their, there or they’re
their shows possession (“their car”). there points to a place or introduces a fact (“over there”, “there is”). they’re is short for “they are”: if you can say “they are”, write “they’re”.
Their going to park there car over they’re.
They’re going to park their car over there.
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your or you’re
you’re means “you are”. your shows possession: “your phone”.
Your welcome to bring you’re friends.
You’re welcome to bring your friends.
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its or it’s
it’s means “it is” or “it has”. its shows possession, with no apostrophe, like “his” and “hers”.
Its been raining and the dog hurt it’s paw.
It’s been raining and the dog hurt its paw.
then or than
than is used for comparisons (“bigger than”). then is about time or order (“first this, then that”).
This plan is better then the last one, than we can start.
This plan is better than the last one, then we can start.
to, too or two
to is a preposition or part of a verb (“go to Paris”, “to read”). too means “also” or “excessively”. two is the number 2.
I want to come to, but it is to late for the too of us.
I want to come too, but it is too late for the two of us.
affect or effect
Most of the time, affect is a verb (“the weather affects my mood”) and effect is a noun (“the effect of the weather”). Tip: affect is an action.
The new rules will effect everyone, but the affect will be small.
The new rules will affect everyone, but the effect will be small.
lose or loose
lose is a verb: to stop having something, or to be beaten. loose is an adjective: not tight.
Be careful not to loose your keys, the ring is lose.
Be careful not to lose your keys, the ring is loose.
who’s or whose
who’s means “who is” or “who has”. whose asks or tells who something belongs to.
Who’s bag is this, and whose coming with us?
Whose bag is this, and who’s coming with us?
accept or except
accept means to agree or to receive. except means “apart from”.
We except all cards accept American Express.
We accept all cards except American Express.
complement or compliment
A compliment is a kind remark. A complement is something that completes or goes well with something else.
She paid me a nice complement: the scarf compliments my coat.
She paid me a nice compliment: the scarf complements my coat.
principal or principle
principal means “main”, or the head of a school. A principle is a rule or a belief.
The principle reason is a matter of principal.
The principal reason is a matter of principle.
advice or advise
advice is the noun (“good advice”). advise is the verb (“I advise you to wait”).
I would advice you to follow his advise.
I would advise you to follow his advice.
lie or lay
You lie down yourself; you lay something down. The trap: the past tense of “lie” is “lay”, and the past tense of “lay” is “laid”.
I am going to lay down. Yesterday I laid on the sofa.
I am going to lie down. Yesterday I lay on the sofa.
i.e. or e.g.
e.g. introduces examples (“for example”). i.e. introduces a clarification (“that is”).
Bring a hot drink, i.e. tea or coffee.
Bring a hot drink, e.g. tea or coffee.
stationary or stationery
stationary means not moving. stationery is writing paper and office supplies. Tip: stationery, like envelope.
The stationery car was full of stationary.
The stationary car was full of stationery.
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