Commonly Confused Words

Accept Except	Accept is a verb meaning to receive. Except is usually a preposition that denotes exclusion.
Affect Effect	Affect is a verb that means to influence. Effect is either a noun meaning result or it is a verb meaning to bring about.
Conscience Conscious	Conscience is a noun meaning moral principles. Conscious is an adjective meaning aware.
Definitely Defiantly	Definitely denotes certainty. Defiantly is an adjective describing defiant action or behavior.
Farther Further	Farther usually describes distance. Further suggests a quantity or degree.
Fewer Less	Fewer refers to items that can be counted. Less refers to items that cannot be counted.
Its It’s	Its refers to the possessive form of the word “it.” It’s is the contraction of “it is.”
Lie Lay	Lie is an intransitive verb meaning to recline or rest on a surface. Its forms are: lie\lay\lain. Lay is a transitive verb meaning to put or place.
Loose Lose	Loose is an adjective meaning not secure. Lose is a verb meaning the opposite of win. Lose also means to misplace.
Than Then	Than is used to note comparisons. Then is to denote time or in if/then statements (If x, then y.)
There Their They’re	There specifies a place or is a mild expletive. Their is a possessive pronoun. They’re is the contraction of ‘they are.”
To Too Two	To is a preposition. Too is an adverb. Two is a number.
Who Whom	Who is used for subjects and subject complements.Who spilled the milk? Whom is used when dealing with objects. For whom the bell tolls.
Who’s Whose	Who’s is a contraction of “who is.” Whose is a possessive pronoun.
Your You’re	Your is possessive. You’re is a contraction of “you are.”

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