Easily confused words in English

English has many words that are similar, and this can be confusing for both native and non-native speakers.  Examples are accept vs except,  advise vs advice, insure vs ensure, corps vs corpse and many more. The problem comes when a writer sends a document or e-mail to a person who knows the difference between the right and the wrong word.

To improve your knowledge of easily confused words, start with a list of them. There are many such lists of easily confused words online. One to start with is http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/confused_words_english.html  .

Choose 5 word pairs that you yourself often use and confuse, write them down where you can see them, and study them briefly twice a day. When you have learned them, choose 5 more pairs. It's important to choose words that you are likely to say or write, so you will learn them faster and get more benefit out of this effort.

Great communication requires the choice of the proper words to convey your meanings. Make up your list of easily confused words today!

You're vs your: does it matter?

Homophone: Your vs You're Today I received a business e-mail from a well-educated, native English speaker. The writer is a professional with an important organization. The e-mail had the word "your" when the writer meant "you're". This has happened with e-mails from other people, as well. The impression these e-mails give is of a writer who either doesn't have a good education or is careless. Those impressions reflect on the employer, as well. Your is a plural possessive, as in "It's your coat." You're means "you are", as in "you're going there". There are many homophones which need to be learned. Homo means "same", while "phone" means "sound". Both words in a pair of homophones sound the same, but the spellings and meanings are different. To see one such list of homophones, click here or paste in http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/homophones-list.htm. Details, such as homophones, matter. So does your reputation. Learn the common homophones!