Commonly Confused Words

1. accept or except

The office will _______ applications until 5 p.m. on the 31st.

accept

Attendance is required for all employees _______ supervisors

except

2. affect or effect

To _______ the growth of plants, we can regulate the water supply.

affect

A lack of water has a predictable _______ on most plants.

effect

3. e.g. or i.e.

Please order 2,000 imprinted giveaways (_______, pens or coffee mugs)

e.g.

Charge them to my account (_______, account #98765).

i.e.

4. its or it’s

The department surpassed _______ previous sales record this quarter.

its

_______ my opinion that we reached peak oil in 2008.

It’s

5. lay or lie

Please _______ the report on the desk.

lay

The doctor asked him to _______ down on the examination table.

lie

6. pressure or pressurize

We need to _______ the liquid nitrogen tanks.

pressurize

It might be possible to _______ him to resign.

pressure

7. principle or principal

It’s the basic _________ of farming: no water, no food.

principle

The _______ reason for the trip is to attend the sales meeting.

principal

8. regardless or irregardless

_______ of what we do, gas prices are unlikely to go back down.

Regardless

_______ of your beliefs, please try to listen with an open mind.

Regardless (Irregardless is not a standard word; see your dictionary)

9. than or then

This year’s losses were worse _______ last year’s.

than

If we can cut our costs, _______ it might be possible to break even.

then

10. that or which

_______ type of marketing data did you need?

Which

Karen misplaced the report, _______ caused a delay in making a decision.

which

There are several kinds of data _______ could be useful.

that

11 there their, or they’re

The report is _________, in the top file drawer.

there

__________ strategic advantage depends on a wide distribution network.

Their

__________ planning to attend the sales meeting in Pittsburgh.

They’re

12. to, too, or two

Customers need _______ drive slower if they want to save gas.

to

After sales meeting, you should visit customers in the Pittsburgh area _______.

too

In fact, the _______ of you should make some customer visits together.

two

13. uninterested or disinterested

He would be the best person to make a decision, since he isn’t biased and is relatively _______ in the outcome.

disinterested

The sales manager tried to speak dynamically, but the sales reps were simply _______ in what he had to say.

uninterested

14. who, whom, who’s, or whose

__________ truck is that?

Whose

__________ going to pay for the repairs?

Who’s

__________ will go to the interview?

Who

To __________ should we address the thank-you note?

whom

15 your or you’re

My office is bigger than _______ cubicle.

your

_______ going to learn how to avoid making these common mistakes in English.

You’re