Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

English > Commonly Confused Words > Flashcards

Commonly Confused Words Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

Rule

Use a hypen when 2 words work together as an adjective before a noun. Don’t use a hyphen when they appear after the noun.

Exp. Are the below examples correct

It’s recommended you don’t take down any load bearing walls when renovating.

The walls of his condo were load-bearing

A

Both incorrect.

Hypen when 2 words form an adjective before the noun.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a present participle

A

Word ending in “ing”

Used to make the continuous form

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When we use a noun or an adjective and a present participle to describe another word we use a hyphen. Only before the noun it describes

Correct or incorrect

  1. She picked the beautiful-looking flowers.
  2. The medicine was fast-acting
A
  1. Correct: the hyphenated words come before the noun they are describing
  2. Incorrect; the hyphenated words come after the word they are describing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Hyphenate a noun and past participle when they come before the noun they are describing

Exp. TRUE or False

  1. The well know singer will be in Detroit.
  2. The artist is well-known in Canada
A

Both incorrect

  1. The well-known singer will be in Detroit.
  2. The artist is well known in Canada
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

In active voice the subject of the sentence is doing the action.

In passive voice the action is happening to the subject.

True or false

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which sentence is active and which is passive, Why?

  1. The savanna is roamed by beautiful giraffes.
  2. Beautiful giraffes roamed the savanna
A
  1. Passive

2. Active

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which is active and which is passive

  1. Sue changed the flat tire
  2. The flat tire was changed by Sue.
A
  1. Active

2. Passive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which is Active and which is passive

  1. Mom read the novel in one day.
  2. The novel was read by mom in one day.
A
  1. Active

2. Passive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Active or Passive

The cleaning crew vacuums and dust the office.

A forest fire destroyed the whole suburb

A

Both active

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the difference between Affect and Effect?

A

RAVEN. Remember Affect is a Verb and Effect is a Noun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Is it correct

How did the medication affect the person?

A

Correct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Is it correct

These weather conditions will affect the number of people who will come to the outdoor concert.

A

Correct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Is it correct

Georgette took the news of her company moving to Chicago with little effect.

A

Incorrect, Affect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Diffence between “then” and “than”

A

Then: Sequencing time

Than: Compare

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Compliment determines a sense of praise

Complement refers to something that completes.

True or False

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Which is correct and when

Alot or a lot

A

A lot is correct

Alot isn’t a word

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Which is correct and when

All together

Altogether

Which is an adverb?

A

All together (as a group)

Altogether (Entire or whole) Adverb

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

The principal said that shorts are banned altogether from the dress code.

A

Correct

Altogether: completely, all things considered, on the whole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

She has all together too much homework to be fooling around after school.

A

Incorrect

Altogether

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

We took an altogether new approach to the problem.

A

Correct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

There should be 50 puzzle pieces all together.

A

Incorrect

Altogether

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

The boys were all together at the game before Jim suddenly ran off

A

Correct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Place your books altogether so we don’t forget them in the morning.

A

Incorrect all together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

The dirty clothes were piled all together on the floor of the bedroom.

A

Correct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

They left for the concert altogether so they could sit next to each other.

A

Incorrect all together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Everyday vs every day

How do we use each one

Which is an adjective

A

Everyday: Adjective common place, ordinary

Every day: Daily

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

For most Brazilians, everyday crime is a much more imminent threat than terrorism

A

Correct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

But the real point is this: You need to think and act like you are selling your business, everyday.

A

Incorrect every day

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

But people do it all across the globe every day.

A

Correct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

All right vs alright

What is the difference between the two

A

Alright is slang

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Any time vs anytime

A

Any time: after preposition

Anytime: adverb ( Replaces; Whenever or At anytime)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Which is used to express “Whenever”

Anytime or Any time

A

Anytime

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Anytime can be replaced with “Whenever”

Any time will be preceded by a preposition

True or False

A

True

34
Q

The package is due to arrive at any time

Correct or Not

A

Corrtect

35
Q

Anytime is sometimes preceeded by the word: “at”

True or false

A

False

Any time is usually preceeded by a preposition

36
Q

If you have any time available, I’d love to meet you.

A

Correct

37
Q

You can call me any time.

A

Incorrect

Anytime

38
Q

The boxer said he can beat his opponent anytime

A

Correct

39
Q

This part of speech tells us where one noun is in relation to another.

A

Preposition

40
Q

Find the prepositions ( there are 2 in each sentence)

Are they behind us or in front of us?

Will they be arriving in 3 minutes or at midnight?

A

Behind/ in front of

In / at

41
Q

Find the prepositions

The coffee is on the table beside you.

I should rewrite the introduction of my essay

A

On / beside

Of

42
Q

Find the prepositions

Sam left his jacket in the car

Did you send the letter to your mom.

