Here is a non-inclusive list of the most commonly misused words in English. Many of the problems are because of the homophonic nature of the word pairs (or trios),

ACCEDE / EXCEED

ACCEDE is a verb and means to agree. I accede with your wishes is an example of how to use the word.

The word, EXCEED, is a verb and means to go beyond what the standard is for that particular situation. A few examples are: Her father told her not to exceed her limit or The cop told her that she could not exceed the speed limit.

ACCEPT / EXCEPT

ACCEPT is a noun or a verb that means to get or receive something. Some examples are: I will accept the nomination or He accepted the fact that his life was ruined.

EXCEPT is a preposition or a verb that means to exclude. Some examples are: I want all of the tomatoes except the green ones or She was excepted from the rest of the group.

ADVICE / ADVISE

The word ADVICE is a noun and means to offer instruction. Some examples are: His advice saved them a lot of money or Nothing takes the place of good advice.

ADVISE is a verb and means the action of offering instruction. An example is: She is advising her client to remain silent or I advise you to accept his offer.

AFFECT / EFFECT

AFFECT is a verb and describes something has an influence on something else. Her choice of color affected anyone who wanted to hire her as a designer.

EFFECT can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, an example of its use is this: The effect of the colors she used had on everyone was terrible. When used as a verb: By using the colors, she was hoping to effect a change in the way designers worked.

ALLUDE / ELUDE

ALLUDE is a verb and means to refer to. An example of the proper usage would be: She used to allude to her husband's time in the service when she talked about security.

The word, ELUDE is a verb and means to escape detection. He hid behind the shrubs in order to elude the police is an example of using this word 

ALLUSION / ILLUSION

Both words have common pronunciations and are commonly misused.

An ALLUSION is a noun and means making a reference to something. Her allusion to his black eye reminded him that she had punched him before is an example of the use of this word.

Most everyone is familiar with the word ILLUSION. An ILLUSION is a noun and describes something that looks real but really is not. A favorite illusion of magicians is to saw a woman in half or Her sunny demeanor was just an illusion are two examples of the use of this word.

AMORAL / IMMORAL

Another commonly confused set of words. AMORAL is an adjective and it means not having any morals. An example of the proper use of this word would be: The General was hired because of his amoral qualities.

The word, IMMORAL, is an adjective and usually refers to a person's behavior. Her immoral behavior put the custody of her children at risk.

APPRAISE / APPRISE

APPRAISE is a verb that means to estimate the value of an item or a person. The value does not always have to be tangible. Some examples of this are: I need to have my grandmother's jewelry appraised or The appraised value of the land is much less than the client thought.

The word, APPRISE, is another verb and means to give people information about a situation. It is my job to keep him apprised of the situation is a good example of how to use this word.

ASSURE / ENSURE / INSURE

The word, ASSURE, is a verb and means to make an event sure. I wanted to assure her that everything would be all right or When you assure someone of something, you give them the idea that it will be accomplish are two good examples of how to use the word.

ENSURE, besides being the name of a popular liquid supplement, is a verb and means to make sure that something happens. An example of the usage of this word is: The chaperones will ensure that nothing untoward happens between the girls and boys.

The last word in this series is INSURE. It is a verb and generally means to issue a policy, as in insurance. It is important to insure drivers before they operate a vehicle is an example of using this word.

BARE / BEAR

BARE is an adjective or a verb that means naked, visual to the naked eye or to strip naked. Some examples are: I decided to bare my soul to my boyfriend and tell him that I cheated or I wished I had a sweater to cover my bare arms.

The word, BEAR, is a noun or a verb. As a noun, it is an animal and as a verb, it means to support. The bear chased me up the tree or He did not think that the chair would bear the weight of the fat woman.

BREATHE / BREATH

BREATHE is a verb and means the act of breathing or taking a breath. Some examples are: I went outside to breathe in the fresh air or 'Breathe Again' is a hit song by Toni Braxton.

