Misused Words Part 1

Misused Words

Elizabeth Rose

Part one

As writers, we all have those times when words tend to trip us up. If the words have similar spellings we may find ourselves misusing the words by accident.

I have put together a list of many words commonly misused and their meanings. Hopefully this will help next time you sit down to write that novel and can’t remember which word to use.

Its and It’s

Here’s one I see often. We are so used to putting in the apostrophe to show possession, and this is a case when it’s not necessary.

Rules to remember: Use it’s as the contraction when you mean to say it is.

Example: It’s raining today.

Use its without the apostrophe to show possession.

Example: The dog licked its paws.

Principal and Principle

Principle is used when referring to rules or standards.

Principal is used when referring to a person or principals of a loan or in a company. Or used as an adjective to show importance.

Example: It’s the principle of our operation that has guided our people.

Example: The principal is a jerk. That’s the principal reason I stay away from him.

Can and May

Can is the ability to do something.

May is asking for the permission.

Example: Can you help me rake leaves tomorrow?

Example: May I have some ice cream?

Affect and Effect

Affect (usually a verb) is the influence or impact something has had.

Effect (When used as a noun) means result. (When used as a verb) means to produce a result.

Okay, so this is still confusing, right? Let’s try to explain it with some examples.

Example: Her death has affected us all in one way or another.

Example: The pep talk the coach gave had a strong effect on the team.

The effect of baking soda and vinegar is explosive

Than and Then

Than is used when comparing two things.

Then speaks of a point in time.

Example: Peaches are sweeter than limes.

Example: We will go to the store and then stop by the library.

All Ready and Already

All ready should be used to show that things are done and ready to go.

Already tells that something has happened.

Example: We are all ready to go to Disney World.

Example: We have already visited Disney World last year.

Discreet and Discrete

Discreet means showing good judgment, capable of being prudent, remaining silent.

Discrete means keeping things individually separate.

Example: She was very discreet about her relationship with her coworker Tom.

Example: We need to keep our own thoughts of the situation discrete from the job at hand.

Compliment and Complement

Compliment is used as flattery or praise. Complimentary means the same as “at no cost.”

Complement means to complete or add finishing touches to something.

Example: I received a nice compliment on my hair style today.

Example: I used a butterfly hair clip to complement the curls.

Among and Between

Between is used when connecting two persons or things.

Among is used when there or three or more involved.

Example: I wanted to split the donut between Keith and Susan.

Example: Shelly wanted to split the donut among the whole first grade class.

Between can be used when connecting more than two persons or things only when they are being compared.

Example: There is no difference in my opinion between fried eggs, boiled eggs and scrambled eggs. They all taste terrible.

Famous and Infamous

Use famous when referring to someone or something that is widely known – but in the good sense – honored.

Use infamous to refer to someone with a reputation of the worst kind.

Example: Lassie was a famous dog, winning the hearts of children everywhere.

Example: Jack the Ripper was infamous for the murders he committed.

Watch the Scribes World site next month to hear more misused words, including a very infamous (dare I say that?) word that trips up almost every writer I know.

Elizabeth Rose

Part 2

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