COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS-4
1. STATIONARY AND STATIONERY:
Stationary is an adjective with the sense 'not moving or changing'. Example: Please remain stationary.
'Stationery' is a noun meaning 'paper and other writing materials'. Example: They went to the store to buy some stationery.
2. STORY AND STOREY:
A 'story' is a 'tale or account'.
A 'storey' is a floor of a building.
In North America the spelling 'story' is sometimes used for 'storey'.
3. SURE, SURELY:
Sure is an 'adjective'. 'Surely' is an 'adverb'.
Thus, write 'He surely (not sure) is a good.
Do not confuse the adverb with the adjective. If sounds odd to you, substitute 'certain' for 'sure' and 'certainly' for 'surely'
4. THAN, THEN:
'Than' means 'in comparison with', Example: He is bigger than I
'Then' means 'next', Example: He ate his meal and then started his assignment.
5. THEIR, THERE, THEY'RE:
'Their' is a possessive denominator, a form of 'they' that shows ownership. Example: Their flowers are on the table.
'There' describes where something is. Example: The flowers are there on the table.
'They're' is a short form of 'they are'. Example: They're going to buy flowers.
6. THREW, THROUGH:
'Threw' is the past tense of throw. Example: He threw the ball over the fence.
'Through' means from 'end to end', Example: We drove through the tunnel
7. TITILLATE, TITIVATE:
'Titillate' means 'excite'
'Titivate' means 'adorn or smarten up'
8. TO, TOO, TWO:
'To' means 'in the direction of', Example: he went to the store.
'Too' means 'also', Example: he went to the store, too.
'Two' is a number, Example: two of my friends went to the store.
9. TORTUOUS, TORTUROUS:
'Tortuous' means 'full of twists and turns' or 'excessively lengthy and complex', Example: It was a tortuous drive to the mountain top.
'Torturous' means 'characterized by pain or suffering', Example: We drove up the mountain top in the torturous heat.
10. TURBID, TURGID:
'Turbid' is a generally used in reference to a liquid means 'cloudy or opaque'
'Turgid' tends to mean 'tediously pompous or, in reference to a river, 'swollen, overflowing'.
11. UNSOCIABLE, UNSOCIAL, ANTISOCIAL:
'Unsociable' means 'not enjoying the company of or engaging in activities with others'
'Unsocial' usually means 'socially inconvenient' and typically refers to the hours of work of a job.
'Antisocial' means 'contrary to accepted social customs and therefore annoying'.
12. VENAL, VENIAL:
Venal means 'susceptible to bribery or 'corruptible'
'Venial', which is used in Christian theology in reference to sin (a venial sin, unlike a mortal sin, is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace).
13. VIABLE, VIE:
Something that is 'viable' is capable of living (from the Latin vita or 'life').
'Vie' means 'compete'. Something that is competitive with others 'vies' for superiority
14. WAYS, WAY:
'Way' refers to distance. Example: I work a long way from my home.
'Ways' refers to methods. Example: There are many ways to make money in the stock market.
15. WEATHER, WHETHER:
'Weather' means 'conditions outdoors', Example: The weather is terrible.
'Whether' is an expression of choice between two options. Example: I do not know whether I will stay home or go to school.
16. WHETHER, IF:
Use 'whether' when options are involved. Example: I do not know whether I should complain or remain silent.
Otherwise 'if' is acceptable. Example: I do not know if I should reconsider my decision.
17. WHILE, ALTHOUGH:
Use 'while' when you are referring to 'at the same time'. Example: 'While I washed the dishes, she finished her homework'.
Do not write 'while' when you mean 'although' or 'though'.
Write 'although (not while) I wanted to hear the speech, I had too many other things to do'.
18. WHO, THAT:
Use 'who' when referring to people (not animals)
Use 'that' for non-human things.
19. WHO'S, WHOSE:
'Who's' is a contraction of who is or who has
'Whose' is a possessive determiner used in questions such as 'Whose is this?' and 'Whose turn is it?'
20. WREATH, WREATHE:
'Wreath' with no 'e' at the end means 'arrangement of flowers'.
'Wreathe' with an 'e' is a verb meaning 'envelop, surround, or encircle'.
21. YOUR, YOU'RE:
'You're' is a contraction of you are. Example: you're going to the store.
'Your' is a possessive determiner, a form of 'you' that shows ownership. Example: your car is new.