BREATH is a noun and means to take an inhalation or exhalation of air. Some examples are: Her smile was like a breath of fresh air to him or She released her breath slowly, afraid to make any noise.

CLIQUE / CLICK

CLIQUE is a noun that signifies a group of people, usually with something in common or a common mindset, which are arrogant and stuck-up. A common example of the use of this word is: All the cheerleaders are in a clique and they do not like anyone else.

The word CLICK is often confused CLIQUE. It is a noun or a verb that implies a sound or a motion that creates a sound. I clicked my fingers in time with the music or The soft click told me that the door had closed are good examples of the correct use of this word.

COMPLEMENT / COMPLIMENT

COMPLEMENT is a verb that usually means match or improves or goes along with, as in The green in the dress complemented the green in her eyes or Her street smarts complement his book smarts.

COMPLIMENT is a noun or verb that means kind words that is given to someone. Some examples are: I complimented the chef on his use of apricots or Her compliments made him feel good.

CORE / CORPS

CORE is a noun or a verb that means the center or heart of an object or to take the center of an object out. It can be used in the following ways: To make an apple pie, you have to core the apples first or The core of the art show was her sculpture.

The word, CORPS, is a noun that is derived from French and is pronounced in the same way that core is. A corps is an organization or group and some examples of the usage of this are: The corps of the ballet was ready for practice or A lot of young men and women join the Peace Corps in college.

COUNCIL / COUNSEL

The word, COUNCIL, is a noun and means a group of people that pass laws, ordinances or other laws or standards. She had to go before the council for them to pass judgment on her or The council will take up the wetlands provisions next week are two examples of how to use this word.

COUNSEL is a noun. It can mean a lawyer that offers advice or the advice itself. A few examples of how to use this word correctly are: The counsel asked to approach the bench or His counsel provided answers for her.

DEFUSE / DIFFUSE

In its literal meaning, DEFUSE means to 'remove the fuse' or to remove whatever is present in a situation that could make or makes it volatile. DEFUSE is a verb and should be used as in this example: I told her to leave to defuse the situation.

DIFFUSE can be used as an adjective but its most common use is as a verb and means to disperse or spread something out. I turned on the fan to diffuse the smoke is a good example of proper usage of the verb version of this word. An example of adjective use would be: His diffuse behavior left us wondering if he was on drugs.


DUAL / DUEL

This is another set of words with common pronunciation and they rhyme with the word MULE. The word, DUAL, is an adjective and means having two things that are alike or similar. The character, Molly, is a dual role in the movie is an example of how to correctly use the word.

A DUEL is a noun and can also be used as a verb and means to fight, usually with some specific ending in mind, sometimes death. It does not have to be a physical fight; it can be a competition as well. He challenged the stranger to a duel at sunrise or The race was going to be a duel between Gordon and Jarrett.

DYEING / DYING

DYEING is a noun or a verb that means to add color to something. A few examples: The dyeing of the eggs is our favorite thing to do during Easter or She is dyeing my pants to match the shirt.

DYING is a noun or a verb that means to be nearing death or feeling as if a person or thing is nearing death. Some examples: When she told him she was cheating, he felt like he was dying or His dying on the bed made her not want to sleep on it. The last example sounds very clumsy and though I have seen it used, I don’t think I would use it.

EMIGRATE / IMMIGRATE

These are two commonly confused words that I have problems with myself. EMIGRATE is a verb and it describes a person that is leaving a country. During the Gulf War, a lot of people were forced to emigrate to nearby countries is one way to properly use this word.

The word, IMMIGRATE, is a different matter altogether. It is a verb that means to move into a country. People in the Southwest are upset about the amount of people that are allowed to immigrate to the United States from Mexico.

EMINENT / IMMINENT

EMINENT is an adjective that means famous or distinguished. His eminent father was elected as a judge or The scandal concerning Clinton made Lewinsky an eminent figure in pop culture are two examples of the usage of this word.

