Commonly Misused Words and Phrases in The English Language Today
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by: michaeltbayman
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Word Count: 586
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 Time: 6:40 PM
In order to communicate effectively with others, whether through the written word or orally, you need to make sure that you are using your words correctly. Unfortunately, there are many English words that sound similar but have very different meanings. These frequently misused words can muddy your meaning and lose your audience. Here are some of the most often misused words and what they really mean.
Accept and Except - These two words are frequently misused, usually by using one in place of the other. While they sound similar to each other (particularly when said aloud), their meanings are very, very different. Accept means to receive or to agree with. Except means "other than" or to be set apart from something else.
Here are examples of both words used correctly:
"I accept the consequences of my own actions."
"I like all of them except the yellow one."
Affect and Effect - Again, this pair of words sounds almost identical, but they have enormously different meanings and functions. Affect is a verb - it means to influence or to change. Effect is a noun, and means a result or consequence.
Here are examples of each:
"The storm will affect the water level in the lake."
"The flooding was an effect of the heavy rain."
Insure and Ensure - Another similar pair of words, insure and ensure have different meanings, as well. Ensure means to guarantee, while insure means to take out insurance on something. They are not interchangeable, though many people use them interchangeably.
Here are examples of these words in action:
"To ensure he received the package, I sent it by bike messenger."
"I have decided to insure my car with your agency."
Economic and Economical - While they do not sound very similar, these words tend to be confused for each other. However, their meanings are not the same, and you should make sure you use them correctly. Economic refers to something pertaining to the economy, while economical means affordable or to use sparingly. Here are correct examples of each:
"The economic recovery has been slow."
"The bulk cereal we bought was an economical purchase."
There, Their and They're - When you see these words written, they're obviously different. However, in verbal communication they sound identical, though they have very different meanings. Different meanings notwithstanding, they are frequently misused and confused for one another. There implies a direction, while their is a denotation of possession. They're is the contracted form of they are.
Here are some helpful examples:
"Put the plates in the cupboard over there."
"Their dog ran out of the yard yesterday."
"They're going to come over for dinner tomorrow night."
Sight and Site - Again, the confusion between these two words stems largely from the fact that they sound the same. However, their meanings could not be more different. Sight means to see or something that can be seen. Site means a physical location.
Examples of each include:
"The accident yesterday was quite a sight!"
"The new school will be built on the site of the old one."
There are numerous other misused words that are frequently confused for one another, of course. However, those listed above are some of the most frequently misused. Now that you know their true meanings and uses, you can communicate more confidently and effectively.
About the Author
Beneficial English language reference sites include synonyms 360 thesaurus where you can find a synonym for beautiful, a synonym for amazing and other synonyms.
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