ACADEMIC ENGLISH

SPELLING:
Commonly
Confused Words
Yazmin Abat
English Coach
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS
Some words have the same or similar sound as another word, but
the spelling and meaning are different. Look at these pairs of
commonly confused words.

Yazmin Abat | Academic English |

AFFECT, EFFECT, ACCEPT, EXCEPT
-> affect(verb) = To influence or touch the feelings of someone
-> effect(noun) = result
-> accept(verb) = To receive something
-> except(prep.) = but

Complete each sentence

Sad movies always ............................. me.

The waiter was happy to ............................. our generous tip.

The bad weather has had a serious ............................. on

agriculture.
There was over 75% enrollment during every
month ..............December.

Yazmin Abat | Academic English |

ASCENT, ASSENT, ADVICE, ADVISE
-> ascent(verb) = rising, going up
-> assent(noun, verb) = agreement, to agree
-> advice(noun) = guidance or recommendations
-> advise(verb) = to give guidance or recommendations

Complete each sentence

Everyone at the meeting indicated their ............................. to the
plan.
He followed his doctor's ............................. to get more exercise.

The teacher might ............................. the parents to get extra help

for their child.
The ............................. of the mountain took over six hours

Yazmin Abat | Academic English |

AID, AIDE, DESERT, DESSERT
-> aid(noun, verb) = assistance, to assist
-> aide(noun, verb) = an assistant
-> desert(noun) = landscape where little precipitation occurs
-> dessert(noun) = a sweet dish served at the end of a meal

Complete each sentence

Her ............................. answers her phone calls and takes
messages.
We were interested to see the variety of cactus growing in
the ............................. .
I would like your ............................. in choosing a new apartment.

A small dish of fruit is a more healthful ............................. than a

large slice of cake.

Yazmin Abat | Academic English |

LATER, LATTER, PASSED, PAST
-> later(adj.) = comparative form of “late”
-> latter = refers to the second of two people or things previously
mentioned
-> passed(verb) = past tense form of “pass”
-> past(noun, adj., prep.) = previous time, gone by in time, on
the far side.
Complete each sentence
More tourists visited the area ............................. in the year.

She owns both a car and a bicycle. The ............................. is her

preferred form of transportation.
I have vacationed in the area several times in
the ............................. .
He studied hard and ............................. all his exams.
Yazmin Abat | Academic English |
SIGHT, SITE, THAN, THEN
-> sight(noun)= something seen; the ability to see
-> site(noun) = location
-> than(conj.)= used when making comparisons
-> then(adv.)= at that time, next

Complete each sentence

Driving a car is more convenient ............................. riding a
bicycle.
They chose this ............................. for their new office building.

We ate at a restaurant, and ............................. we went to the

movies
Sunset over the ocean is a beautiful ............................. .

Yazmin Abat | Academic English |

THANK YOU!