Everyone struggles at one time or another with finding the right word to use. We’ve all sent out that email only to realize we typed there when we should have said their. Have you puzzled over the distinction between affect and effect or lay and lie? You can also find billboards, road signs, ads, and newspapers with usage errors such as these boldly printed for all to see:
- “Man Alright After Crocodile Attack” (Alright should be All Right)
- “This Line Ten Items or Less” (Less should be Fewer)
- “Auction at This Sight: One Week” (Sight should be Site)
- “Violent Storm Effects Thousands” (Effects should be Affects)
This PDF contains a list of several commonly confused words, as well as how to tell which word you should use.
You can also dig up style handbooks with recommendations on using tricky terminology within your discipline. For instance, Robert Bates’ Geowriting: A Guide to Writing, Editing, and Printing in Earth Science explains terms commonly used in the field; medical students can turn to The Aspen Guide to Effective Health Care Correspondence or Writing, Speaking, and Communication Skills for Health Professionals. The Chicago Manual of Style answers almost every conceivable style question—it is essentially a bible for book publishers.
On the Web
For a searchable and comprehensive list of commonly misused words and phrases and some practice quizzes, visit these sites:
