Grammar - Words Confused and Misused

Question 1

Born (verb): to be brought into existence by birth

Borne (verb): past participle of to bear

Answer 1

I was born in Washington DC.

The cost of title insurance will be borne by the seller.

Question 2

Accede (verb): to agree, to accept
to the election results.
Exceed (verb): to go beyond

Answer 2

How can we gain access to the rest of the information.

The firm can contract the excess work to smaller companies.

Question 3

Adapt(verb): to adjust
Adept (adjective): skillful
Adopt: (verb): to choose as one’s own

Answer 3

You can adapt to the new management structure.
Connie is adept at handling public relations problems.
If I cannot have a child of my own, I would like to adopt.
The Board of Directors will adopt the resolutions.

Question 4

Adverse (adjective): unfavorable, opposite, hostile

Averse (adjective)

Answer 4

Adverse winds prevent us from sailing today.
We were disappointed with the adverse verdict.
I am averse to strenuous exercise.

Question 5

Advice (noun): suggestion, recommendation

Advise (verb): to suggest, to recommend

Answer 5

Paralegals cannot give direct legal advice

I advise you to contact an attorney.

Question 6

Affect (verb): to produce an effect, to influence

Effect (noun): result, outcome

Answer 6

How will the new law affect you.
What effect will the new law have on residents.
*The new law may affect others, but it will have no effect on me.

Question 7

Aggravate (verb): to make a bad situation worse

Irritate (verb): to annoy, to vex

Answer 7

The neighbor’s feud was aggravated by their children’s fights.
Pompous people irritate everyone.

Question 8

All ready (adjective): fully prepared. 
Already (adverb): previously

Answer 8

The applicants were all ready to begin the examination.

I already notified human resources about my resignation.

Question 9

All right (adjective): satisfactory, well 
All right (adverb): well enough, very well 
Alright: incorrect - always use "all right".

Answer 9

They were ill but they are all right now.
She may not be a scholar, but she does all right in school.
All right, let’s go.

Question 10

All together: incorrect - use “altogether”

Altogether (adverb): completely, wholly

Answer 10

We want everyone to work together.

The proposal was altogether unsatisfactory.

Question 11

Allude (verb): to hint, to mention indirectly (not synonymous with refer)
Elude (verb): to evade, to escape (compare (illusion, infra)

Answer 11

t is permissible to allude to the answers if we do not disclose them?
No matter how hard I try, athletic skills elude me.

Question 12

Among (preposition): used to indicate three or more

Between (preposition): used to indicate two

Answer 12

This agreement among LEI, LOEBV and NSAD…

This agreement between LEI and LOEBV

Question 13

Amount (noun): designates a quantity that is the whole

Number (noun): designates a quantity divisible into units (but not all)

Answer 13

The athlete has an incredible amount of agility.

A number of athletes have expressed their opinions.

Question 14

Anxious (adjective): apprehensive, uneasy

Eager (adjective): marked by enthusiasm or impatience

Answer 14

Nearly all students are anxious about their final grades.

I am eager to go on vacation this year.

Question 15

Any way (noun): a possible way to do something 
Anyway (adverb): in any case, in any event

Answer 15

s there any way to resolve this situation?

I didn’t want to be an actor anyway.

Question 16

Bad (adjective): unfavorable, severe, spoiled, disobedient

Badly (adverb): poorly, disagreeable

Answer 16

The applicant made a bad impression.
Alice has a bad cold.
The restaurant is know for its bad food.
All children behave badly from time to time.
I felt bad because my head hurt to badly to attend the meeting.

Question 17

Capital (noun): assets calculated to produce income.

Capitol (noun): place where a legislative body meets.

Answer 17

Starting a business without enough capital is formula for failure.
The capital of Maryland is Annapolis.

Question 18

Cite (verb): to quote as authority, to name
Sight (noun): vision
Site (noun): location

Answer 18

Remember to cite only those statutes that apply to the case.
Alice was cited for her bravery during the war.
We watched the plane until is was no longer in sight.
Union leaders decided to picket the construction site.

Question 19

Composed [of] (participle adjective): made up of

Divided [into] (participle adjective): separated

Answer 19

An orange is composed of skin, fruit and seeds.

When peeled, an orange can be divided into sections.