09 Mar Commonly Confused Words

The English language has many homophones – that is, words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings.

Here’s a guide to some of the most commonly confused words and phrases….and remember, spell-check won’t pick them up if they are used incorrectly as both spellings are correct!

Affect/Effect

Affect is a verb meaning to have an influence on or to change (can also mean to pretend).

Effect is a noun meaning an outcome or a result.

• Did the hot weather affect you when you were on holidays?
• What effect did the hot weather have on you?

Principal/Principle

Principal is a noun meaning main or first in order of importance. It can refer to a person or entity.

Principle is also a noun meaning a fundamental truth or theory.

• The principal reason you do well in exams is because you study hard.
• The teacher explained the principles of physics in today’s class.

Stationery/Stationary

Stationery is a noun.

Stationary is an adjective.

• Can someone please put in a new stationery order?
• The train didn’t move from the platform, it remained stationary for 15 minutes.

Enquiry/Inquiry

Enquiry and Inquiry are both nouns. However, enquiry refers to a question, whereas inquiry refers to an investigation.

• Every day our business receives many telephone enquiries.
• The police are conducting an inquiry into a notorious murder committed recently.

Dependant/Dependent

Dependent is an adjective meaning contingent on or determined by.

Dependant is a noun meaning a person who relies on another for financial support.

• Whether we go on holidays is dependent on how much money we have saved this year.
• Paul is the only member of his family who has a job; he has many dependants.

This is just a small sample of some commonly confused words.  If you have seen or read any other words that have more than one spelling and different meanings, get in touch!