affect / effect: Affect is usually a verb (to influence); effect is usually a noun (a result)
accept / except: Accept means to receive; except means leaving out
advice / advise: Advice is a noun; advise is a verb
all ready / already: All ready means fully prepared; already means by now
all together / altogether: All together means as a group; altogether means completely
allusion / illusion: An allusion is a reference; an illusion is a false appearance
among / between: Among for three or more; between for two
amount / number: Amount for what cannot be counted; number for what can
beside / besides: Beside means next to; besides means in addition
breath / breathe: Breath is a noun; breathe is a verb
capital / capitol: Capital is a city or money; capitol is a government building
choose / chose: Choose is present; chose is past
cloth / clothe: Cloth is a noun; clothe is a verb
complement / compliment: Complement completes; compliment praises
conscience / conscious: Conscience is your inner sense of right; conscious means awake or aware
council / counsel: Council is a group; counsel is advice
desert / dessert: Desert is dry land; dessert is a sweet course
elicit / illicit: Elicit means draw out; illicit means unlawful
eminent / imminent: Eminent means famous; imminent means about to happen
farther / further: Farther for distance; further for degree or extent
fewer / less: Fewer for countable things; less for amounts
good / well: Good is an adjective; well is usually an adverb
hear / here: Hear with your ears; here is a place
its / it's: Its shows ownership; it's means it is
lay / lie: Lay means to place; lie means to rest
lead / led: Lead (rhymes with bead) is present; led is past
loose / lose: Loose means not tight; lose means to misplace
passed / past: Passed is a verb; past is a time or position
peace / piece: Peace is calm; piece is a part
principal / principle: Principal is a school head or main; principle is a rule
quiet / quite: Quiet means silent; quite means very
raise / rise: Raise needs an object; rise does not
stationary / stationery: Stationary means still; stationery is writing paper
than / then: Than compares; then is about time
their / there / they're: Ownership; place; they are
to / too / two: Toward; also; the number 2
weather / whether: Weather is the sky; whether is a choice
who's / whose: Who's means who is; whose shows ownership
your / you're: Ownership; you are
bring / take: Bring comes toward; take goes away
borrow / lend: Borrow means to receive; lend means to give
can / may: Can is ability; may is permission
compose / comprise: Compose means to make up; comprise means to include
continuous / continual: Continuous never stops; continual stops and starts
disinterested / uninterested: Disinterested means neutral; uninterested means not caring
e.g. / i.e.: e.g. means for example; i.e. means that is
emigrate / immigrate: Emigrate means leave a country; immigrate means enter a new one
ensure / insure: Ensure means make certain; insure relates to insurance
formally / formerly: Formally means properly; formerly means before
historic / historical: Historic is important in history; historical relates to history
imply / infer: Imply is to suggest; infer is to figure out
lightning / lightening: Lightning is the flash; lightening is making lighter
literally / figuratively: Literally means exactly; figuratively means in a symbolic way
precede / proceed: Precede is to come before; proceed is to go forward
stake / steak: A stake is a post; a steak is meat
than / that: Than compares; that points out
weak / week: Not strong; seven days
which / witch: Which asks; witch uses magic
wander / wonder: Wander means roam; wonder means ask in your mind
whole / hole: All; a gap
write / right: Compose; correct
sight / site / cite: Vision; location; quote a source
elude / allude: Elude means escape; allude means refer to

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/la-commonly-confused