The word, IMMINENT, pronounced the same as EMINENT, is an adjective that means something that is going to happen soon, sometimes with a threat attached. Some examples of the correct use of this word are: According to the weather reports, the hurricane's landing is imminent or His arrival was imminent so we had to hurry and clean the house.

ENQUIRE / INQUIRE

This is a good example of a word that has the same meaning with either spelling but one is more common in another country. ENQUIRE / INQUIRE is a verb and means to ask questions about or seek information concerning something.

In the United Kingdom and other U.K. holdings (past and present), the word ENQUIRE is more commonly used. In the United States, the word INQUIRE is more commonly used.

FARTHER / FURTHER

FARTHER is an adverb and generally means adding physical distance. The exit for Atlanta is just a bit farther down the road or The pen is farther down in my purse are examples.

FURTHER is an adverb that means adding depth. The police said that they wanted to talk further with her or Further discussion will have to take place before we sign the contract.

GOOD / WELL

GOOD is an adjective and is used to provide description to a noun. Some examples are: The good boy always gets a reward or He settled into bed with a good book.

WELL is an adverb and is used to modify or lends description to adjectives, verbs and sometimes, other adverbs. An example is: She did well in the time trial.

However, there is a huge exception which is one of the most common errors and it has to do with how something or someone feels. Good should be used when describing how one feels, such as I feel good.

INTERMENT / INTERNMENT

These are another set of words that are confused with each other. INTERMENT is a noun that means burial. Grandpa's interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery is a proper way to use this word.

INTERNMENT is a noun that means jailing or imprisonment and an example of this is: Josh will complete his internment at Stark County Prison.

ITS / IT'S

ITS is a pronoun and relates to the item that follows it. For example: The cat licked its fur or The tree loses its leaves in the fall.

IT'S is a contraction of the words, IT and IS or HAS. These are not acceptable in academic writing. Any time you use this word, break it down into the two separate words and read your sentence. An example is: It's about time that you got here.

LAY / LIE

LAY is a verb that describes an action and must have an item to which the action is being done to. A good way to think of this verb is that an item is being put down. Other forms of the verb are LAID, HAVE LAID, ARE LAYING and WILL LAY. Some examples are: I have laid the keys on the table or He lays his life on the line every day.

LIE is a verb that also describes an action but it does not require an item to be used with it. A good way to think of this verb is that it generally is used meaning to recline. Other forms of the verb are LAY, HAVE LAIN, ARE LYING and WILL LIE. Some examples are: He lay back on the bed or I am lying on the couch right now

LEACH / LEECH

LEACH is a verb and means to cause a liquid to separate itself from a solid item. Being buried for a long time caused the toxic liquid to leach out of the containers or The excess water caused the color to leach out of my pants are examples of how to use this word.

The word, LEECH, is a noun and a verb and describes a person that obtains room and board or other things for free without offering remuneration. My brother is such a leech that he never pays for a thing is an example of how to use this word.

LEAD / LED

LEAD is both a noun and a verb. In noun form, one of the many meanings of the word LEAD is a metal that is silvery in color. As a verb, it rhymes with the word REED and means to give someone or a group specific direction. Moses was chosen by God to lead his people out of bondage is a good example of how to use the verb version of the word.

LED is a verb and is the past tense of LEAD. A few examples are: I led the horse to water or He said that the people needed to be led.

LOOSE / LOSE

LOOSE is an adjective or a verb that means to release or free. Some examples are: All the boys knew she was loose or She felt so much better when she let her hair loose.

LOSE is a verb that means to not win. She did not want to lose to the other girl or To lose a game would mean losing the championship are some examples.

MEDDLE / METTLE

MEDDLE is a verb and generally means to get involved with. I do not want him to meddle with me or He likes to meddle with all the girls are two examples of how to use this word properly.

