Grammar Tips

Question 1

Affect vs Effect

Answer 1

The difference is actually pretty straight forward: the majority of the time you use AFFECT as a verb and EFFECT as a noun.

The arrows affected Aardvark; the rain affected Squiggly’s plans.
The EFFECT was eye-popping.

Question 2

Assure vs Ensure vs Insure

Answer 2

Assure is the only one that means “to reassure someone or promise.”
Ensure means “to make certain or to guarantee.”
Insure can be interchangeable with ensure in some cases, but it is easies to keep these words straight by reserving INSURE for insurance.

Question 3

Backward vs Backwards

Answer 3

When describing verbs they’re interchangeable. Count backward/backwards.

But when using it as an adjective, never use the (S)!

They couldn’t understand the peeves’ backward ways.

Question 4

Between vs Among

Answer 4

She chose between Harvard, Brown, and Yale.

She chose among the Ivy League schools.

Question 5

Bring vs Take

Answer 5

You ask people to bring things to the place you are, and you take things to the place you are going.

Question 6

By Accident vs On Accident

Answer 6

Either way! :-)

Question 7

Can vs May

Answer 7

Old rule.

Question 8

Different From vs Different Than

Answer 8

Different from is preferred to different than. Different has 2 f’s and only 1 t, so stick with “different FROM.”