Commonly Confused Homonyms Similar Expressions and Useful Phrases Accept v Except The verb ACCEPT means to receive or to believe The preposition EXCEPT means other than Example ID: 136661
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Slide1
Using the Right Word:
Commonly Confused Homonyms, Similar Expressions and Useful PhrasesSlide2
Accept v. Except
The verb ACCEPT means “to receive” or “to believe.”
The preposition EXCEPT means “other than.”
Example
: The principal
accepted
the boy’s story about the broken window, but she asked why no one
except
him saw the ball accidentally slip from his hand.Slide3
Affect v. Effect
The verb AFFECT means “to influence”; the verb EFFECT means “to produce, accomplish or complete.” The noun EFFECT means the “result.”
Examples
: Ralph’s diligence
effected
an A on the test, which positively
affected
her semester grade, and good grades have a calming
effect
on parents.Slide4
Among v. Between
AMONG is typically used when speaking of more than two persons or things. BETWEEN is used when speaking of only two.
Example
: The three of us talked
among
ourselves to decide
between
going out or staying at home.Slide5
Amount v. Number
AMOUNT is used for bulk measurement. NUMBER is used to count separate units.
EXAMPLE
: A substantial
amount
of ink spilled all over a
number
of my papers. Slide6
Fewer v. Less
FEWER is for things you count, and LESS is for things you don’t count (
Grammar Girl website)
. Use LESS for singular nouns and FEWER for plural nouns (
Chicago Manual of Style
). FEWER refers to the number of separate units; LESS refers to bulk quantity (
Texas write source
).
EXAMPLE
: Because we have
fewer
orders for cakes, we’ll buy
less
sugar and flour.Slide7
1. He isn't interested in anything
accept/except
eating and sleeping.
2. Will the government
accept/except
the automakers' proposal?
3. Being severely underweight badly
affects/effects
health.
4. The
effect/affect
of the TV images is that people feel inadequate. Slide8
5. Drink
fewer/less
soft drinks and eat
fewer/less
candy.
6. This secret should strictly remain
among/between
two of us.
7. I was standing
among/between
the crowd.
8. The
number/amount
of shark attacks has grown each decade.Slide9
ASCENT v. ASSENT
ASCENT is the act of rising or climbing. ASSENT is “to agree to something after some consideration” (agreement; permission)
EXAMPLE
: We completed our
ascent
of the mountain with the
assent
of the landowner.Slide10
BESIDE v. BESIDES
BESIDE means “by the side of.” BESIDES means “in addition to.”
EXAMPLE
: My mother always grew roses
beside
the garbage can.
Besides
looking nice, they also gave off a sweet smell that masked odors.Slide11
BAD v. BADLY
BAD is an adjective (describes a noun). BADLY is an adverb (modifies a verb).
NOTE: You feel bad, not badly.
EXAMPLE: This apple is
bad
, but one
bad
apple doesn’t always ruin the whole bushel. In today’s game, Raymond played
badly
.Slide12
FARTHER v. FURTHER
FARTHER refers to a physical distance. FURTHER refers to additional time, quantity, or degree.
EXAMPLE: Alaska extends
farther
north than Iceland does, and
further
information can be obtained in an online atlas.Slide13
IMPLY v. INFER
IMPLY means “to suggest or express indirectly,” while INFER means “to draw a conclusion from facts.”
A writer
implies
, and a reader
infers
.
EXAMPLE
: Dad
implied
by his comment that I should drive more carefully, and I
inferred
that he was concerned for both me and his new car.Slide14
1. Barney
(implied/inferred)
from his boss’s cold stare that he was in trouble.
2. Does wearing torn jeans
(imply/infer)
a lack of funds to purchase nicer clothing or a fashion statement?
3. Africa is
(further/farther)
away than South America, but Stan chose to travel there for
(farther/further)
study on African customs.
4. He stuck his finger into a jar of red ink and left an imprint signifying his
(ascent/assent)
.Slide15
5. The Benders have made a dizzying
(assent/ascent)
into indie stardom since their debut recording.
6. In many books, photographs appear
(besides/beside)
the text.
7.
(Besides/Beside)
me, nobody knows the password.
8. She performed
(badly/bad)
in practice, but her official performance wasn’t too
(badly/bad)
.