Purdue University North Central Writing Center Handout

Commonly Misused Words

Affect and Effect

Affect is now used principally in the senses of influence (smoking affects health) and pretense or imitation (affecting nonchalance to hide fear);  effect refers only to accomplishment (reductions designed to effect economy) or execution (to effect a change).  To help you remember, consider this tip:  affect is almost always used as a verb and effect is almost always used as a noun.

 For example:  That music really affects his mind.

An exception:  We wish to effect a change.  (“Effect” is used as a verb.)

Accept and except

“Accept” means “to receive something offered” or “to admit to a group or place”; 

For example:  She was accepted to Purdue’s English program.

“Except” means “with the exclusion of” or “were it not for the fact that”;

For example:  Everyone went home except the evening instructors.

Too

The word “too” means “also” or “very”;

For example:  The tutors have trouble with English, too.

Real and really

“Real” is an adjective that modifies a noun:  We live in a real world.  Really is an adverb that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

For example:  She typed her composition really well.

Incorrect:  You are a real good student.            Corrected:  You are a really good student

A lot

“A lot” is always two words.  It is like “a few” or “a little” and is never used as “alot”.

For example:  I will feel a lot better after the test.

Past and passed

“Past” is a noun denoting the opposite of future.  It is also an adjective as in “past tense of a verb.”  “Passed” is the past tense of the verb to pass.

For example:  In a past life I was a math major.  The last day of finals passed quickly

Used to

The verb “used to” is always used in the past tense.

For example:  I used to go to class, but now I would rather not.

Who’s and whose

“Who’s” is a contraction of who is; “whose” is a possessive pronoun.

To help you remember, try this tip:  If you cannot replace the word you want with who is, then use whose.

For example:  Who’s going on vacation this summer?  Whose book is it?

Choose, chose, loose, and lose,

“Loose” is an adjective, not a verb.  Lose is the verb;  its past tense is lost and its present participal is losing.

For example:  My car has a loose door.  I lose my temper in math class.  I am losing my temper very quickly right now.

“Choose” is a verb in the present tense.  Its past tense is chose, its adjective and past participal is chosen, and its present participal is choosing.

For example:  I choose not to go to summer school  Last summer I chose not to go to summer school.  English is my chosen field.  I am choosing my lunch now.

Their, there, and they’re

“Their” is a possessive pronoun.  “There” is a demonstrative pronoun pointing out location or existence.  “They’re” is a contraction of they are.

For example:  Their offices are on the second floor.

There is the Writing Center.

They’re (they are) in the cafeteria right now.

Remember:  “their’ is an adjective which precedes a noun.  If you pluralize it, it becomes a predicate adjective and will not precede a noun, but it still shows possession:  That office is theirs. 

There  is usually followed or preceded by a linking verb such as, is, are, seems etc.  The number in the verb corresponds to the number in the noun that follows:  There are many books here.  There is only one person here.

It’s and its

“It’s” is a contraction of it is.  Its is a possessive pronoun.

For example:  It’s (it is) going to be difficult today.  The bird is building its nest.

Your and you’re

“You’re” is a contraction of you are.  Your is possessive pronoun.

For example:  You’re (you are) going to be difficlut today.  The carpenter is building your house.