ACCEPT / EXCEPTACCEPT – is a verb meaning “to receive”EXCEPT – is a preposition meaning “other than”

If you offer me Godiva chocolates I will gladly accept them except for the candied violet ones.

ADAPT / ADOPTADAPT – means “to change”ADOPT – means “to take one’s own”

ADVICE / ADVISEADVICE – is a noun meaning “option”ADVISE – is a verb meaning “to give an opinion to”

When Ann Landers advise people, she gives them advice.

AFFECT / EFFECTAFFECT – is almost always a verb meaning “to influence”EFFECT – usually a noun, meaning “result”. Occasionally,

effect is a verb meaning “to bring about” or “to cause”

AIN’T – was originally a contraction of am not. It is not considered standard English.

AVOID IT ON ALL WRITING & SPEAKING.

ALL READY / ALREADYALL READY – used as an adjective meaning “ready”

"As soon as I put my coat on, I'll be all ready."ALREADY – adverb meaning “by or before this time” or “even

now”. "What do you mean you'd rather stay home? I've

already got my coat on."

ALL RIGHT / ALRIGHTALRIGHT – although it is seen frequently in print, it is not

considered a correct spelling. MAKE SURE THAT IN YOUR OWN WRITING, YOU ALWAYS USE

THE TWO-WORD FORM.Eg. NONSTANDARD: The new album is alright. STANDARD: He is feeling all right today.

ALL TOGETHER / ALTOGERTHERALL TOGETHER – a phrase meaning “together as a group”

"The wedding guests were gathered all together in the garden."

ALTOGETHER – adverb which means “completely” or “in all”. "When he first saw the examination questions, he was

altogether baffled."

AMONG / BETWEEN – both prepositions.AMONG – always implies three or more.BETWEEN – generally used with only two.

ANYWHERE / EVERYWHERE / NOWHERE / SOMEWHERE NONE OF THESE ADVERBS SHOULD EVER END WITH AN –S.NONSTANDARD: The child lost the money somewheres on the

playing field.STANDARD: The child lost the memory somewhere on the

playing field.

AS TO AS TO is awkward. Replace it with ABOUT.NONSTANDARD: I have no ideas as to where we should eat.STANDARD: I have no ideas about where we should eat.

ATDo not use at after where. Simply eliminate it. NONSTANDARD: Can you tell me where to catch the bus at?STANDARD: Can you tell me where to catch the bus?

BECAUSE Do not use because after the reason. Say “the reason...is

that” or reword the sentence altogether.NONSTANDARD: The reason he is sad is because his dog died.STANDARD: He is sad because his dog died.

BEING AS / BEING THAT Avoid using both expressions. Use because or since instead.NONSTANDARD: Being as it was so late, he went home.STANDARD: Because it was so late, we went home.

BESIDE / BESIDESBESIDE – means “at the side of” or “close to”BESIDES – means “in addition to”

BRING / TAKEBRING - means “to carry from a distant place to a nearer one”TAKE – means to carry from a near place to a more distant

place.

CAN’T HELP BUT Replace this nonstandard expression with can’t help

plus gerund.NONSTANDARD: I can’t help but feel sorry for John after

his recent misfortune.CORRECT: I can’t help feeling sorry for John after his

recent misfortune.

DIFFERENT FROM / DIFFERENT THAN Different from is preferred.LESS ACCEPTABLE: My handwriting is different than

Alice’s.CORRECT: My handwriting is different from Alice’s.

DOESN’T / DON’T Use doesn’t instead of don’t with all 3rd-person singular pronouns

and nouns.NONSTANDARD: The machine don’t work.CORRECT: The machine doesn’t work.

DONE Done – is the past participle of do. It should always follow a helping

verb.NONSTANDARD: He done his homework.CORRECT: He has done his homework.

DUE TO THE FACT THAT This phrase is unnecessarily wordy. Use SINCE or BECAUSE instead.LESS ACCEPTABLE: Due to the fact that he was late, we left.PREFERRED: Since he was late, we left.

FARTHER / FURTHERFARTHER – refers to distanceFURTHER – means “additional” or “to a greater degree or extent”

IN / INTOIN – refers to positionINTO – suggests motion

KIND OF / SORT OF Do not use KIND OF or SORT OF in place of rather or

somewhat.NONSTANDARD: I feel sort of sick.CORRECT: I feel somewhat sick.

LAY / LIELAY – means “to put or set (something) down” - its principal parts (lay, laying and laid) are usually

followed by a direct object.LIE – means “to recline” - its principal parts (lie, lying, lay, lain) are never

followed by a direct object.

LEARN / TEACHLEARN – “to receive knowledge”TEACH – “to give knowledge”

LEAVE / LETLEAVE – “to allow to remain”.LET – “to permit”

OF / HAVE Do not use the preposition of in place of the verb

have.NONSTANDARD: I could of gone if I had wantedCORRECT: I could have gone if I had wanted.

SEENSEEN – is a past participle and can be used as a verb

only with a helping verb.NONSTANDARD: We seen the new auditorium already.CORRECT: We have seen the new auditorium already.

SET / SITSET – means “to put (something) in a certain place”.

Its principal parts (set, setting and set) are usually followed by a direct object.

SIT – means “to be seated” Its principal parts (sit, sitting, sat) are never followed by a direct object.

THAN / THENTHAN is used in comparisons. Do not confuse it with

the adverb THEN, which usually refers to time.

THEIR / THERE / THEY’RETHEIR – a possessive pronoun, always modifies noun. THERE - can be used as either as an expletive at the

beginning of a sentence or as an adverb.THEY’RE – is a contraction for THEY ARE.Eg. PRONOUN – The spectators threw their hats into

the air. EXPLETIVE: There are three police officers

guarding the gate. ADVERB: The accident occurred there. CONTRACTION: They’re waiting for us at the gate.

TO / TOO / TWOTO – a preposition, begins a prepositional phrase or an

infinitive.TOO – an adverb, modifies adjectives and other

adverbs.TWO – a number