Written Comm - Test 1 (words) Flashcards
List of most commonly-misused words.
A LOT - ALOT
A LOT (two words) - many.
ALOT (one word) - not the correct form.
ACCEPT - EXCEPT
ACCEPT - (v) to receive
He accepts direction well.
EXCEPT - (v) to take or leave out
Please take all the weapons off the shelf except for those already numbered.
AFFECT - EFFECT
AFFECT- (v) to influence
Lack of exercise affects your ability to effectively perform your duties.
EFFECT - (n) result, (v) to accomplish
The subtle effect of the lighting made the room look ominous.
ALL READY - ALREADY
ALL READY - prepared
The prisoners were all ready for transport when the truck arrived.
ALREADY - by this time
The suspect was already gone when the officers arrived.
ALTOGETHER - ALL TOGETHER
ALTOGETHER - entirely
Altogether, I thought that the state’s argument before the jury was excellent.
ALL TOGETHER - gathered, with everything in one place
We were all together at the family reunion last spring.
ASCENT - ASSENT
ASCENT - (v) to climb
The plane’s ascent made my ears pop.
ASSENT - (v) to agree; (n) agreement
The suspected assented to being handcuffed.
BREATH - BREATHE
BREATH - (n) air inhaled or exhaled
You could see his breath in the cold air.
BREATHE - (v) to inhale or exhale
If you don’t breathe, then you are dead.
CAPITAL - CAPITOL
CAPITAL - seat of government; financial resources.
The capital of Texas is Austin.
The business had enough capital to open a new store.
CAPITOL - the actual building in which the legislative body meets.
The governor announced his decision to run for president at the capitol today.
CITE - SIGHT - SITE
CITE - (v) to quote or document
The officer’s report cited ten witnesses who observed the offense.
SIGHT - (n) vision
The sight of the suspect in the courtroom frightened the victim.
SITE - (v) position or place
The new courthouse was built on the site of the old railway terminal.
CONSCIENCE - CONSCIOUS
CONSCIENCE -(n) sense of right and wrong
The officer’s conscience kept him from falsifying the report.
CONSCIOUS - awake
She was conscious when the burglar entered the house.
COUNCIL - COUNSEL
COUNCIL - (n) a group that consults or advises
The members of the council voted in favor of the new budget.
COUNSEL -(v) to advise
Though his attorney counseled him not to, he robbed the bank anyway.
ELICIT - ILLICIT
ELICIT - (v) to draw or bring out
The officer elicited the name of the drug dealers from the neighbors.
ILLICIT - (adj) illegal
The drug dealers where then arrested for their illicit activities.
ITS - IT’S
ITS - of or belonging to it
That dog begins barking as soon as it sees its owner leave for work.
IT’S - contraction for it is
It’s another long day working the street for Officer Jones.
LIE - LAY
LIE - (v) to lie down (a person or animal. hint: people can tell lies)
I have a headache, so I’m going to lie down for a while.
(also lying, lay, has/have lain–The dog has lain in the shade all day; yesterday, the dog lay there for twelve hours).
LAY - (v) to set an object down
“Lay down that gun, Bubba!” The sheriff demanded.
(also laying, laid, has/have laid–At that point, Bubba laid the gun on the ground).
PASSED - PAST
PASSED - (v) past tense of “to pass,” to have moved
The train passed through town like a speeding bullet.
PAST - (adj) belonging to a former time or place
Who was the past sheriff of Comal County?
PRECEDE - PROCEED
PRECEDE - to come before
Ronald Regan preceded Bill Clinton as U.S. President.
PROCEED - to go forward
After questioned by the prosecutor, the witness proceeded to explain what he saw at the crime scene.
PRINCIPAL - PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPAL - (adj) most important**; (n) **a person who has authority
The principal ingredient in pecan pie is pecans.
The principal of the school seemed 100 years old to the first graders.
PRINCIPLE - (n) a general or fundamental truth
The principle of “innocent until proven guilty” is a fundamental tenet of American jurisprudence.
SUPPOSED TO - SUPPOSE
SUPPOSED TO - correct form for “to be obligated to” or “presumed to” NOT “suppose to”
When am I supposed to appear in court?
SUPPOSE - (v) to guess or make a conjecture
Do you suppose I will have to testify?
THAN - THEN
THAN - used with comparisons
I would rather work with Officer Williams than Officer Jones.
THEN - at that time, or nExt
I reviewed my field notes, then wrote my report.
THEIR - THERE - THEY’RE
THEIR - possessive form of they
Their car was stolen last night.
THERE - indicates location
I loved Seattle and want to go there again.
THEY’RE - contraction for “they are”
They’re always late for work.
THROUGH - THRU - THREW - THOROUGH - THOUGH
THROUGH - by means of; finished; into or out of
The investigation lasted through the night.
THRU - abbreviated slang for through; not appropriate in standard writing
THREW - past tense of throw
The judge threw out the testimony as hearsay.
THOROUGH - careful or complete
Because of the thorough investigation, the defendant was found guilty and given a life sentence.
THOUGH - however; nevertheless
Sergeant looks like a tough bulldog, though he is as kind as a little puppy dog.
TO -TOO - TWO
TO - toward
Mark went to the market.
TOO - also, or excessively
He drank too much before driving home and was arrested for DWI.
TWO - a number
Only two recruits failed the academy.
WHO - WHICH - THAT
WHO - (pronoun) typically refers to a person or persons and some animals.
Jack wondered who could have committed such a violent murder.
Rin Tin Tin, who made 26 movies before his death in 1932, remains one of the most famous dogs in history.
WHICH - (pronoun) typically refers to things and animals
Which gun was used in the murder?
THAT - (pronoun) that refers to both beings and things
That is the weapon used.
WHO - WHOM
WHO - used as a subject or as a subject complement (see above)
Tracy is the person who you need to see.
WHOM - used as an object
Whom are you referring to?
Note: “whom” is replaceable with “him”
