Purpose: Use this job aid to review the meanings and use of commonly confused word pairs.
Many words are difficult to use correctly because they're so similar to other words, either in sound or meaning.
| Pronoun | Possessive form | Example | Contracted form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| it | its | The team completed its assignment. | it's | It's important for you to attend. |
| they | their | Their attendance at the meeting is imperative. | they're | They're all attending the meeting. |
| who | whose | You're someone whose input is required at the meeting. | who's | You're the one who's needed at the meeting. |
| you | your | That's your responsibility. | you're | You're required at the meeting. |
| Similar sounding words | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| accept | To receive favorably | I accept responsibility for the project's failure. |
| except | Other than or with the exclusion of | It's published monthly, except for March and August. |
| elude | To escape notice, perception, or often memory | His name eludes me. |
| allude | To hint at or refer to something indirectly | The CEO alluded to the possibility of expanding the business next year. |
| imminent | About to happen, ready to occur, threatening, or expected | The merger is imminent. |
| eminent | Well known and respected; an expert | We're hiring an eminent scientist to head the Research Department. |
| cite | To make reference to something | You must cite the documents you've drawn information from. |
| site | A place or location | The building site is being prepared. |
| complement | Something that completes or makes perfect | The skills of the new employees complement those of the existing team. |
| compliment | An admiring remark or a sign of respect, honor, or praise, often directed at a person | He received a compliment on his managerial skills. |
| principal | An adjective meaning most important or influential, or a noun meaning the person in charge of a school | The school has a new principal. |
| principle | A basic law or doctrine | Women fought hard for the principle of equal rights. |
| capitol | An official place or building where government work is done | The government officials returned to the capitol for the new session. |
| capital | Chief in importance or influence; the most important town or city in an area; money, funds, or assets |
I live in the capital city. I need capital to start the business. |
| stationery | Office supplies used in paperwork | She ordered pens, pencils, paper, and paperclips from the stationery store. |
| stationary | An adjective describing an object that is not moving | I drove past a stationary vehicle. |
| a while | A noun phrase that follows the preposition for or in |
We haven't had this problem for a while. |
| awhile | An adverb denoting a period of time | We stopped there awhile. |
| Similar meaning word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ambivalent | Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something | The customer is ambivalent about the architect's design for the house. |
| ambiguous | Having more than one meaning, open to different interpretations, or doubtful or indistinct | His ambiguous pronouncements left his audience in the dark. |
| anxious | Worried, tense, or suffering from anxiety | I'm anxious about the examination. |
| eager | Marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest | I'm eager to start planning the vacation. |
| continuous | Uninterrupted or constant | Change is a continuous process. |
| continual | Intermittent or often repeated | The growth in the investment has been continual. |
| comprise | To be made up of or to include | The full pack comprises 52 cards. |
| compose | To make up, to constitute, or to form the substance of something | The five sections that compose the report are well laid out. |
| disinterested | Objective, impartial, and unbiased | You should be disinterested when conducting a performance appraisal. |
| uninterested | Unconcerned or bored | An uninterested manager shows a lack of respect toward the company and employees. |
| less | Used for uncountable things | There was less traffic on the road this morning. |
| fewer | Used when referring to countable objects | There were fewer cars on the road this morning. |
| myself | If you've already used the word I, use the word myself | I myself wouldn't choose that one. |
| me | If you're referring to yourself for the first time, you can use the word me | This appeals to me. |
Course: Business Grammar: Common Usage Errors
Topic: Commonly Confused Word Pairs
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