Common Confusions

Affect vs Effect

Affect	Effect
is a verb, an action.	is a noun, something that comes from a "cause and effect," the result of an action, not the action itself.
Confusion arises because affect can also be a noun and effect can also be a verb. But usually, you're safe to use affect as a verb and effect as a noun.

When unsure about which to use, you can always use the word "impact" instead.

Awhile vs A While

Awhile	A While
an adverb that describes a verb.	a noun phrase, "while" is the noun.
You should stay awhile.	I will be going to the party for a while.
## Amount vs Number
Amount	Number
----------------------------------------------	---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
used for uncountable things.	used for countable things.
They earned a large amount of praise that day.	They worked with a large number of customers. (Theoretically there is an exact number of customers, like 43)

Cannot vs Can't vs Can Not

Cannot	Can't	Can Not
cannot is the correct term.	can't is the contraction of cannot.	not correct, never use can not, always use cannot.

Continuously vs Continually

Continuously	Continually
describes something that doesn't cease.	describes something that recurs on a frequent or regular basis.
Because it has been used continuously for almost two thousand years, Rome’s Pantheon is well preserved. (the pantheon was used nonstop throughout this time)	Because it has been used continually for almost two thousand years, Rome’s Pantheon is well preserved. (the pantheon was used periodically throughout this time)
## Between vs In Between
Between	In Between
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
often you can just use "between" by itself. The "in" is often unnecessary. YES: Please have the movers place the bed between the two nightstands.	adding "in" can be necessary when used at the end of a sentence as a preposition. YES: I go to the gym on Mondays, on Saturdays, and sometimes in between.
OK: Please have the movers place the bed in between the two nightstands.	adding "in" can be necessary to complete a phrase. YES: Feel free to drop in between the hours of nine and ten o’clock.

Everyday vs Every Day

Everyday	Every Day
an adjective used to describe something that is ordinary, typical, something that is used or seen daily.	a noun phrase meaning each day. "every" is the adjective modifying the noun "day."
I look forward to my everyday workout.	I go to the gym every day.
## Fewer vs Less
Fewer	Less
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------	--------------------------------------------------------------------------
used for countable things. The complex has fewer than 20 residents.	used for uncountable things. That plan is less than desirable.
## Good vs Well
Good	Well
----------------------------------------------	--------------------------------------------------------
an adjective used to describe a noun.	an adverb used to describe a verb.
I am good. ("good" is describing the noun "I")	I am doing well. ("well" is describing the verb "doing")
## Had vs Got
Had	Got
-------------------------------------------------------------------	--------------------------------------------------------
past tense of "to get" or "to acquire, gain, possess, or to become"	past tense of "to have, possess"
I am good. ("good" is describing the noun "I")	I am doing well. ("well" is describing the verb "doing")
You can't "have" something until you "get" it.
## Into vs In To
Into	In To
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
use when something is going inside of something else. I put the letter into the mailbox.	use when something is going to something but is not specifically going inside of it. Often the “to” needs to be a part of another phrase. I am going in to work on Monday.

Insure vs Ensure vs Assure

Insure	Ensure	Assure
to make sure something doesn't happen.	to make sure something does happen.	to make sure something does happen.
I didn't want to pay for possible future leaky roof so I got insurance to insure that wouldn't happen.	I asked the roofer to ensure that the installation was done carefully.	The roofer said he wanted to assure me he was careful.
## Lay vs Lie
Lay	Lie
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
to lay an object down, to put, or to place.	to lie down as a person, "lie" is a reflexive verb meaning to rest or to recline.
(pres) I lay it down. (past) I laid it down. (pres part) It had been laid down. (past part) I was laying it down.	(pres) I lie down. (past) I lay down. (pres part) I had lain down. (past part) I was lying down.
Confusion arises because "(pres) I lay it down" and "(past) I lay down" use the same spelling but are different tenses.

A quicker guide: lay = objects (pres) OR people (past)

laid = objects only (past, pres part) laying = objects only (past part)

lie = people only (pres) lain = people only (pres part) lying = people only (past part)

it's often better sounding to avoid present and past participles anyway so:

lay = objects (pres) OR people (past) lie = people only (pres) laid = objects only (past)

Leftover vs Left Over

Leftover	Left Over
1 word when used as an adjective.	2 words when used as a verb phrase.
This leftover money will help the family.	That money was left over from yesterday.

Lightning vs Lightening

Lightning	Lightening
the flash of light in a storm.	to lighten.
I saw lightning during the storm last night.	The lightning last night, lightened the sky.
## May vs Might
May	Might
----------------------------------------------------	-----------------------------------------------------
used when asking permission.	used when talking about possibilities.
May I help you fill out this loan application?	This loan might not be available in your state.
## Opt
The word opt never needs a hyphen.
"Opt" is not an abbreviation for "option," but is its own verb meaning "to make a choice."
So verb phrases like "opt in" do not need a hyphen and using a hyphen is actually an overcorrection.
## Proceed vs Precede
Proceed	Precede
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	--------------------------------------------
after, going forward, the following. She’ll proceed to the Miss Alabama pageant in June.	before January precedes February.

Sparing vs Sparring

Sparing	Sparring
adjective meaning prudent.	verb meaning to spar or fight.
uses it's Rs sparingly	has two Rs that spar each other
Ryan spent money sparingly.	Ryan and Rebecca were sparring with swords.
## Shined vs Shone
Shined	Shone
----------------------------------------------	----------------------------------------------
to make something shine.	to shine.
shined is used when acting on an object.	shone is used when not acting on an object
I shined the shoes.	The shoes shone brightly.

That vs Which

that	which
nonrestricted modifier	restricted modifier
Does not use a comma	Uses a comma
A part of the sentence	An aside in the sentence
You CAN'T pull the "that" statement out and still have a complete sentence	You CAN pull the "which" statement out and still have a complete sentence

Toward NOT Towards

Adding an "s" to the end of words that end in "-ward" is an unnecessary overcorrection.

Commonly Confused Phrases

There are times when

NOT "There are times where" because you are talking about when, not where with time.

In Time vs On Time

in time = early enough, not late on time = punctual, according to the schedule