Commonly Confused Words
The Grammar Police
The Dreaded Spelling Category
Don't Get Confused
Did someone forget to proofread?
100
Please except/accept this gift.
accept
100
He could hardly breathe/breath after running a mile in 5 minutes.
breathe
100
Spell the word that is a preposition meaning "not including" or "other than."
except
100
She misplaced her phone, but she thinks it's/its in her car.
it's = it is
100
Social media has many negative effects on young users.
No, they did not forget to proofread. The sentence is correct!
200
She sat besides/beside her friend at the movies.
beside
200
I am lucky to be between/among the greatest soccer players.
among
200
This word is the contraction meaning "it is" or "it has."
SPELL IT
it's
200
Use affect in a sentence.
Answers will vary.
200
Its time for a change!
Yes, someone forgot to proofread. An apostrophe is needed.
It's = It is
300
The stores are open every day accept/except for Sunday.
except
300
Your grade on the test will affect/effect your average.
affect
300
This adverb means in earlier times.
SPELL IT!
formerly
300
Use its in a sentence.
Answer will vary
300
Find and fix Old Navy's mistake!
Lets is the third person singular form of the verb let.
The shirt should read: "Let's" - meaning "Let us"
400
It was easy to spot her between/among the crowd in that neon vest.
among
400
I had a hard time choosing between/among chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream.
between
400
This word is a verb that means to receive something that is offered.
SPELL IT!
accept
400
Affect/Effect
Which spelling is mostly used as a noun?
Effect
400
Correct the mistake in this advertisement.
their should be spelled they're
500
Affect/Effect
Which one is a verb?
Affect
500
Explain the meaning of its.
Its without an apostrophe is the possessive form of it meaning "belonging to it."
500
Music can have positive ________ on the brain.
effects
500
Explain the meaning of it's.
It's is a contraction for it is or it has.
500
This misplaced punctuation mark costs a dairy company $10 million dollars in overtime pay.
a comma!
The law read that workers who do not get overtime are those involved in “the canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of perishable foods.”
The omission of the Oxford comma changed the meaning of the law about overtime pay, entitling workers who were not meant to receive the compensation to actually receive it.