There are many words in the English language that sound alike but by changing one letter they take on a different meaning. That’s usually not a problem when you’re speaking, but it can really trip you up in written language — and spell check won’t help you.
Here are 20 commonly misused/misspelled words.
Affect/Effect
- Affect means to have an influence on or to produce a change in something or someone.
- Effect means a result or something brought about.
Examples
- The weather affected the outcome of the game.
- The effect of the law has been a decrease in drunk driving.
TIP: While both words can be used as a verb or a noun, affect is usually used as a verb and effect is usually used as a noun, as in the examples above.
Adverse/Averse
- Adverse is something unfavourable or harmful that works against you. It is often followed by the word effect.
- Averse is a strong feeling of dislike, reluctance. It is often followed by the word to. It also often goes with risk to describe people who don’t like taking risks (risk-averse).
Examples
- The weather had an adverse effect on the outcome of the game.
- She is averse to winter driving.
Bare/Bear
- Bare means to uncover, either by removing clothes or revealing something. It can be used in many different ways.
- Bear means to carry something or endure. It can also be used in many different ways, from women bearing children to trees bearing fruit, to soldiers bearing arms.
Examples (bare)
- He enjoyed walking on the beach in his bare feet.
- The floor was bare (meaning it had no carpet).
- The cupboards were bare (meaning there was no food).
- The bank account had a bare minimum balance (almost no money).
- She bared her soul to her best friend.
Examples (bear)
- He could not bear to be left alone.
- I hope you don’t bear a grudge.
- Most likely your children bear your name.
Ensure/Insure
- Ensure means to guarantee.
- Insure means to establish a contract for insurance of some type.
Examples
- He double checked the door to ensure it was locked.
- He insured his property for a million dollars.
Complement/Compliment
- Complement means to go together or to complete.
- Compliment means to give praise to or admiration.
Examples
- The cranberry sauce complements the turkey.
- She complimented me on my report.
TIP: complement completes something. I like compliments
Counsel/Council
- Counsel means advice, or as a verb, to advise. It also means a lawyer who gives advice.
- Council an advisory or decision-making body.
Examples
- Jean received excellent career counselling from her mentor.
- The counsel for the defence argued for a fine rather than a prison sentence.
- City council voted to increase transit fares.
Eminent/Imminent
- Eminent refers to people who are distinguished, famous, or influential usually in their field of work.
- Imminent means something is about to happen. It may be a positive or negative.
Examples
- Stephen King is an eminent writer.
- People in the disaster zone face imminent starvation.
- John’s success as a musician is imminent.
Farther/Further
- Farther refers to physical distance.
- Further refers to an extension of time or degree. It’s a figurative distance not the type you measure with a ruler. It refers to abstractions like ideas.
Examples
- The drug store is farther than the supermarket.
- He had to think about it further before making a decision.
Tip: Use the word farther when you mean physical distance and further for everything else.
Principal/Principle
- Principal is an adjective relating to the head person, principal teacher or principal officer of company.
- Principle means a basic truth or doctrine.
TIP: Principal is related to a person, your pal
Stationary/Stationery
- Stationary means fixed, not moving.
- Stationery is writing paper.
TIP: Connect the er in stationery to the er in paper.
