Commonly Misunderstood Words

When we write, we assume confidence in our ability to properly use certain words in the right context. Most of the time, our writing flows smoothly with 0 errors. But that is not to say that we don't find ourselves confused between words that are often mistaken for another from time to time. Some commonly misunderstood words may include "affect vs effect".

If this confusion sounds familiar, read on about the other words that leave even the best academic writers perplexed on occasion.

The Apostrophe

The omission of the apostrophe in the word 'its' changes the definition, making it one of the most commonly made mistakes. Other terms such as 'your' and "you're" have also been commonly mistaken for the other because of the omission of the punctuation.

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

'Its' is a possessive pronoun, generally referring to something belonging to any object or living thing that is not a human being, such as animals.

'It's' is a shorter form of the phrase 'it is'.

Similarly, 'your' and 'you're' have different definitions with regards to the apostrophe. 'Your' is a possessive pronoun, and 'you're' is a shorter form of the phrase 'you are'.

Punctuation marks help to provide more information about the context of a sentence.

By omitting the apostrophe, the meaning of the sentence is drastically changed or loses its context.

1. It's okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. (it is)

2. Its food and water must be changed every few hours. (belonging to it)

3. You're beginning to understand the importance of the little apostrophe. (you are)

4. Your misery might be short-lived because here comes your new bag! (belonging to you)

Other terms such as 'their' and 'they're', as well as 'his' and 'he's', have also been mistaken for the other. Notice how the apostrophes play a part in the context of the sentence.

The 'A' & 'E'

'Than' and 'then' are two different words, and have commonly been mistaken to have the same definition. One way to remember the difference between the two words is to know when to use the word 'than'.

'Than' is mainly used for comparison between 2 or more objects. Even with the added word 'rather', the phrase 'rather than' is also used for comparison.

Context: The individual would choose to do something else rather than resolve his relationship issues.

Here is another example: "Sunflowers are cheaper than roses during this time of year."

'Then' is used in general, having multiple definitions. Consider the following sentences:

1. I was lonely in Singapore then, now I am married and living in Brazil! (at the time)

2. I was lonely in Singapore, then I came here to look for a soul mate. (after that)

3. If that is what you want, then go ahead and do it. (in that case)

Words that sound the same but are spelled differently (homophones) are more likely to be mistaken for the other.

When to use 'affect' or 'effect'

'Affect' is usually used as a verb, and 'effect' is a noun. Here is an example for each:

1. The noise affected his concentration. (cause a change)

2. The noise had an effect on his concentration. (a result/an outcome)

In rare cases, 'affect' is used as a noun, and is more or less related to emotions, with reference to the word 'affection'.

However, 'affect' as a noun can never mean 'an influence to bring about a change'.

Room for improvement

While most of us are still coming to terms that English is not an easy language to master, learning is a lifelong experience, so learn while you still can. If you still find yourself confused with some words, try to go about it from a different angle.

For instance, if you find yourself hesitant about using either 'affect' or 'effect' in a sentence, try using the word 'impact' instead.

Many people are still stuck on grasping the importance of having good grammar in communication, be it verbal or written. A trick to improving one's grammar is to read often.

You can read anything - ranging from books, to journals, to newspapers - provided there are no or little grammatical mistakes in the reading materials. It is easier to read, and also, you might learn something new!