Top 20 Misused (and Mistreated) Words
At Writer’s Relief, our proofreading staff keeps a sharp eye out for commonly misused words and phrases, and we’ve compiled a list of the trickiest top 20 misused words for easy reference. Learn the differences between these words to improve your writing!
Accept or Except
accept: to receive; to answer positively
except: not including; everything but
Anxious or Eager
anxious: worried/nervous
eager: excited/looking forward to
Affect or Effect
affect: to pretend; to influence
effect: a result
Assure or Ensure or Insure
assure: to make certain (such as with a person)
ensure: to make sure (such as with a thing)
insure: to provide or obtain insurance
Beside or Besides
beside: at the side of
besides: in addition to
Between or Among
between: two items that are related
among: three or more things related
**Note: According to Gregg Reference Manual, “Ordinarily, use between when referring to two persons or things and among when referring to more than two persons or things.
And: Use between with more than two persons or things when they are being considered in pairs as well as in a group.”
