Basic

Basic Writing
Writing Skills
Skills
Easily
Easily Confused
Confused Words
Words (Part
(Part One)
One)

Lecturer: Mr. Abdifatah Nur

 Easily Confused Words

• This lesson covers some of the most commonly confused

word pairs you are likely to use in your writing. If you
learn to distinguish these words, you can avoid errors in
your writing.
Three - Way Confusion
• Lead/Led/Lead
• Examples:
He led (guided) the army to victory.
Lead(a metal) is a heavy metal.
Jake took the lead (front position) as the group headed
out of town.
Three - Way Confusion
• Quite/Quit/Quiet
• Examples:
The firm was quite (very) surprised when its most
productive manager quit (stopped) work and opted
for the quiet (calm) life of a farmer.
Three - Way Confusion
• Right/Write/Rite
• Examples:
• I will write (record) the exact procedures so you will
be able to perform the rite (ceremony) in the right
(proper) way.
Three - Way Confusion
• Sight/Site/Cite
• Examples:
• At 95, my grandmother’s sight (ability to see) is acute
enough to sight (spot) things in a far away distance.
• This is the proposed site (location) for the new
building.
• You must cite (make reference to) the source of your
information.
Three - Way Confusion
• To/Too/Two
• Examples: The couple went to (preposition) the
deli to (infinitive) pick up two (the number) dinners
because both of them were too (very) tired to
(infinitive) cook.
Three - Way Confusion
• Sent/Cent/Scent
• Examples:
• For a mere cent (penny), I bought an envelope
perfumed with the scent (odor) of jasmine which I sent
(dispatched) to my mother.
Three - Way Confusion
• Where/Wear/Were
• Examples:
• The slacks were (form of be) too tight.
• The tires showed excessive wear (deterioration).
• They will wear (tire) out these shoes if they wear (put
on) them too much.
• Where (location) are the clothes you were (form of be)
planning to wear (put on) tomorrow?
To be continued……