chomp!chomp!This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, 2013 by Robin L. Simmons.

Confused and Misused Words and PhrasesDude, the right word is affect, with an a.No, youre wrong. The word should be effect, with an e.

This presentation advices you on words or phrases that are commonly misused or confused.Dude, thats advises, with an s, not a c.

On an objective test, an item evaluating the skill might look like this . . .

Sample ItemMy friends ate at Titos Taco Palace, so theyre hoping that their lunch stays down, for their are

rumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.

theirtheyrethereNo change is necessary.My friends ate at Titos Taco Palace, so theyre Ahoping that their lunch stays down, for their are B Crumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.

theirtheyrethereNo change is necessary.My friends ate at Titos Taco Palace, so theyre Ahoping that their lunch stays down, for there are B Crumors that health inspectors cited the filthy kitchen.

theirtheyrethereNo change is necessary.Is the word confused or misused at A, B, or C?At C, you need there, the expletive, or placeholder, form.

Recognize misspelled/correctly spelled words and phrases.XXXXXSpelled correctly!Spelled wrong!

AlrightAll rightAlotA lotRiteRight, writeShould ofShould haveSuppose toSupposed to

Recognize the distinctions among related words.Know these differences!

3 or more; Among my friends AmongBetween 2 only;Between Fred and meNoncount;Amount of butter AmountNumber Count;Number of cookiesAdjective;A good essay GoodWell Adverb;He writes well.Evident, unambiguous ExplicitImplicit Implied, ambiguous

Know the difference that a single new letter can make.More to learn!

Before a word beginning with a consonant [sound] AAn Before a word beginning with a vowel [sound]Before AlreadyAll ready Completely preparedA thought or conception IdeaIdeal The concept of something perfectTo suffer the deprivation of LoseLoose Free from restraintVerb; past tense of are WereWhere A place

Know the difference that an apostrophe can make.Possessive pronouns never contain an apostrophe.Contractions do contain an apostrophe.

Possessive pronoun; belonging to it ItsIts Contraction for it is or it hasPossessive pronoun; belonging to whom WhoseWhos Contraction for who is or who hasPossessive pronoun; belonging to you YourYoure Contraction for you are

Know the difference a change to a single letter can make.Why is English so complicated?

Noun form AdviceAdvise Verb formUsually a verb AffectEffect Usually a nounCity, wealth, important CapitalCapitol The building for lawmakingTo quote CiteSite A locationRough CoarseCourse Path, routePraise ComplimentComplement Goes well withPut in place SetSit Be seatedUnchanging StationaryStationery PaperIndicates comparison ThanThen Next

Dont let these homonyms [sound alike words] confuse you.

Agree to or receive AcceptExcept Leave outPlural present of the verb be AreOur Possessive pronoun; belonging to usPast tense of pass PassedPast Gone, byGo before PrecedeProceed Carry onChief [person], main PrincipalPrinciple Truth or ruleCorrect, a just claim, a direction RightWrite Make letters with an instrumentSight, touch, hearing, smell, taste SenseSince Adverb, conjunction, or prepositionView, glimpse SightSite A locationPast tense of throw ThrewThrough BeyondState of the atmosphere WeatherWhether Introduces an alternative

My brain is getting full!Relax, dude, were almost there!

To, Too, TwoUse to as a preposition.Jonathan drove to the seafood shop.Use to to begin an infinitive.He hoped to buy fresh squid.Use too to show degree.The squid was too expensive to purchase.Use too as a synonym for also.So too was the fresh octopus.Use two when you mean the number.Jonathan bought two flounder filets instead.

There, Their, TheyreUse there as an expletive, a placeholder to delay the subject.There is a turtle in the road.Use there to indicate place.Across the road is a lake. The turtle hopes to get there before a car hits him.Use their as a possessive pronoun.Most drivers dont see the turtle; their eyes are glued to their cell phones.Use theyre as a contraction for they are.Theyre also distracted by other devices, like the radio and navigation system.

At many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary!X

When in doubt, rely on gut feelings.Your eyes have seen in print and your brain has registered all of the possible words that you will encounter for this skill. If you dont recognize the right answer, go with the one that feels right.Hey, Ive seen that word before!

