Basic

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

Lecturer: Mr. Abdifatah Nur

To split or not to split
• Already/All Ready
• Examples:
• Asha is seven years old and she already speaks three
languages (as early as this).
• They had already (previously, by this time)
finished.
• Are we all ready (completely ready) to go?
 To split or not to split
• Altogether/All Together
• Examples:
• These claims are altogether (entirely) false.
• The audience burst out laughing all together
(simultaneously).
To split or not to split
• Everyday/Every Day
• Examples:
• These are our everyday (usual) activities.
• The associates sort the merchandise every day (each
day)
To split or not to split
• Maybe/May Be
• Examples:
• Maybe (perhaps) the next batch will be better than
this one. On the other hand, it may be (might be)
worse.
To split or not to split
• A lot/ allot
• Examples:
• I thought it was all right that we allotted (portion
out something) a lot of (plenty) tickets to our best
customers.
Small but Tricky
• By/buy
• Examples:
• We stopped by (preposition) the store to buy
(purchase) some groceries.
• That car was a great buy (deal)
Small but Tricky
• Dear/Deer
• Examples:
• My dear (loved) daughter’s favorite movie is Bambi,
about a deer (animal).
Small but Tricky
• Die/Dye
• Example
• We waited for the wind to die (fade) before we
decided to dye (color) the sheets.
Small but Tricky
• Hear/Here
• Example:
• Please come here (to this place) so you can hear
(listen to) what I have to say.
Small but Tricky
• Hole/Whole
• Examples:
• The whole (entire) group heard the message. They
patched the hole (opening) in the wall.
Small but Tricky
• Knew/New
• Example:
• I knew (understood) they were planning to buy a
new (different) car.
Small but Tricky
• Know/No
• Example:
• As far as I know (understand), we have no (not one)
more of these shoes in stock.
Small but Tricky
• Meat/Meet
• Examples:
• I have bought three kilos of meat.
• Have you met the manager yet?
Small but Tricky
• One/Won
• Example:
• Ali is the one (noun referring to Ali) who won
(achieved) the trophy this year.
Small but Tricky
• Seam/Seem
• Examples:
• Does it seem (appear) to you as if this seam (joint) is
weakening?
To be continued……