Commonly Confused Words

Introduction

Let Grammar and Meaning Decide

Sound alone cannot select a homophone. Identify the needed part of speech, substitute a definition, and reread the sentence. Expand contractions: they're must mean they are; it's must mean it is or it has. Affect is usually a verb meaning influence, while effect is usually a noun meaning result; less common uses include effect change and the noun affect. Use fewer with countable items and less with amounts. Use who as a subject and whom as an object.

Worked example: In The new schedule may ___ attendance, the blank needs a verb, so affect fits. In Its main ___ was higher attendance, the blank needs a noun, so use effect.

Why This Matters: Use language structure and context to choose clear, accurate sentences in academic and everyday writing.

What You Need to Know

Many English words sound alike (homophones) or look similar but have different meanings. The TEAS tests your ability to choose the correct word.

🧠 Memory Trick

Affect vs. Effect:

• Affect = usually an Action (verb)
• Effect = usually an End result (noun)

There/Their/They're:

• There = location (there)
• Their = possession (their stuff)
• They're = they are (contraction)

Most Commonly Confused Words

Affect vs. Effect

Exception: "Effect" can be a verb meaning "to bring about": "to effect change"

There / Their / They're

Your / You're

Its / It's

To / Too / Two

Than / Then

Accept / Except

Principal / Principle

Lose / Loose

More Confusing Pairs

✏️ Worked Examples

Example 1: Affect vs. Effect

Sentence: "The new policy will (affect/effect) patient care."

Step 1 — Identify what part of speech you need. Ask: is the blank asking for a doing word (verb) or a result/thing (noun)?

Step 2 — Read the sentence structure: "The new policy will ___ patient care." The blank comes after the helping verb "will." In English, "will" is always followed by a base verb. So we need a verb.

Step 3 — Apply the memory trick: Affect = Action (verb). Effect = End result (noun).

• Affect is the verb → matches what we need ✓
• Effect is the noun → doesn't work after "will" ✗

Answer: "The new policy will affect patient care."

Check your work: Could you say "The new policy will effect patient care"? Only if you mean "bring about" — an uncommon usage. In ordinary usage, affect is usually a verb and effect is usually a noun; always check the sentence function.

Example 2: There/Their/They're

Sentence: "(There/Their/They're) scheduled for 10 AM."

Step 1 — Test each word by expanding the contraction or substituting a clearer form:

• There → location word ("over there," "in there"). Try it: "There scheduled for 10 AM." Does "location" make sense here? No — we're not talking about where something is. ✗
• Their → possession ("belonging to them"). Try it: "Their scheduled for 10 AM." Who owns "scheduled"? That doesn't make sense. ✗
• They're → "they are." Expand it: "They are scheduled for 10 AM." Does that make sense? Yes! ✓

Answer: "They're scheduled for 10 AM."

🏥 TEAS Tip: When you see there/their/they're, always try expanding "they're" first → "they are." If that makes sense, use "they're." If not, decide between location (there) and possession (their).

Example 3: Than vs. Then

Sentence: "Administer medication, (than/then) record vitals."

Step 1 — Ask: is this sentence comparing two things, or giving a sequence of steps?

• Than is used for comparisons: "better than," "more than," "rather than"
• Then is used for time or sequence: "first do this, then do that"

Step 2 — Read the sentence: "Administer medication, ___ record vitals." We're describing a procedure — step 1, then step 2. That's a sequence, not a comparison.

Step 3 — Choose the sequence word: then

Answer: "Administer medication, then record vitals."

Quick memory check: Than has an "a" like "compare." Then has an "e" like "sequence" (well, "then" sounds like "when" — both time words).

Example 4: Accept vs. Except

Sentence: "Everyone (accept/except) the event organizer signed the card."

Step 1 — Think about the meaning of each word:

• Accept means to receive or agree to something. ("I accept the job offer.")
• Except means to exclude or leave out. ("Everyone came except Maria.")

Step 2 — Read the sentence: "Everyone ___ the event organizer signed the card." Is this saying everyone received something? Or that the event organizer is being left out?

Step 3 — The sentence means the event organizer is being excluded from "everyone." That's except.

Answer: "Everyone except the event organizer signed the card."

Memory trick: Except = EXclude. Both start with EX. If you're leaving someone out, they're the EXception → except.

💡 Pro Tips

• Affect = Action; Effect = End result (most of the time)
• Apostrophe in contractions = letters missing: They're = they are
• Possessive pronouns NEVER have apostrophes: its, your, their, whose
• "Than" compares; "Then" sequences: bigger THAN, first THEN second
• On the TEAS: Read the whole sentence to determine which word fits the meaning

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing up affect/effect: Remember A=Action, E=End result
• Adding apostrophes to possessive pronouns: "its" not "it's" for possession
• Using "less" with countable nouns: "Fewer patients" not "Less patients"
• Confusing lie/lay: "Lie down" (you) vs. "Lay the book" (something)

Quick Reference

Affect vs. Effect

• Affect = usually a verb (to influence)
• Effect = usually a noun (result)

Possessive vs. Contraction

Than vs. Then

• Than = comparison (better than)
• Then = time/sequence (first, then)

Commonly confused words mastered! 💪 Next up: Spelling Rules