English is full homophones — words that sound sound the same but are spelled differently. In this lesson, we\u2019re going to sort out any confusion you may have with homophones and other commonly confused words. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s especially important to spell these words correctly because your spell checker might not realize that you\u2019re using the wrong word.<\/span><\/p>\n Accept means to take, receive, agree, or consent. Except means to exclude something.<\/span><\/p>\n I <\/span>accept<\/span><\/span> your love of sardines.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Gabrielle likes all pizza toppings <\/span>except<\/span><\/span> sardines.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Advice is a noun meaning opinion or recommendation. Advise is a verb meaning to offer advice.<\/span><\/p>\n My mother gave me good <\/span>advice<\/span><\/span> about shopping frugally.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n My mother <\/span>advises<\/span><\/span> me to shop frugally.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Affect is a verb meaning to influence. Effect is a noun meaning the result. So when you affect something, you produce an effect.<\/span><\/p>\n Drinking coffee at 10PM <\/span>affects<\/span><\/span> my ability to sleep.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Late night coffee has a detrimental <\/span>effect<\/span><\/span> on my sleep.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Allowed means permitted. Aloud means not silent.<\/span><\/p>\n Hudson <\/span>allowed<\/span><\/span> his daughter to ride his skateboard.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I sometimes think <\/span>aloud<\/span><\/span> while skateboarding.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Allot is a verb meaning to divide, distribute, or give a portion of something. A lot means a large amount. Alot is not a word.<\/span><\/p>\n I will <\/span>allot<\/span><\/span> the left side of the garden to Vanessa.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n There are <\/span>a lot<\/span><\/span> of plants in that garden.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Ascent is a noun meaning a rise or climb. Assent is a noun meaning agreement and a verb meaning to agree.<\/span><\/p>\n Mt. Everest is a steep <\/span>ascent<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Kane <\/span>assented<\/span><\/span> to waiting another day at the base camp.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Cite means to quote. Sight means to see or the sense of seeing. Site means a location and is used to refer to websites.<\/span><\/p>\n Nina <\/span>cited<\/span><\/span> four different sources in this blog post.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Nina\u2019s blog is dedicated to understanding <\/span>sight<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Nina\u2019s blog is my favorite <\/span>site<\/span><\/span> about science.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Complement means go well together. Compliment is a nice remark. Complimentary also means that something is free.<\/span><\/p>\n Shane\u2019s passion for blogging <\/span>complements<\/span><\/span> his skill.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n He loves <\/span>compliments<\/span><\/span> about his writing.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Shane promotes his blog with <\/span>complimentary<\/span><\/span> giveaways.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Desert is a piece of land that is extremely dry. Dessert is something sweet eaten after a meal.<\/span><\/p>\n If I were lost is the <\/span>desert<\/span><\/span>, I would look for chocolate first and water second.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, chocolate is my favorite <\/span>dessert<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Lay is a transitive verb, meaning that it must take an object (have something that it\u2019s doing the action to). It means to put down. Lie is intransitive, so it doesn\u2019t take an object. It means to recline.<\/span><\/p>\n Helena <\/span>lay<\/span><\/span> down her book.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Now she <\/span>lies<\/span><\/span> in the sun instead of reading.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n In the first sentence, \u201cbook\u201d is the object. In the second sentence, there is not object.<\/span><\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s time for another complication. Laid is the past tense of \u00a0lay, and \u00a0lay is the past tense of lie.<\/span><\/p>\n Helena <\/span>laid<\/span><\/span> down her book.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Then she <\/span>lay<\/span><\/span> in the sun instead of reading.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Loose means not tight. Lose means to be deprived of or unable to find something.<\/span><\/p>\n These pants aren\u2019t <\/span>loose<\/span><\/span> enough.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n If I <\/span>lose<\/span><\/span> weight, they might fit, though.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Principal can be a noun or an adjective. As an adjective, it refers to the main or most important thing. Its meaning as a noun is similar; it means the head or leader of something. Principle is always a noun, and it refers to a fundamental idea or rule as well as beliefs and morals.<\/span><\/p>\n My <\/span>principal<\/span><\/span> concern is who will run the school.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Since the <\/span>principal<\/span><\/span> is the head of the school, that should be his job.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Yes, that\u2019s the general <\/span>principle<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n But do you think his <\/span>principles<\/span><\/span> are good enough for the job?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Regardless means without concern or attention. Irregardless is not a word. Regardless already means without regard, so irregardless would mean without without regard, which doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/span><\/p>\n Martin, <\/span>regardless<\/span><\/span> of my advice, went to the library during the blizzard.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Than compares two things. Then indicates when something happened.<\/span><\/p>\n I like writing Facebook posts more <\/span>than<\/span> writing tweets.<\/span><\/p>\n I will write the Facebook posts and <\/span>then<\/span> the tweets.<\/span><\/p>\n To indicates direction. Too means also. Two is the number 2.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m going <\/span>to<\/span><\/span> the basketball game.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Do you want <\/span>to<\/span><\/span> come <\/span>too<\/span><\/span>?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The <\/span>Accept\/Except<\/h3>\n
Advice\/Advise<\/h3>\n
Affect\/Effect<\/h3>\n
Allowed\/Aloud<\/h3>\n
Allot\/A lot\/Alot<\/h3>\n
Ascent\/Assent<\/h3>\n
Cite\/Sight\/Site<\/h3>\n
Complement\/Compliment<\/h3>\n
Desert\/Dessert<\/h3>\n
Its\/It\u2019s<\/a><\/h3>\n
Lay\/Lie<\/h3>\n
Loose\/Lose<\/h3>\n
Principal\/Principle<\/h3>\n
Regardless\/Irregardless<\/h3>\n
Than\/Then<\/h3>\n
Their, There, They\u2019re<\/a><\/h3>\n
To\/Too\/Two<\/h3>\n