Accept is a verb meaning to receive or to agree. Example: He accepted their praise graciously. Except is a preposition meaning all but, other than. Example: Everyone went to the game except Alyson.

Affect is a verb meaning to influence. Example: Will lack of sleep affect your game? Effect is a noun meaning result or consequence. Example: Will lack of sleep have an effect on your game? Effect can also be used as a verb meaning to bring about, to accomplish. Example: Our efforts have effected a major change in university policy. * A memory-aid for affect and effect is RAVEN: Remember, Affect is a Verb and Effect is a Noun.

Adolescence is is the period of human development that occurs between the onset of puberty and adulthood. Example: Children who witness violence are more likely to experience violence in adolescence. Adolescents (plural form of adolescent) are young people who are going through the period of development that occurs between the onset of puberty and adulthood. