Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike
Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing
Lab.
Many words sound alike but mean different things when put into writing. This
list will help you distinguish between some of the more common words that sound
alike. Click on any of the blue underlined links to open a longer and more complete
definition of the word in a new window.
We also have an exercise available
that will let you practice using these words.
Forms to remember
Accept, Except
- accept
= verb meaning to receive or to agree: He accepted
their praise graciously.
- except
= preposition meaning all but, other than: Everyone went to the game
except Alyson.
For more information on these words, plus exercises, see our document on accept/except
and affect/effect.
Affect, Effect
- affect
= verb meaning to influence: Will lack of sleep affect
your game?
- effect
= noun meaning result or consequence: Will lack of sleep have an effect
on your game?
- effect
= verb meaning to bring about, to accomplish: Our efforts have
effected a major change in university policy.
A memory-help for affect and effect is is RAVEN: Remember, Affect
is a Verb and Effect is a Noun.
For more information on these words, plus exercises, see our document on accept/except
and affect/effect.
Advise, Advice
- advise
= verb that means to recommend, suggest, or counsel: I advise
you to be cautious.
- advice
= noun that means an opinion or recommendation about what could or should
be done: I'd like to ask for your advice
on this matter.
Conscious, Conscience
- conscious
= adjective meaning awake, perceiving: Despite a head injury, the patient
remained conscious.
- conscience
= noun meaning the sense of obligation to be good: Chris wouldn't cheat because
his conscience wouldn't let him.
Idea, Ideal
- idea
= noun meaning a thought, belief, or conception held in the mind, or a general
notion or conception formed by generalization: Jennifer had a brilliant idea
-- she'd go to the Writing Lab for help with her papers!
- ideal
= noun meaning something or someone that embodies perfection, or an
ultimate object or endeavor: Mickey was the ideal
for tutors everywhere.
- ideal
= adjective meaning embodying an ultimate standard of excellence or perfection,
or the best; Jennifer was an ideal student.
Its, It's
- its
= possessive adjective (possesive form of the pronoun it): The crab had an
unusual growth on its shell.
- it's
= contraction for it is or it has (in a verb phrase): It's
still raining; it's been raining for three
days. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into
one.)
Lead, Led
- lead
= noun referring to a dense metallic element: The X-ray technician wore a
vest lined with lead.
- led
= past-tense and past-participle form of the verb to lead, meaning to guide
or direct: The evidence led the jury to
reach a unanimous decision.
Than, Then
|
Than
|
used in comparison statements: He is richer than
I.
used in statements of preference: I would rather dance than
eat.
used to suggest quantities beyond a specified amount: Read more than
the first paragraph.
|
|
Then
|
a time other than now: He was younger then.
She will start her new job then.
next in time, space, or order: First we must study; then
we can play.
suggesting a logical conclusion: If you've studied hard, then
the exam should be no problem.
|
Their, There, They're
- Their
= possessive pronoun: They got their books.
- There
= that place: My house is over there.
(This is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)
- They're
= contraction for they are: They're making
dinner. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened
into one.)
To, Too, Two
- To
= preposition, or first part of the infinitive form of a verb: They went
to the lake to
swim.
- Too
= very, also: I was too tired to continue.
I was hungry, too.
- Two
= the number 2: Two students scored below
passing on the exam.
Two, twelve, and between are all words related to the number 2, and all contain
the letters tw.
Too can mean also or can be an intensifier, and you might say that it contains
an extra o ("one too many")
We're, Where, Were
- We're
= contraction for we are: We're glad to
help. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into
one.)
- Where
= location: Where are you going? (This
is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)
- Were
= a past tense form of the verb be: They were
walking side by side.
Your, You're
- Your
= possessive pronoun: Your shoes are untied.
- You're
= contraction for you are: You're
walking around with your shoes untied. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when
two words are being shortened into one.)
One Word or Two?
All ready/already
All right/alright
- all
right: used as an adjective or adverb; older and more formal spelling,
more common in scientific & academic writing: Will you be all
right on your own?
- alright:
Alternate spelling of all right; less frequent but used often in journalistic
and business publications, and especially common in
fictional dialogue: He does alright in
school.
All together/altogether
- all
together: an adverb meaning considered as a whole, summed up: All
together, there were thirty-two students at the museum.
- altogether:
an intensifying adverb meaning wholly, completely, entirely: His comment raises
an altogether different problem.
Anyone/any one
- anyone:
a pronoun meaning any person at all: Anyone
who can solve this problem deserves an award.
- any
one: a paired adjective and noun meaning a specific item in a group;
usually used with of: Any one of those
papers could serve as an example.
Note: There are similar distinctions in meaning for everyone and every one
Anyway/any way
- anyway:
an adverb meaning in any case or nonetheless: He objected, but she went anyway.
- any way: a paired adjective and noun meaning any particular course,
direction, or manner: Any way we chose
would lead to danger.
Awhile/a while
- awhile:
an adverb meaning for a short time; some readers consider it nonstandard;
usually needs no preposition: Won't you stay awhile?
- a
while: a paired article and noun meaning a period of time; usually
used with for: We talked for a while,
and then we said good night.
Maybe/may be
- maybe:
an adverb meaning perhaps: Maybe we should
wait until the rain stops.
- may
be: a form of the verb be: This may be
our only chance to win the championship.
We also have an exercise available
that will let you practice using these words.
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