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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.
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
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Than
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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.
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Then
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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.
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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.
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