therefore
So that (conj.) - with the result that or with the goal that
Ex. STANDARD: She came late so she did not finish the test.
INFORMAL: Sleep early so you won’t be late.
FORMAL: Sleep early so that you won’t be late.
57. Stationary (adj.) - not moving
Stationery (n.) - paper
Ex. Edgar remained stationary until he was told to move.
Melissa likes to collect stationery.
58. Than - This is used either as a conjunction or a preposition.
Then - This is used either as a conjunction or an adverb.
Do not interchange the two.
Ex. She sings better than I do. (conj.)
John likes Marsha more than me. (prep.)
Close the lid, and then press the mix button. (conj.)
I was working in a television station then. (adv.)
59. The reason is because - This is redundant. Use “The reason is that” instead. Better yet, just rephrase it by
using the conjunction because.
Ex. SUBSTANDARD: The reason she gets sick is because her heart is weak.
STANDARD: The reason she gets sick is that her heart is weak.
IMPROVED: She gets sick because her heart is weak.
60. Unpractical, Impractical (adj.) - lacking reason
Impracticable (adj.) - not workable
Ex. It is unpractical (or impractical) to leave your house without your watch.
Working on a 300-page case in three days would seem impracticable for any lawyer.