Confusing Word Pairs and Homonyms (AP Stylebook)

hanged, hung

A condemned man is hanged (a verb used for people). Photos are hung (a verb used for things)

foreward, forward

A foreword is the prefatory comments to a book. Forward is a directional word.

historic, historical

Any event that happened in the past is historical. Only significant events are historic.

every day, everyday

Something that happens daily occurs every day, while something described as everyday (an adjective) is routine or ordinary.

all right

That's the way to spell it. The dictionary may say alright is a legitimate word, but it is not acceptable in standard usage.

peak, peek, pique

A peak is a summit or a pointed top of something. To peek is to look furtively into or at something, while to pique is to arouse, often used with negative emotions, such anger or resentment. A state of pique is a feeling of wounded vanity. You can also pique someone's curiosity.

funeral service

A redundant expression. A funeral is a service.

waiver, waver

A waiver is a statement that expresses the intentional giving up of a right or claim; to waver is to flutter or hesitate, to tremble or shake.

accept, except

Accept means to receive. Except means to exclude.

adverse, averse

Adverse means unfavorable; used for things. Averse means opposed; used for people.

affect, effect

Affect, as a verb, means to influence. The game will affect the standings. Affect, as a noun, is best avoided. It occasionally is used in psychology to describe an emotion or the display of emotion. Effect, as a verb, means to cause: He will effect many changes in the company. Effect, as a noun, means result: The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions. It was a law of little effect.

allude, elude

Allude is to refer to something indirectly. Elude is to avoid

alternately, alternatively

Alternately means by turns: they traveled alternately by day and by night. If only one were available, they would go by day, or, alternatively, by night.

ambivalent, ambiguous

Ambivalent is better described as mixed feelings. Ambiguous means to open to more than one interpretation.

adopt, approve, enact, pass

Amendments, ordinances, resolutions and rules are adopted or approved. Laws are enacted. Bills are passed.

anecdote, antidote

An anecdote is a short tale about an event or incident. An antidote counteracts something, such as poison.

impact

As a noun, effect is almost always better. As a verb, it's usually intended to mean affect. Avoid confusion; use affect instead.

between, among

Between is a preposition for two things; among is for more than two.

biannual, biennial

Biannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the word semiannual. Biennial means every two years.

loath, loathe

Loath, an adjective, means unwilling, reluctant. Loathe, a verb, means to abhor.

breath, breathe

Breath is a noun describing air taken into the lungs. Breathe is a verb meaning to take air into the lungs

capital, capitol

Capital is the city that's named the seat of the government. In finances, it means money or property. Capitol is the building in which legislators meet.

compliment, complement

Compliment means to praise; complement means to go with or to complete

convince, persuade

Convince requires a state of mind; persuade requires a course of action. Think: convince that, persuade to

corps, core

Corps is a group of people with a specific mission or function. Core is the center or heart. The possessive form is corps' for both singular and plural: one corps' location, two corps' assignments

decimate, demolish, destroy

Demolish and destroy means to do away with completely. You can't partially demolish or destroy something, nor is there any need to say totally destroyed. On the other hand, to decimate something means to remove or destroy a large part of (if you want to get picky, it means to destroy a tenth of) something. So you can't completely decimate something any more than you can partially destroy it.

discreet, discrete

Discreet means prudent or circumspect; discrete means separate or detached.

annual

Don't use first with it. If it's the first time, it can't be annual.

like, as

Don't use like for as or as if. Like is followed by a noun or noun phrase. As introduces a clause. In general, use like to compare nouns and pronouns; use as when comparing phrases and clauses with a verb. After the robbery, the victim looked like a ghost. After the robbery, the victim looks as if she had seen a ghost. Jim blocks the linebacker as he should. Jim blocks like a pro.

dragged, drug

Dragged is the past tense of the verb "to drag." A drug is a narcotic or a medicine. While "drug" is often used colloquially as a past tense of drag, it is not acceptable in standard usage.

elicit, illicit

Elicit to bring or draw out or to evoke. Illicit is unlawful or not sanctioned by custom.

eminent, immanent, imminent

Eminent means prominent or conspicuous; immanent means inherent; imminent means about to occur.

ensure, insure

Ensure means to guarantee. Insure means to provide insurance.

excise, exorcise

Excise is to cut off. Exorcise is to expel.

farther, further

Farther is for literal distance; further is for time or degree. She will look further into the charges.

flair, flare

Flair is an aptitude or originality or conspicuous talent. Flare is a verb meaning to blaze with sudden, bright light or to burst out in anger. It is also a noun being a flame.

flaunt, flout

Flaunt means to boastfully exhibit or ostentatiously display. If you've got it, flaunt it. Flout means defy, mock, scoff or show disdain for. People flout laws or rules; they do not flaunt them.

fliers, flyers

Flier is the preferred term for an aviator or handbill. Flyer is the proper names of some trains and buses.

hoard, horde

Hoard as a noun is hidden stash or stockpile. Hoard ass a verb means to gather or collect as a stockpile. A horde is a large group or gathering.

lead, led

Lead is either a heavy metal or the act of guiding or directing. Led is the past tense of the verb "to lead."

fewer, less

Less applies to quantities; fewer to number. Less modifies a singular noun; fewer modifies a plural noun. If you can separate or count the items in the quantities being compared, use fewer. If not, use less. Fewer calories, less taste.

if, whether

If is used for a condition. (The president will go to Camp David if the weather is good.) Whether is used when there are two choices. (The president said he didn't care whether or not the first lady went.) And you can usually delete or not. (The president said he didn't care whether the first lady went.)

imply, infer

Infer means to deduce or judge from evidence. Imply means to intimate, to hint. The speaker implies. The hearer infers.

either

It means one or the other, not both. Wrong: There were lions on either side of the door. Right: There were lions on each side of the door.

input

It's a computer word, not suitable to use when talking about humans' actions.

it's, its

Its is the possessive; it's is the contraction of it is.

pore, pour, poor

Pore is to study closely. Pour is to stream in or down. Pore used as a noun refers to a minute opening, and poor means impoverished or low quality.

predominant, predominate

Predominant (adjective) means having power, influence. Use these primary spellings: predominant, predominantly, which are listed in Webster's New World for the adjective and adverb forms. Do not use the alternates, predominate and predominately as adjective or adverb forms. Use the verb predominate when it means to be the leading element.

sensual, sensuous

Sensual is the desire to gratify the senses. Sensuous affects the senses.

compose, comprise

Remember that the parts comprise the whole, and the whole is composed of parts. You compose things by putting them together.

principal, principle

Remember this one? The principal is your pal. Principle is a noun meaning basic truth.

cite, site, sight

To cite is to acknowledge a reference. Site is a location. Sight is the ability to see.

flounder, founder

To founder means to bog down, sink or collapse. Flounder means to move clumsily or flop around (also a fish).

home in, hone

To home in on something means to approach a target, zoom in, get closer. Hone is to sharpen. While "hone in" has become common usage, it is incorrect.

afterward, afterwards

Use afterward. Same for forward and backward.

each other, one another

Use each other for two people: The twins looked at each other. Use one another for more than two: The board members learn from one another.

entitled, titled

Use entitle to mean a right to do or have something. She was entitled to the promotion. Title is a name. The book was titled "Gone With the Wind."

mean, average, median

Use mean as a synonym for average. Median is the number that has as many components above it as below it.

couple of

You need the of. It's never a couple tomatoes.