Challenge: Commonly Confused English Words!

Question

Hi everyone!

Let's face it! Correct word usage in the English language can be challenging for even us natives. I have noticed that I have seen quite a lot of these common mistakes being made on this forum . This reinforces my idea that it must be taxing on those learning the English language to make the correct word choices. So this is the plan:

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(We all could use a refresher on grammar and while we are at it we will be able to provide a great resource to those still learning English.)

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Please share a pair or family of words that are commonly confused or misused or misspelled in place of each other:

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Example:

bear: to withstand pain or an action inflicted upon you

bear: a hairy four-footed animal that hibernates

bare: When something is naked

bear: to make something apparent `
bear: turn in a direction or close a distance

bare: not having any extra perks or decoration

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So I challenge you to think of the last time you messed up in grammar or were confused by English grammar abuse and record it for posterity "never to happen again"!

(Okay, maybe more like "not to happen as much!")

Great idea Renae! - Yeser007, Mar 10, 2010

bare: to make something apparent ` - samdie, Mar 10, 2010

Samdie: I was actually thinking of the "bear" related to a theme not feelings....To bring to bear on a subject: to make apparent. To bare your soul: to make feelings apparent - renaerules, Mar 10, 2010

What about a game like: different emphasis = different meaning - h1deaway, Mar 10, 2010

Well, in that case ... but I still don't like your example phrase. "to "bring to bear" yes, but not "to make apparent":. - samdie, Mar 10, 2010

"Bring to bear" is more accurate, but I didn't think that our English learners would be able to understand the phrase. Thus my choice in wording. - renaerules, Mar 11, 2010

To bear with - To bear in mind - To bring to bear How about these ? :) - ian-hill, Mar 11, 2010

He brought his experience to bear and solved the problem. - ian-hill, Mar 11, 2010

Isn't "bear" a fascinating family? I like all your choices Ian! - renaerules, Mar 11, 2010

Never thought about it before - no wonder people say English is difficult to learn. - ian-hill, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 1

principal - used as a specific noun or adjective

principle - used as an abstract noun only

Answer 2

Compliment: A kind from of praise

Complement: to enhance or complete something else

Who: Subject Whom; object

Answer 3

mine (n): ore or minerals that can be extracted in the earth.

mine (n): an explosive devic. ex. Landmine

mine (pron): belonging to me. ex. The boy is mine (Monica)

mind (n): human consciousness. ex. My mind, my soul.

mind (v): to be careful about. ex. Mind your own business.

Answer 4

loose: my clothes are too big

lose: I lost my clothes.

lol brilliant - JCameron, Mar 9, 2010

Answer 5

its

it's

there

their

they're

your

you're

But I think of these as typos rather than grammar errors, because it's not that you don't know the difference, but you gloss over them when typing. Especially if your keyboard is setup for using the apostrophe key for making tildes. Sometimes if I don't hit the apostrophe key twice I don't get the mark.

You are giving we humans too much credit. - 008f2974, Mar 9, 2010

I'm also seeing "youre" with more frequency as well. - 008f2974, Mar 9, 2010

that should be "giving us". YOURE I do not know. Your perhaps? - Bellator, Oct 4, 2010

Answer 6

What about lay and lie and their tenses(and yes, I had to look some of these up )

lay - to place in a horizontal position

lie - to be in a horizontal position

lie - to say something untrue

You need to lie down today, yesterday you lay down, in the past you have lain down. You are lying down now.

Today, you lay the book on the table. Yesterday, you laid the book on the table. In the past, you have laid the book on the table. You are laying the book down now.

Did you lie to him? She lied to him. She had lied to him. She is lying to him.

Very confusing indeed.. No me gustan esas palabras... -.- - Alrisaera, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 7

two - the number 2 - el numero

too - also - yo tambien = me, too

too much - demasiado

to - to the store = a la tienda

in an infinitive - to go = ir

Yup, that one must confuse a lot of people, even native English!!!! - Yeser007, Mar 10, 2010

Answer 8

Personal= somethings that belongs or is special to you.

Personel= workforce.

Answer 9

there: a place

their: plural possessive

they're: they are

Oddly, my fingers usually type their regardless of which one I want to write. I have no idea why. - webdunce, Mar 11, 2010

Answer 10

peace: opposite of war

piece: a singular object

Piece is also slang for pistol. - webdunce, Mar 11, 2010

"a piece of one's mind" speaking bluntly to someone - foxluv, Mar 26, 2010

Answer 11

its: possessive

it's: it is

Answer 12

Know= to understand or be familiar with- saber

No = no -no

Answer 13

stationary - not moving, still

stationery - paper used for writing letters

Answer 14

whether - conflicts in agreement “whether to leave or not“ weather - whats coming from the sky, ie. raining, snowing, etc etc

Answer 15

I just saw this one pop up on another posting:

statue: piece of art that birds poop on

statute: legal mumbo-jumbo

nice!! - Yeser007, Mar 10, 2010