More Frequently Confused Words
I don't have the market cornered on these kinds of words, but here are several more I've discovered in various works of fan fiction:
insure- verb; to guarantee against loss or harm
ensure- verb; to secure or guarantee, to make sure or certain
right- adj/noun/adv/verb; in accordance with what is right, fair or just
rite- noun; a formal or ceremonial act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious or other solemn use
faze- verb; to cause to be disturbed or disconcerted, daunt
phase- noun; a stage in a process of change or development
suit- noun/verb; -a set of clothing/to make appropriate, adapt, or accommodate, as one thing to another
suite-(sweet) noun; a number of things forming a series or set; a set of rooms
Friday, May 22, 2015 | Labels: Freq. Confused, Poor Choices | 0 Comments
Frequently Confused Words
I won't remember all the words I want to highlight here, so I'll create a series of posts with them and slap on a label to connect them.
These are words I've seen confused in my perusal of amateur fiction-posting websites. Lack of spell-check doesn't account for many of these; laziness does. Some of these just blow my mind, but considering what my children have been taught about grammar (next to nothing) I shouldn't be surprised.
there- most commonly used as an adverb; in a particular place, point or manner
their- possessive pronoun; Their child.
they're- contraction of they are
bear- verb; hold up, bring forth, produce
bare- adjective; without covering, open to view, plain, scarcely
throne- noun; chair or seat occupied by an exalted person, the office or power of such
thrown- verb, past form of throw
reign- noun/verb; period of time a sovereign occupies a throne, a dominating power
rein- noun/verb; leather strap connected to a bridle to control a horse, to control
peek- verb/noun; to look quickly / a quick look
peak- noun; the pointed top of anything, highest point or level
pique- verb; to wound (pride), excite, provoke
to- preposition; used to express motion or direction toward a person, place or thing
too- adverb; also, in addition, more, very
two- noun; the number 2
affect- verb/noun; to act on, move the feelings of / feeling or emotion
effect- noun/verb; result, influence, meaning, purpose/ to make happen
your- possessive pronoun, second person (Your wallet.)
you're- contraction of "you are" (You're coming tonight.)
led- verb, past tense of lead (pronounced "leed"- see below)
lead- verb; to go before, guide, influence, to take or bring (also a soft metal pronounced like "led")
I think that's enough for now. It is amazing how many frequently confused words aren't even spelled the same. Regional pronunciations are more to blame than anything, I think.
Sunday, May 10, 2015 | Labels: Freq. Confused, Poor Choices | 0 Comments
Parts of Speech
I thought it might be helpful to put in a description of parts of speech, since they are a main part of grammar. I'm going to post a bit later about confusing words and knowing what I'm talking about would help. Also, I'd like a reference for myself. :) The following chart is from an ESL website called easypacelearning.com.
Friday, May 08, 2015 | Labels: Lessons | 0 Comments
Hi there!
I suppose I should have introduced myself first. I'm AJ. I currently write fan fiction at fanfiction.net and LiveJournal. I am constantly looking for ways to improve my own writing and I aim to do that by helping everyone else along with me. At least other English-speakers.
Wednesday, May 06, 2015 | Labels: Purpose | 0 Comments
I literally don't like this word
I saw a t-shirt online the other day that said: "Misuse of literally makes me figuratively insane."
For quite a while, I've noted the less-than-accurate usage of the adverb literally. Since high school. and that was a while ago. I mean, if you literally killed yourself writing a paper, then you wouldn't even be alive to say that. It appears the meaning has gradually altered:
Since the early 20th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, virtually,” a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning “actually, without exaggeration”: The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries.
The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing. Although this use of literally irritates some, it probably neither distorts nor enhances the intended meaning of the sentences in which it occurs. The same might often be said of the use of literally in its earlier sense “actually”: The garrison was literally wiped out: no one survived. "literally." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 24 Sep. 2014. (emphasis mine)I'll criticize that use, thank you very much, since it's a matter of opinion. It just sounds wrong, like, "I could care less." That's a subject for a different post. Is it really that hard to say, "I almost killed myself writing this paper." Or even maybe figurative?
Again borrowing from Dictionary.com, figurative means "of the nature of or involving a figure of speech, especially a metaphor; metaphorical and not literal." That's really what the paper-writer meant. So why not say what one really means? I think the majority of us have just gotten lazy in speaking properly (by my definition of proper, anyway). And unless one is writing dialog, it will always look wrong to me.
So the misuse of literally does make me figuratively insane. But I'll bet I could find at least a few professional editors who are literally driven insane by its misuse.
Friday, October 10, 2014 | Labels: Poor Choices | 0 Comments
About Me

- AJ
- Hi! I'm Ane. I am a wife and mother of 3, soon to be an empty nester. Join me as I discover what I like to write.
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