The word, METTLE, is a noun that means courage. A few examples of the proper use of this word are: He entered the tournament to test his mettle or Her mettle was very helpful in becoming a Marine.

ORDINANCE / ORDNANCE

The word, ORDINANCE, is a noun and means a rule that is set forth as a standard to be closely followed. The watering ordinance states that you can only water your lawn on Thursday or He is being fined daily according to the yard cleanliness ordinance are two examples of how to use this word.

ORDNANCE is a noun and refers to military weapons or equipment, such as guns, ammunition, etc. An example of the proper use of this word would be: Ray was going to get a good price on the ordnance from the Army/Navy store.

PALATE / PALETTE / PALLET

These are three words that sound alike and are used incorrectly. Let us start with PALATE. This word is a noun and describes a part of your mouth: the roof of your mouth that is separated into two parts, the hard palate and the soft palate. An example of the correct usage of this word is: Peanut butter always sticks to the palate of my mouth.

PALETTE is a noun which anyone who is an artist or knows an artist should be familiar with. A palette is usually a flat wooden board that an artist uses to mix paints on and is portable, enabling the artist to leave the table where the paints are stored. It can also be used to describe someone who has an assortment of skills or tools at their disposal. Some examples of the proper usage of this word are: He cleaned his palette so that he could use some new colors or She sings, she dances ... she has a palette of talents to work from.

The final word in this set is PALLET, which is also a noun and has two meanings that are most commonly used. It can mean a bed that is made up and usually placed on the floor or it can mean a wooden structure built to withstand the weight of heavy objects and to provide support when shipping the objects. He put the tines of the forklift under the pallet and lifted the computers onto the truck is a good example of its usage.

PEAK / PEEK / PIQUE

All three of the words are pronounced the same and rhyme with LEAK. The word PEAK means the highest point of something, either tangible or intangible. Some examples of the use of this word are: The peak of the mountain was covered with snow or He reached his peak and couldn't lose any more weight.

PEEK is a noun or a verb and means to take a quick look at someone or something. I took a peek at my Christmas present is an example of the correct usage of this word.

The word, PIQUE, is derived from the French language and means to stimulate. An example of the use of this word is: She wore the short skirt to pique his interest.

PRECEDE / PROCEED

PRECEDE is a verb that means to go before. Guards always precede Queen Elizabeth in the procession or The bridesmaids always precede the bride are examples of the proper usage of this word.

The word, PROCEED, is a verb which means to go. Some examples are: In order to proceed with the lawsuit, she must submit to a deposition or He signed the papers to allow the doctor to proceed with the operation.

PRINCIPLE / PRINCIPAL

A PRINCIPLE is a noun or a verb. In noun form, the word means a code or set of standards and in verb form, it would be used to show the application of the code or set of standards. It can also be used an adjective, describing someone or something that uses the code or set of standards to govern its existence.

Some examples would be: Tom Cruise believes in the principles of Scientology or He is a man that leads a very principled life.

We all know what a PRINCIPAL is. Just about everyone who went to school knows that the PRINCIPAL is the person who administers the school. A PRINCIPAL is a noun and can also mean the person or thing that is the most important or has the highest stature. An example of its use is: Our principal is also an English teacher.

QUEUE / CUE

QUEUE is a noun or a verb that means a line, as in one that you stand in, or the action of standing in a line. Some examples are: We queued up for concert tickets or I was very cold while standing in the queue or The document is in queue to be printed.

CUE is a noun or a verb that means a specific action or the action of receiving that specific action. Some examples are: When I gave the cue, everyone sang, “Happy Birthday!” or I cued up the song so that it would be ready after the speech. Please also know that the white ball used in billiards is known as the ‘CUE’ ball.


REIGN / REIN

REIGN is a noun or verb and it means to rule. Some examples are: The king's reign was long and prosperous or She wanted to reign as wisely as her father had.

REIN is a noun or verb that means to pull back or a method to control or pull back. I had to rein in my jealousy after I found out that he was her brother or As the president, he took over the reins.

