JUMP TO:

*defintions taken from a variety of internet dictionary sources

Affect & Effect

Affect: (usually) a verb that means "to influence or impact."

EXAMPLE:  Will the cloudy day affect my mood?

Effect: (usually) a noun that means "the result of."

EXAMPLE: The melting of glaciers is an effect of global warming.

[memory aid: use the alphabet - someone or something must be influenced (affect) before the result can occur (effect).]

Its & It’s:  

Its: the possessive form of the pronoun “it.”

EXAMPLE:  The rabbit had gotten its foot stuck in a trap.

It’s: contraction for “it is.”

EXAMPLE:   Cindi’s boss noticed, “It’s not the first time you’ve been late to work.”

They're, There, & Their

They’re: contraction for “they are”

EXAMPLE:  “They’re about 15 minutes from the train station.”

There: location or expletive

EXAMPLE:
(location):   The girl left her gloves there.

(expletive):  There are far too many bad drivers nowadays.

Their: plural possessive pronoun

EXAMPLE:  Their plane was delayed three hours.

Well & Good

Well: an adverb, which means you should use it when you are discussing an action. 

 

EXAMPLE: “A job well done” or “The actress performed well last Saturday.”

Good: an adjective; use it to modify nouns. 

EXAMPLE: “A good job” or “A good performance”

[memory aid: you can have a "good well" (adjective/noun that holds water) but not a "well good."] 

Comprise:  Comprise means "composed of."  Writers often erroneously add "of" after comprise: "the play is comprised of three acts."  However, this would be like saying "the play is composed of of three acts."  Instead, the correct way to write the same phrase is: "the play comprises three acts."  The whole (a play) comprises the parts (the acts).

i.e. & e.g.

"i.e." means "that is" - when it is used inside parenthesis, the information that follows should be comprehensive. 

"e.g." means "for example" - when it is used inside parenthesis, the information that follows does not need to be comprehensive.

EXAMPLE:

1.  Primary colors (i.e., red, yellow, and blue) are used in many children's toys.

[All primary colors are listed in the parenthesis.]

2. Prime numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11) are only divisible by positive integers 1 and the number in question.

[The information in parenthesis only provides an example of some prime numbers, but does not provide a comprehensive list of prime numbers.]

Flout & Flaunt

flout: to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock: to flout the rules of propriety.

flaunt: to parade or display onself conspiscuously, defiantly, or boldly.

[memory aid: if you flout yourself, you are out of line.]

Principal & Principle

principle (noun): an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct

principal (noun): a chief or head

[memory aid: the principal person is your pal]

That & Which

Discrete & Discreet

Discrete: separate and unconnected

Discreet: 1. capable of keeping secrets; 2. careful to avoid embarrassing or upsetting others

[memory aid: the "e"s in "discrete" are "separate and unconnected"

 Stationery & Stationary

stationery: paper, envelopes, and other materials or equipment used for writing

stationary: not moving

[memory aid: stationery is for epistles; anchors are stationary]

COMING SOON

Insure, Ensure, & Assure

Capitol & Capital

Complement & Compliment

Fewer & Less

Council & Counsel

Continual & Continuous

Farther & Further

Lay & Lie

Adverse & Averse

Enormity & Enormousness

Disburse & Disperse

More & Much

Respectively

Forego & Forgo

Among & Between

Auger & Augur

Disinterested & Uninterested

Appraise & Apprise

Gender & Sex

Imply & Infer

Incredible & Incredulous