Commonly Confused Spellings
Here and hear
Here = adverb referring to being in, at, or to this place or position ("I am here")
Hear = verb for perceiving sound ("I hear you")
Remembering the difference: "hEAR" has the word "ear" in it
List five adjectives that start with "B"
Big, bold, blue, black, bulky, broad, boyish, boisterous, backhanded...
What is the plural of sheep?
Sheep
When is Halloween?
October 31st
What word for "autumn" is more commonly used in American English?
Fall
It's and its
It's = contraction for "it is"
Its = indicates possession/belonging for something referred to with "it" pronoun--one of the rare possessions in English that doesn't use an apostrophe!
List five adjectives that start with "A"
Avid, adventurous, acidic, anxious, aged, articulate, awful, awesome, absurd...
What is the plural of mouse?
Mice
What are the classic colors for Halloween decorating?
Orange and black
What are trees that don't lose their leaves called?
Evergreens
Their, there, and they're
Their = third person possessive ("this is their book")
There = indicates direction/place ("the book is over there")
They're = contraction of "they are" ("they're reading the book)
List five adjectives that start with "D"
Doomed, desperate, deep, dear, dormant, delicious, delirious, despondent, drooping...
What is the plural of wolf?
Wolves
True or false: Halloween was invented in America
False (100 bonus points if you can explain origin)
What is the expression for when temperatures get cold enough to wear stylish autumn clothing?
Sweater weather
Than and then
Than = conjunction used to compare two things ("he is better than you")
Then = adverb indicating time ("finish your homework, then you can play video games")
List five adjectives that start with "V"
Vivid, vicious, vapid, vulpine, vivacious, velvet, vast, vacant, valiant...
What is the plural of goose?
Geese
What is the activity of little kids in costumes collecting candy in their neighborhoods called?
Trick or treating
What is the word for the special type of farm that grows apples?
Orchard
Affect and effect
Affect = verb meaning to make a difference or cause a result ("bad weather always affects my mood")
Effect = noun meaning a change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause ("if you follow this workout routine, you should experience positive effects in two weeks")
Remember the difference: imagine the "A" in affect stands for "action," and action=verb
List five adjectives that start with "U"
Useful, useless, uncertain, ugly, usual, urban, utopian, ultra...
What is the plural of ox?
Oxen
What are pumpkins carved with faces used as Halloween decorations called?
Jack O' Lanterns
What kind of drink is a PSL?
Pumpkin spice latte