ROUT / ROUTE

ROUT is a noun or a verb and can be used to describe complete dominance or the act of completely dominating someone or something. An example is: The football team suffered a rout at the hands of the biggest competitors.

The word ROUTE is a noun and means a path used to get from one place to another. Route 66 is a famous road or The route she planned to take was closed due to road work.

STATIONERY / STATIONARY

This is on the top ten list of confused words.

When you write letters to your family or friends, you use STATIONERY. It is a noun and it describes the particular paper that you use to write letters. My mother bought me stationery to use while I was at camp or The prince's stationery displays the family crest are two examples of the use of this word.

The word, STATIONARY, is an adjective and describes the non-moving state of an item. One of the verb forms of this word is STATIONED and when I was learning it, it helped me to remember that it didn't use the same E as the verb form. So it wouldn't be STATIONED/ STATIONERY. I hope it helps you!

Some examples of using the word would be: He chose the stationary position on the side of the hill or From her stationary post, Gwen sold furs to the Indians.

SUITE / SUIT

The word, SUITE, is a noun and can be pronounced two different ways with each pronunciation.

With using the pronunciation that sounds like 'sweet', it can mean a group of rooms or a single room split into separate chambers which are all usually opulent. The Queen occupies a suite of rooms at any hotel she visits or We had the Honeymoon Suite on our wedding night are good examples of using this word.

When using the pronunciation that sounds like 'suit', it can mean a group of pieces of an item. An example of this usage is: The tallboy, four-poster bed and vanity were all part of the bedroom suite.

SUIT is a noun and means articles of clothing that when put together, constitute a suit. He checked to make sure that each piece of the suit was present before he paid for it is an example of how to use this word properly.

TAUGHT / TAUT

The word, TAUGHT, is the past or future past tense of a verb and in present tense, means to teach. I will have taught all his letters by next week or My grandfather taught me how to fish are two examples of how to use this word.

TAUT is an adjective that means tight. It can describe an actual object, such as a rope or it can describe an invisible object such as your nerves. Examples of its usage are: The promise of danger drew his nerves taut like the string of a bow or She pulled the strings taut and picked up the duffle bag.

THEY’RE / THEIR / THERE

THEY’RE is a contraction, a combination of two words. In this case, the two words are THEY and ARE, a pronoun and a verb. As we know, contractions are not acceptable in academic writing. They’re going to the ball game tonight.

THEIR is a pronoun that shows possession. That woman is their mother.

THERE is a word that indicates a place. I live right there.


TO / TOO / TWO

TO is a preposition and generally indicates some kind of motion. I gave the cigarette to him or I am going to the store are good examples of the proper use of the word.

TOO is another word that means also or in excess. I, too, want to go to the store or I love her too much.

TWO is a word that stands for a number. There are two ducks in the pond.

VARY / VERY

Both of these words are pronounced alike and rhyme with the word, MARY. VARY, in this form, is a verb and means to change. Sources of where the items are ordered vary from week to week is an example of this word.

VERY is an adverb or an adjective that describes the word the follows and adds a higher degree of the word. Some examples of this usage are: She is very beautiful or He is very busy.
WAIST / WASTE

WAIST is a noun and describes the area around the midsection of a person's body. I put my arms around her waist or She was so fat that she could not fasten the waist band of her new pants are two examples of how to use this word.

The word, WASTE, is a noun and a verb and means to use without care. Some examples of correct usage of the word are: I did not want him to waste the cake so I ate the rest or He got a trash can to put the waste in.

YEA / YEAH

These two words are frequently misused. YEA is an adverb, rhymes with BAY and generally means yes. When voting for an amendment, the congressmen say, YEA is an example of how this word is properly used.

YEAH is an adverb or noun and also means yes, though it is considered a more informal usage. When I asked him if he wanted to go to the mall, he said, "Yeah" is an example of using this word.