Commonly Confused Words
The word pairs and trios that error-detection, fill-in and sentence-improvement questions repeatedly exploit - sound-alikes, spelling-only pairs, meaning pairs and grammar-choice pairs - each with a one-line distinction and an original sentence for every member.
What you will be able to do
- Separate sound-alike pairs by part of speech and meaning.
- Fix spelling-only pairs to the right sense.
- Choose correctly between grammar-choice pairs (among/between, fewer/less, lie/lay).
- Apply a one-line test for each pair under time pressure.
What is inside this lesson
- 1Why these are tested
- 2Sound-alike verb / noun pairs
- 3Spelling-only pairs
- 4Meaning pairs often mixed
- 5Grammar-choice pairs
- 6Worked example: two items
- 7Quick revision
- 8Practice
Get Pro for full access. This is section 1 of 8; the rest of the lesson opens with Pro at onelystop.in/upgrade.
Why these are tested
Error-detection, fill-in and sentence-improvement items lean on a small stock of words that sound or look alike but do different jobs. The sentence is written so the wrong member reads smoothly; only the meaning gives it away.
The fix is a one-line test per pair, applied on sight: affect is the verb, effect is the noun; fewer counts, less measures; comprise takes no of. Learn the test, not just the pair.
Reading the 8 sections above is free. A free account opens the first 2 topics of every subject in full, along with flashcards and private notes.