Name________________________________

Commonly Confused Words

Study Guide #1
1. a, an--Use a before any word or acronym beginning with a consonant sound. Use an before
any word beginning with a vowel sound, regardless of whether the word begins with a vowel.
a light-water reactor; an LWR; a HEPA filter (because HEPA is pronounced as a word rather
than as letters); a hypothesis; an hour.
Write two sentences using “a”:

Write two sentences using “an”:

2. affect, effect--To affect is to influence or change. An effect is a result or an influence.

Ingesting alcohol affects her driving competence.

His looks have no effect on his personality.
Write two sentences using “affect”:

Write two sentences using “effect”:

3. A lot, alot:
A lot: (two words)—many
Alot: Not the correct form. (Remember: you don’t write alittle, so don’t write alot).
Write two sentences using “A lot”:

4. Already, All ready:

Already: previously
All ready: “completely ready” or “everyone is ready”
I’ve seen that movie already.
Are we all ready to go?
Write two sentences using “already”:
Write two sentences using “all ready”:

5. All right, alright:

All right: (two words)—Everything OK
Alright: There is NO SUCH WORD AS ALRIGHT
Write two sentences using “All right”:

Practice with Commonly Confused Words

Circle the correct word.
1. I’ve always wanted to have (a/an) answer to that question.
2. Will this cold medicine (affect/effect) my driving?
3. Are we supposed to get (alot/a lot) of snow tomorrow?
4. Are we (already/all ready) to wrap Christmas presents?
5. I dropped a book on my toe, but I’m (alright/all right).
6. Don’t forget (a/an) umbrella; it’s supposed to rain.
7. His flirting has no (affect/effect) on her.
8. That farm has (alot/a lot) of cats.
9. Have you done your chores (already/all ready)?
10. How will everything be (alright/all right)?
11. Seniors should choose (a/an) university to go to.
12. They say that eating greasy foods does not (affect/effect) your complexion.
13. Do any foods have an (affect/effect) on your complexion?
14. There are (alot/a lot) of ways to get the right answer.
15. The snow could (affect/effect) our travel plans.
16. Weather usually has an (affect/effect) on travel plans.
17. The cloudy skies (affected/effected) her mood.
18. Sunny skies usually have a positive (affect/effect) on her mood.
19. I’ve (already/all ready) cleaned my room.
20. Have you seen that movie (already/all ready)?
Name___________________________

Commonly Confused Words Quiz #1

Circle the correct word.
20. When I said bring (alot/a lot), I didn’t mean bring the whole store.
21. You were supposed to take out the trash (a/an) hour ago.
22. The speech about smoking did not (affect/effect) the teenagers at all.
23. The dog will be (all right/alright) after he gets some food and water.
24. Are we (already/all ready) to go?
25. I brought (a/an) apple for everyone.
26. The raw deer meat had an (affect/effect) on my dog’s health.
27. I was grateful that a broken arm was the only (affect/effect) on the accident.
28. Getting low grades (affects/effects) your chances of getting into a good college.
29. My homework was (already/all ready) done after ten minutes.
30. I want to be accepted at (a/an) university.
31. The beautiful girl did not (affect/effect) the boy’s studies.
32. No thanks; I (already/all ready) had breakfast.
33. Well, maybe I’ll just have (a/an) egg.
34. Will more potatoes (affect/effect) that delicious concoction?
35. How come she is (alright/all right), but I’m not?
36. Maya’s left hand had an (affect/effect) on her doctor’s opinion.
37. The sour cheese will (affect/effect) the taste of my sandwich.
38. (A/An) goat is not really a good birthday present.
39. Being poor had no (affect/effect) on her feelings for him.
Write an ORIGINAL sentence that demonstrates your knowledge of each word.

1. A:

2. AN:

3. ALREADY:

4. ALL READY:

5. AFFECT:

6. EFFECT:

7. ALOT:

8. A LOT:

9. ALL RIGHT:

10. ALRIGHT:
KEYS:

Practice with Commonly Confused Words

Circle the correct word.
1. I’ve always wanted to have (a/an) answer to that question.
2. Will this cold medicine (affect/effect) my driving?
3. Are we supposed to get (alot/a lot) of snow tomorrow?
4. Are we (already/all ready) to wrap Christmas presents?
5. I dropped a book on my toe, but I’m (alright/all right).
6. Don’t forget (a/an) umbrella; it’s supposed to rain.
7. His flirting has no (affect/effect) on her.
8. That farm has (alot/a lot) of cats.
9. Have you done your chores (already/all ready)?
10. How will everything be (alright/all right)?
11. Seniors should choose (a/an) university to go to.
12. They say that eating greasy foods does not (affect/effect) your complexion.
13. Do any foods have an (affect/effect) on your complexion?
14. There are (alot/a lot) of ways to get the right answer.
15. The snow could (affect/effect) our travel plans.
16. Weather usually has an (affect/effect) on travel plans.
17. The cloudy skies (affected/effected) her mood.
18. Sunny skies usually have a positive (affect/effect) on her mood.
19. I’ve (already/all ready) cleaned my room.
20. Have you seen that movie (already/all ready)?
Name____KEY___Commonly Confused Words Quiz #1
1. A lot When I said bring (alot/a lot), I didn’t mean bring the whole
store.
2. An You were supposed to take out the trash (a/an) hour ago.
3. Affect The speech about smoking did not (affect/effect) the teenagers at
all.
4. All right The dog will be (all right/alright) after he gets some food and
water.
5. All ready Are we (already/all ready) to go?
6. An I brought (a/an) apple for everyone.
7. Effect The raw deer meat had an (affect/effect) on my dog’s health.
8. Effect I was grateful that a broken arm was the only (affect/effect) on
the accident.
9. Affects Getting low grades (affects/effects) your chances of getting into
a good college.
10. Already My homework was (already/all ready) done after ten minutes.
11. An I want to be accepted at (a/an) university.
12. Affect The beautiful girl did not (affect/effect) the boy’s studies.
13. Already No thanks; I (already/all ready) had breakfast.
14. An Well, maybe I’ll just have (a/an) egg.
15. Affect Will more potatoes (affect/effect) that delicious concoction?
16. All right How come she is (alright/all right), but I’m not?
17. Effect Maya’s left hand had an (affect/effect) on her doctor’s opinion.
18. Affect The sour cheese will (affect/effect) the taste of my sandwich.
19. A (A/An) goat is not really a good birthday present.
20. Effect Being poor had no (affect/effect) on her feelings for him.