Word Wise
The Dirty Dozen
The 10 most commonly
Pronouns are a highly useful but often troublesome family of words that have a unique specialty: They enable you to refer back to a word or phrase you have already used in the same sentence or paragraph (the technical term for that word or phrase is antecedent) but without having to repeat the word or phrase each time you refer back to it.
Imply vs Infer
Anyway vs. Any way
Anyway is an adverb meaning regardless. Any way is a phrase meaning any manner or method.
I don’t want to go to the party, anyway. We could take any way we want to get to the party.
Than vs. Then
Than is a conjunction used to compare two things. Then is usually an adverb indicating time.
Do you think that Pepsi Cola is better than Coca Cola? We went to the store, and then to a movie.
That vs. Which
That is used when the phrase or clause that follows it is necessary in the sentence. Which is used when the phrase or clause that follows it is not necessary.
Students that fail to thoroughly proofread often miss unnecessary points. Procrastinated papers, which students write often, fail to lead to the desired grades for their classes.
Their vs. There vs. They’re
Their is a pronoun that is plural possessive. There is a word that means place. They’re is a contraction that means they are.
Their dog is over there digging through the trash. They’re not the most responsible pet owners.
To vs. Too vs. Two
To is a preposition indicating direction. Too is an adverb meaning in addition or also. Two is a number.
Too many times, students go to their adviser to set up their classes, but only have two of their five classes picked out.
Who vs. Whom
Who is a pronoun used as the subject of a sentence. Whom is a pronoun used as a direct object.
Who is responsible for the research on this group project? We assigned research to whom for this group project?
NOTE: As a general rule, if you can substitute “she” then “who” is the appropriate choice. If you can substitute “her” then “whom” is the appropriate choice.
Your vs. You’re
Your is a pronoun that is second person possessive. You’re is a contraction that means you are.
Your clothes will wrinkle if you’re not careful with the drying cycle you choose.
Other Confusing Word Pairs
Accept vs. Except
Allusion vs. Illusion
Appraise vs. Apprise
Capital vs. Capitol
Climactic vs. Climatic
Complement vs. Compliment
Compose vs. Comprise
Elicit vs. Illicit
Emigrate vs. Immigrate
Ensure vs. Insure
Farther vs. Further
Imitated vs. Intimated
Its vs. It’s
Passed vs. Past
Set vs. Sit