Thursday, January 31, 2013

Commonly Confused Words List and Some Definitions



EFFECT
–noun
1.
something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.

2.
power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence: His protest had no effect.

3.
the state of being effective or operative; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment: to bring a plan into effect.

AFFECT
–verb (used with object)
1.
to act on; produce an effect or change in: Cold weather affected the crops.

2.
to impress the mind or move the feelings of: The music affected him deeply.

3.
(of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of.

BETWEEN
-preposition
1.
in the space separating (two points, objects, etc.): between New York and Chicago.

2.
intermediate to, in time, quantity, or degree: between twelve and one o'clock; between 50 and 60 apples; between pink and red.

3.
linking; connecting: air service between cities.

4.
in portions for each of (two people): splitting the profits between them.

AMONG
–preposition
1.
in, into, or through the midst of; in association or connection with; surrounded by: He was among friends.

2.
in the midst of, so as to influence: missionary work among the local people.

3.
with a share for each of: Divide the cigars among you.

4.
in the number, class, or group of; of or out of: That is among the things we must do.

EITHER
–adjective
1.
one or the other of two: You may sit at either end of the table.

2.
each of two; the one and the other: There are trees on either side of the river.
–pronoun
3.
one or the other: There are two roads into the town, and you can take either. Either will do.
–conjunction
4.
(a coordinating conjunction that, when preceding a word or statement followed by the disjunctive or, serves to emphasize the possibility of choice): Either come or write.
–adverb
5.
also; too; as well; to the same degree (used after negative clauses coordinated by and, or, or nor, or after negative subordinate clauses): He's not fond of parties, and I'm not either. If you don't come, she won't come either.

NEITHER
-conjunction
1.
not either, as of persons or things specified (usually fol. by nor): Neither John nor Betty is at home.

2.
nor; nor yet; no more: Bob can't go, and neither can I. If she doesn't want it, neither do I.
–adjective
3.
not either; not the one or the other: Neither statement is true.
–pronoun
4.
not either; not one person or the other; not one thing or the other: Neither of the suggestions will do. Neither is to be trusted.

FEWER
–adjective
1.
Of a smaller number: fewer words and more action.
–pronoun
2.
(used with a plural verb) a smaller number: Fewer have come than we hoped.


Even though less has been used before plural nouns (less words; less men) since the time of King Alfred, many modern usage guides say that only fewer can be used in such contexts. Less, they say, should modify singular mass nouns (less sugar; less money) and singular abstract nouns (less honesty; less love). It should modify plural nouns only when they suggest combination into a unit, group, or aggregation: less than $50 (a sum of money); less than three miles (a unit of distance). With plural nouns specifying individuals or readily distinguishable units, the guides say that fewer is the only proper choice: fewer words; fewer men; no fewer than 31 of the 50 states.
Modern standard English practice does not reflect this distinction. When followed by than, less occurs at least as often as fewer in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups, and the use of less in this construction is increasing in all varieties of English: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. When not followed by than, fewer is more frequent only in formal written English, and in this construction also the use of less is increasing: This year we have had less crimes, less accidents, and less fires than in any of the last five years.

LESS
–adverb, a compar. of little with least as superl.
1.
to a smaller extent, amount, or degree: less exact.

2.
most certainly not (often prec. by much or still): He could barely pay for his own lodging, much less for that of his friend.

3.
in any way different; other: He is nothing less than a thief.
–adjective, a compar. of little with least as superl.
4.
smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less money; less speed.

5.
lower in consideration, rank, or importance: no less a person than the manager.

6.
fewer: less than a dozen.

GOOD
–adjective
1.
morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious: a good man.

2.
satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree: a good teacher; good health.

3.
of high quality; excellent.

WELL
-adverb
1.
in a good or satisfactory manner: Business is going well.

2.
thoroughly, carefully, or soundly: to shake well before using; listen well.

3.
in a moral or proper manner: to behave well.


Irregardless - NOT A WORD/regardless

Waste - all other uses/waist - torso/abdomen

1 comment:

Don Tonique-Morris Bennett Jr. said...

I was wondering if you could somehow post a link to Gavin's Pop Mashup in a post. If you could do that, that would make a legendary teacher to an even awesomer legendary teacher. Thanks!