📚 What are Confused Words?
Confused words are words that sound similar, look similar, or are commonly mixed up. Learning the differences will make your writing clearer and more accurate!
🎯 Commonly Confused Words
Their / There / They're
Their = possessive (belonging to them)
✓ That's their house.
There = place or to introduce something
✓ Put it over there.
✓ There are five apples.
They're = they are (contraction)
✓ They're going to the park.
Your / You're
Your = possessive (belonging to you)
✓ Is this your backpack?
You're = you are (contraction)
✓ You're my best friend.
Its / It's
Its = possessive (belonging to it)
✓ The dog wagged its tail.
It's = it is or it has (contraction)
✓ It's raining outside.
To / Too / Two
To = direction, part of infinitive verb
✓ I'm going to school.
✓ I want to play.
Too = also, or excessively
✓ I want to come too!
✓ It's too hot outside.
Two = the number 2
✓ I have two cats.
Than / Then
Than = comparison
✓ She is taller than me.
✓ I like pizza more than pasta.
Then = time, sequence
✓ We ate dinner, then watched a movie.
✓ I was younger then.
Affect / Effect
Affect = verb (to influence)
✓ The weather will affect our plans.
Effect = noun (result)
✓ The medicine had a positive effect.
Accept / Except
Accept = verb (to receive, agree to)
✓ I accept your apology.
Except = preposition (excluding)
✓ Everyone came except Sarah.
Lose / Loose
Lose = verb (to misplace, not win)
✓ Don't lose your keys!
✓ Our team might lose the game.
Loose = adjective (not tight)
✓ These pants are too loose.
Who's / Whose
Who's = who is or who has (contraction)
✓ Who's coming to the party?
Whose = possessive (belonging to whom)
✓ Whose book is this?
A Lot / Alot
A lot = TWO WORDS (many, much)
✓ I have a lot of homework.
Alot = NOT A WORD!
❌ I have alot of homework.
By / Buy / Bye
By = preposition (near, before, through)
✓ Stand by the door.
✓ Finish by Friday.
Buy = verb (to purchase)
✓ I want to buy a new phone.
Bye = goodbye
✓ Bye! See you later!
Principal / Principle
Principal = head of school, or main/most important
✓ The principal gave a speech.
✓ The principal reason is cost.
Principle = rule, belief, fundamental truth
✓ She has strong moral principles.
Weather / Whether
Weather = atmospheric conditions
✓ The weather is nice today.
Whether = if (choice between alternatives)
✓ I don't know whether to go or stay.
Lay / Lie
Lay = verb (to put something down) - needs an object
✓ Please lay the book on the table.
✓ She laid the blanket on the bed.
Lie = verb (to recline) - no object
✓ I need to lie down.
✓ The dog lay in the sun. (past tense)
Sit / Set
Sit = verb (to be seated) - no object
✓ Please sit down.
Set = verb (to place something) - needs an object
✓ Please set the plates on the table.
Advice / Advise
Advice = noun (suggestions, recommendations)
✓ Thank you for your advice.
Advise = verb (to give advice)
✓ I advise you to study hard.
✏️ Practice Exercise
Choose the correct word. Click to reveal!
1. (Your/You're) invited to my birthday party.
You're invited to my birthday party. (You are)
2. I have (to/too/two) many things to do today.
I have too many things to do today. (excessively)
3. The dog wagged (its/it's) tail happily.
The dog wagged its tail happily. (possessive)
4. (Their/There/They're) going to the beach tomorrow.
They're going to the beach tomorrow. (They are)
5. I need to (by/buy/bye) some new shoes.
I need to buy some new shoes. (purchase)
6. She is taller (than/then) her brother.
She is taller than her brother. (comparison)
7. Everyone came (accept/except) Tom.
Everyone came except Tom. (excluding)
8. The (weather/whether) is beautiful today.
The weather is beautiful today. (atmospheric conditions)
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Contractions use apostrophes: it's, you're, they're, who's
- Possessives (without apostrophes for pronouns): its, your, their, whose
- Than = comparison, then = time
- Too = also/excessively, to = direction/infinitive, two = number
- Affect = verb (influence), effect = noun (result)
- Accept = receive, except = excluding
- A lot is TWO WORDS (alot is not a word!)
- When in doubt, break contractions apart to check meaning