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Some words are problematic because they are similar in appearance to other words, but mean something entirely different. Use your dictionary to check on the meanings of words you are not sure of. In that way, the context can later help you decide on the spelling.

Be wary of computer spell checkers: they are useful up to a point, but they cannot tell the difference between, for example, there and their. As both are real English words, they will not attract the spell checker’s attention because it looks at the word in isolation, not in context (although a grammar checker may pick up the problem).

Activity 3d

Write sentences to show that you know the difference in meaning between these pairs of words:

1 accept, except

2 infer, imply

3 addition, edition

4 dessert, desert

5 Joneses, Jones’s

6 accede, exceed

7 singeing, singing

8 eminent, imminent

9 immigrate, emigrate

10 it’s, its

11 discreet, discrete

12 stationery, stationary

Solutions 3d

One sentence per pair has been used here sometimes – you can use one or two.

1 I think everyone will accept my invitation except my brother who will be overseas.

2 Did you imply that my work was below standard? I inferred that from the way you spoke.

3 In addition to the morning papers, he bought the latest edition of The Bulletin.

4 Ice cream is my favourite dessert. If you desert me, I will be miserable.

5 The Joneses own a swimming pool, and it is Mr Jones’s job to keep it clean.

6 I will accede to your request provided your expenses do not exceed $50.

7 Giving him access to the freezer meant that he consumed an excess of ice cream.

8 We are very excited because the eminent professor’s visit to Canberra is imminent.

9 Many people immigrate to Australia from Asia, but few emigrate from Australia to Asia.

10 It’s a shame that the baby kangaroo has lost its mother.

11 She was discreet when discussing business, not wishing to divulge the company’s expansion plans. The proposal for a new building and the share offer just announced are, however, quite discrete issues.

12 As I entered the stationery shop to buy copy paper, I noticed a large van stationary in the street outside, blocking access to the lane alongside the shop.

Activity 3e

Here are some more confusing pairs and groups of words. Make sure you can use all of them correctly in sentences.

1 negligible, negligent

2 adopt, adapt

3 implicit, explicit

4 allude, elude

5 officious, official, efficient

6 continual, continuous

7 amount, number

8 fewer, less

9 personal, personnel

10 principle, principal

11 credible, credulous

12 migrate, immigrate, emigrate

13 all ready, already

14 affected, effected

15 accept, except

16 lend, loan

Solutions 3e

1 I am glad the amount of work left is negligible. The crash resulted from his negligent driving.

2 We intend to adopt a baby. I can adapt to new conditions very quickly.

3 Implicit in his remarks was a slur on my captaincy. An explicit diagram made the mechanism clear.

4 In my speech I will allude to your very fine work. The burglar was able to elude the police for hours.

5 Nobody likes her overbearing, officious manner. He is now the official scorer for the cricket club. She is very efficient in her prompt and accurate handling of orders.

6 The teacher commented on the continual chatter of the students. The torrential rain had been continuous for about eight hours, and the streets were now flooded.

7 Please give me a small amount of dessert. A number of sweets were given to the children.

8 There are fewer people here now than were here earlier. Give me less dessert than you gave him.

9 I resigned for personal reasons. The personnel files hold details of all the people we employ here.

10 Her work is based on a sound design principle. The college principal will retire next year.

11 Your story is quite credible – I believe it. He is a credulous person – he’ll believe anything.

12 People migrate from one country to another in search of better living conditions. Many people immigrate to Australia from Europe. My home is Australia and I do not intend to emigrate overseas.

13 We are all ready to go to the beach. I have already completed the task you set me.

14 Her breathing was affected by the smog. The doctor effected a cure in the boy who had been sick.

15 I accept your invitation to dinner. Everyone is coming to the party except Joe.

16 Please lend me $10. She made me a loan of $10.