Quick TestDirections: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose No change is necessary.Your turn!Lets see what you can do!

Item 1Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole

pie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and

proceeded to consume slice after slice.

wholesetprecededNo change is necessary.Even though we warned Jake not to eat a hole Apie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and Bproceeded to consume slice after slice. C

wholesetprecededNo change is necessary.Even though we warned Jake not to eat a whole Apie at one sitting, he sat at the kitchen table and Bproceeded to consume slice after slice. C

wholesetprecededNo change is necessary.

Item 2Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe laces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. His fashion since is gradually improving.

complementcomplimentsenseNo change is necessary.Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe Alaces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. BHis fashion since is gradually improving. C

complementcomplimentsenseNo change is necessary.Give Jerrod a compliment because his shoe Alaces complement the colors in his plaid shirt. BHis fashion sense is gradually improving. C

complementcomplimentsenseNo change is necessary.

Item 3If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of

hotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for

dinner.

buybyThenNo change is necessary.If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of A Bhotdog buns. Than we can grill the sausage for Cdinner.

buybyThenNo change is necessary.If you go by the supermarket, buy a package of A Bhotdog buns. Then we can grill the sausage for Cdinner.

buybyThenNo change is necessary.

Item 4Heed my advice, and dont loose your receipt.

The college bookstore will not accept any excuse

if you need to return those books.

adviseloseexceptNo change is necessary.Heed my advice, and dont loose your receipt. A BThe college bookstore will not accept any excuse Cif you need to return those books.

adviseloseexceptNo change is necessary.Heed my advice, and dont lose your receipt. A BThe college bookstore will not accept any excuse Cif you need to return those books.

adviseloseexceptNo change is necessary.

Item 5The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as the animals tried to elude the cheetah.

herdthrewalludeNo change is necessary.The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as A Bthe animals tried to elude the cheetah. C

herdthrewalludeNo change is necessary.The herd of gazelle leaped through the air as A Bthe animals tried to elude the cheetah. C

herdthrewalludeNo change is necessary.

Item 6Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe

flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,

dont accept any excuse for his tardiness.

May bemay beexceptNo change is necessary.Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe A Bflirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,

dont accept any excuse for his tardiness. C

May bemay beexceptNo change is necessary.Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he may be A Bflirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way,

dont accept any excuse for his tardiness. C

May bemay beexceptNo change is necessary.

Item 7When there are fewer students in a class, the

professor has less worries that everyone is

getting individual attention.

theirlessfewerNo change is necessary.

When there are fewer students in a class, the A Bprofessor has less worries that everyone is Cgetting individual attention.

theirlessfewerNo change is necessary.

When there are fewer students in a class, the A Bprofessor has fewer worries that everyone is Cgetting individual attention.

theirlessfewerNo change is necessary.

Item 8We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for the charity event, but today were exhausted after

spending all night preparing the desserts.

wereweredesertsNo change is necessary.We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for Athe charity event, but today were exhausted after Bspending all night preparing the desserts. C

wereweredesertsNo change is necessary.We were successful baking 300 cupcakes for Athe charity event, but today were exhausted after Bspending all night preparing the desserts. C

wereweredesertsNo change is necessary.

Item 9Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he

wont loose his scholarship. As he walked past

the diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.

pastlosepassedNo change is necessary.Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he Awont loose his scholarship. As he walked past B Cthe diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.

pastlosepassedNo change is necessary.Gregory passed his chemistry final, so now he Awont lose his scholarship. As he walked past B Cthe diner, he rewarded himself with a milkshake.

pastlosepassedNo change is necessary.

Item 10Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house.

He has agreed to all of the buyers conditions

except retiling the master bathroom since it would be too much work.

acceptacceptsenseNo change is necessary.Mr. Ramos hopes to except the bid on the house. AHe has agreed to all of the buyers conditions

except retiling the master bathroom since it B Cwould be too much work.

acceptacceptsenseNo change is necessary.Mr. Ramos hopes to accept the bid on the house. AHe has agreed to all of the buyers conditions

except retiling the master bathroom since it B Cwould be too much work.

acceptacceptsenseNo change is necessary.

chomp!chomp!Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and exercises on commonly confused words. Go to chompchomp.com!

The End.Watch where youre going, fool!

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