A

In

To

43
Q

A while & awhile

What is the difference in use

A

A while: after a preposition (for, in

Awhile: Adverb after a verb

Both have the same meaning

44
Q

Garfunkel waited awhile for the bus

A

Correct

45
Q

When something hasn’t happened for a long time, we say it’s been a while.

A

Correct

A while is a Noun phrase

Awhile is an adverb

46
Q

If something take a long time to happen we say it take awhile

A

Incorrect

a while

47
Q

Allowing the wealthy to abuse themselves a while longer.

A

Incorrect

Awhile

48
Q

There are two chairs for you to rest awhile longer.

A

Correct

49
Q

In favor of someone who cracks a smile once in awhile

A

Correct

50
Q

Sometime vs some time

Which is preceeded by a preposition

A

Sometime replace with Whenever

Some time preceeded by a preposition

51
Q

Sometime vs some time

A

Sometime = can be replaced with “Whenever”

Some time = follows a preposition

52
Q

I’ll get around to finishing that book sometime

A

Correct

53
Q

How long will it take to finish the book? It will take some time.

A

Correct

54
Q

Sometime can be replaced with “someday or some point”

True or False

A

True

55
Q

Give me a call sometime, and we’ll have coffee.

Well announce the winner sometime soon.

Tiny needs to stop by the bank sometime today

A

All correct

56
Q

For some time, humans have known that the world is round.

It will take some time to finish the project.

A

Both correct

Some time: “a period of time” usually long

57
Q

Affect is usually a verb meaning “to produce an effect upon,” as in “the weather affected his mood.” Effect is usually a noun meaning “a change that results when something is done or happens,” as in “computers have had a huge effect on our lives.”

True or False

A

True

58
Q

You’ll feel the effect of the medication in the next twenty minutes

The medicine will affect your eyesight for at least one hour.

A

Both correct

59
Q

Effect = Result

Affect = Impact

A

True

60
Q

A good rule of thumb to remember for “affect” and “effect” is: If you’re discussing cause and effect and you’re referring to the ending result of said cause, use “effect.” You can remember that “effect” represents the end, as they both start with “e.”

A

True dat

61
Q

Affect is the cause or reason

Effect is the result

True or false

A

True

62
Q

A while is used after a preposition ( for, in)

Awhile is used after verbs

True or false

A

True

63
Q

Anytime is commonly used after a preposition or by itself

Any time is an adverb used to modify a verb.

True or False

A

False

Anytime is an adverb

Any time is used after a preposition or by itself.

64
Q

Do you have any time to speak with us today?

Do you have anytime to speak with us today?

Which is correct? And why?

A

1 is correct

You also have to make any time two words when you’re talking about an amount of time.

65
Q

I’m going to sit and read awhile / a while.

I’m going to sit and read for awhile / a while.

A

1.Awhile

Awhile modifies a verb

  1. A while

A while comes after a preposition

66
Q

I’m going to read for a while / awhile longer

A

A while

A while is typically used after a preposition (Relating one word in a sentence to another)

67
Q

Perhaps having to wait a while / awhile isn’t a bad thing

A

Awhile

Awhile modifies a verb

68
Q

She was having computer trouble, she told him, and would be offline for awhile / a while

A

A while

A while follows a preposition

69
Q

Go ahead, sit for a while / awhile

Go ahead, sit a while / awhile

A

1.A while

(A while comes after a preposition)

  1. Awhile

(Awhile is an adverb)

70
Q

Henry and Jennifer talked for awhile / a while

Henry and Jennifer talked awhile / a while

A
  1. A while

(A while comes after a preposition)

  1. Awhile

(Awhile is an adverb)

71
Q

To tell the difference between “Affect and Effect”

Remember Affect Verb Effect Noun
RAVEN

Put the word “The” in front of the word in question. If it sounds correct it is Effect, if not Affect.

A

True Dat

72
Q

A while is an adverb which means “for a period of time.”

Awhile is a noun phrase which means “a period of time.”

                True or False
A

False

Awhile is an adverb

A while is a noun phrase

73
Q

When you use (some time/ sometime) as an adverb, it refers to an unspecified point in time.

It doesn’t refer to a span of time—that’s what (sometime /some time) is for

A

Sometime / some time

74
Q

I’ll get around to finishing that book sometime / some time

A

Sometime

75
Q

I was so tired i decided to lie / lay down after lunch

A

Lie

76
Q

I wanted to led / lead an exciting life so i became a clown

A

Lead

77
Q

I wondered who’s/ whose car that was.

A

Whose

78
Q

The dog was very quiet, quite

A

Quiet

79
Q

When will we know if the chemotherapy has taken effect?

Correct or not

A

Correct

Explanation: the phrasal verb take effect means “to go into operation; to start working.”

80
Q

We cannot effect a new policy without the board of directors voting on it first.

Correct or not

A

Correct

Explanation: the verb effect means “to bring about” or “to cause.”

English (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions