Commonly confused words

‘Its’ means “belonging to it” or “a part of it”

‘It's’ means “it is” or “it has”

For example:

The car was wrecked; he slammed it's door.
It's a cold night.
It's been a cold night.
It's been a terrible winter.
The cat was hurt when it's paw was caught in a door.
I'm not sure where it's going to be.

How to tell the difference

If you can replace the word with “it is” or “it has” there should be an apostrophe.

The car was wrecked; he slammed it is door.
It is a cold night.
It has been a cold night

‘There’ has many meanings, but is similar to ‘here’ and often refers to a place or position. It is also used in phrases like “there is” or “there are”

‘They're’ means “they are”

‘Their’ means “belonging to them” or “a part of them”

For example:

I'm going there tomorrow.
There is nothing you can do.
They're going to Europe for the holidays.
They're not very happy about the rainstorm.
Their car was stolen.
I liked their photo album.

How to tell the difference

If you can replace the word with “they are” there should be an apostrophe:

They are car was stolen.
They are going to Europe for the holidays.

‘Were’ means “are [in the past]”

‘We're’ means “we are”

‘Where’ means “a place, point, or position”, and is often part of a question.

For example:

They were involved in an accident
Were you born in Australia?
We're having a barbecue after work this afternoon.
Where did you buy that book?

Note: ‘where’ may also appear as part of a statement. For example:

Auckland is the place where I grew up.

How to tell the difference

If you can replace the word with “we are” there should be an apostrophe:

We are you born in Australia?
We are having a barbeque after work this afternoon.

‘Whose’ means “belonging to who”, and is often used in questions.

‘Who's’ means “who is”

For example:

Whose car is this?
The people whose offices were moved are very happy.
Who's going home first?
I want my house to be sold by the realtor who's smartest.

How to tell the difference

If you can replace the word with “who is” there should be an apostrophe:

Who is car is this?
Who is going home first?

‘Your’ means “belonging to you”

‘You're’ means “you are”

For example:

Your car was towed yesterday.
I like your outfit.
You're going to be late unless you hurry.
If you're careful, you won't get hurt.

How to tell the difference

If you can replace the word with “you are” there should be an apostrophe:

You are car was towed yesterday.
If you are careful, you won't get hurt.

‘Advise’ is a verb: it means “to tell someone what you think they should do” or “to give help or information”

‘Advice’ is a noun: it means “guidance or help”

For example:

Her advice was very useful.
The general advised the president to attack.

How to tell the difference

If you can add “some” before the word, it should be ‘advice’

I some advise you to reconsider.
The bank manager gave me some advice about my mortgage.

‘Affect’ is a verb: it means “to change, alter, or influence something”

‘Effect’ is a noun: it means “the result, outcome, or consequence”

For example:

The wind will affect TV reception.
Rheumatic fever affected his heart.
The yen has an effect on the Kiwi dollar.
The effects of the earthquake were felt in several countries.

Note: ‘effect’ can also mean “to cause something”, but this use is not very common. For example:

He effected a political coup by sending in a private army.

How to tell the difference

If you can add “some” before the word, it should be ‘effect’

The wind will some affect TV reception.
Some effects of the earthquake were felt in several countries.

‘Practise’ is a verb: it means “to do something over and over”

‘Practice’ is a noun: it means “something that people do regularly”

For example:

She has a very successful dental practice.
You must practise your scales every day; Pianists need such regular practice.

How to tell the difference

If you can add “some” before the word, it should be ‘practice’

He some practised hard every day.
I need to do some practice before I try to swim Cook Strait.

'Breath' is the air going in and out of a body.

‘Breathe’ is the action of breathing.

For example:

My breath smells like garlic.
She breathes deeply in the fresh air.

How to tell the difference

‘Breath’ is a noun and will usually be preceded by a pronoun (e.g. she, I) or article (e.g. the, a). ‘Breathe’ is a verb which means it’s all, or part, of the action in a sentence.

Her breathe is visible in the cold.
She struggles to breathe while she runs.
I eat a mint to freshen my breath.

‘Hear’ means “to perceive using the ears”

‘Here’ has many meanings, but is similar to ‘there’ and often refers to “this place”.

For example:

I can hear the sound of the ocean in this shell.
He's coming here soon.

‘Lose’ means “to not succeed”, “to forfeit”, or “to misplace”

‘Loose’ means “not tight”

For example:

She will lose the race because of her ankle injury.
He'll lose his mobile phone if he keeps leaving it in the bathroom.
My wristwatch strap is too loose.

‘Principle’ means “a general belief” or “something you live your life by”

‘Principal’ means “most important” or “the person in charge of a school or college”

For example:

I will not compromise my principles by taking a bribe.
The three laws of thermodynamics are basic principles of physics.
The principal gave me detention.
The principal problem is a lack of discipline.

‘Too’ means “also / as well as” or “to an excessive degree”

‘To’ means “in this direction”, or it is used before an action (verb)

For example:

Cut up the onions and the garlic too.
The soil is too dry for planting.
They travelled to Turkey.
Please fax it to me.
I'm going to search the cave.

‘Of’ means “belonging to” or “relating to”

‘Off’ means “away from” or “cancelled”

For example:

The door of the car is stuck.
The regular teacher of this class is absent today.
I took the day off work.
The lecture is off.

‘Conscious’ means to be awake or aware of something.

‘Conscience’ is one’s internal moral code or sense of right or wrong.

For example:

I am conscious of the new guidelines.
My conscience won’t let me lie or cheat.

How to tell the difference

Conscious is an adjective that usually describes a person’s awareness about a matter. Conscience is a noun, so it is often described or drives action.

She was conscience of the rain but didn’t bring a jacket.
Her conscience was bothering her so she went to the police.

‘Accept’ means “to receive something” or “agree or consent to something.”

‘Except’ means “not including”, “all but”, “other than.”

For example:

I accept your kind offer.
I accept that I was wrong.
I like all fruit except bananas.
Except for Mondays, I am free to meet.

How to tell the difference

‘Accept’ is a verb so it follows the subject of the sentence, and ‘Except’ is a preposition that changes something in the rest of the sentence.

She excepts the accident was her fault.
Everyone has arrived except for James.

‘Than’ is used to compare things or state a preference. ‘Then’ is a time word used to denote something is next in time, space, or order.

For example:

I like it all other than the last bit.
You need to more than read just the title page.
We will have dinner then see the movie.

How to tell the difference

‘Then’ relates to time or order.

'Than’ usually involves a comparison or preference.

I like apples more then oranges.
We went to class then home.
I was in fifth grade then.