Practice forConfusing Words

except/accept

This restaurant accepts coupons, except on Saturday nights.

accept = to take something offeredexcept = everything but that one

except/accept

Everyone _____ Thomas went to the party.

I won’t _____ bad grades this semester.

except/accept

Everyone except Thomas went to the party.

I won’t accept bad grades this semester.

their/they’re/there

We went there last weekend.They’re going to the mall.

I gave the boys their basketball.

there = a placethey’re = contraction for “they are”

their = belonging to them

their/they’re/there

The kids lost _____ ball over _____ ._____ angry at _____ classmates.

their/they’re/there

The kids lost their ball over there.They’re angry at their classmates.

its/it’s

The band produced its own music.It’s hot out there!

its = belonging to itit’s = contraction for “it is”

its/it’s

_____ sad when a dog loses _____ life by running out on the highway.

its/it’s

It’s sad when a dog loses its life by running out on the highway.

principle/principal

The principal disagreed with her teachers on the principle of the matter.

principal = person in charge of the schoolprinciple = a concept

principle/principal

I’d like to a be a _____ some day.That _____ is useful for teaching children.

principle/principal

I’d like to a be a principal some day.That principle is useful for teaching children.

whose/who’s

Whose paper is this sitting on the desk?Who’s going to the party tonight?

whose = belonging to someonewho’s = a contraction for “who is”

whose/who’s

The person _____ going to the store must get us some potato chips.

We don’t know _____ coat this is.

whose/who’s

The person who’s going to the store must get us some potato chips.

We don’t know whose coat this is.

then/than

We went home, and then we ate dinner.If we go to school, then we will learn.

That movie is better than the other one.

then = denotes time, order, or relationship between ideas than = used to compare

then/than

My mom grew up back _____.

Your team is faster _____ mine.

Look over the study guide, and _____ ask questions.

then/than

My mom grew up back then.

Your team is faster than mine.

Look over the study guide, and then ask questions.

loose/lose

We don’t want to lose the game.The loose balloon floated away.

Please don’t lose your new watch.

loose = baggy or movablethan = misplace or fail

loose/lose

The _____ trash drifted across the road.The little girl will _____ her balloon.

She will be upset if we _____ the match.

loose/lose

The loose trash drifted across the road.The little girl will lose her balloon.

She will be upset if we lose the match.

affect/effect

Don’t let her bad attitude affect you.That medicine has a strong side effect.

affect is a verbeffect is a noun

affect/effect

The teacher’s words had a big _____ on the class.The teacher’s words will _____ the class.

affect/effect

The teacher’s words had a big effect on the class.The teacher’s words will affect the class.

to/too

We went to the store.You should come too.

It is too far to walk.

to is a prepositiontoo = also or very

to/too

I’m going _____ class early in the morning.It is _____ cold outside _____ not wear a coat.

I want _____ wear a coat _____.

to/too

I’m going to class early in the morning.It is too cold outside to not wear a coat.

I want to wear a coat too.

your/you’re

Your mom is on the phone.You’re going to like this movie.

your shows ownershipyou’re = you are

your/you’re

_____ going to need _____ gloves outside.

your/you’re

You’re going to need your gloves ou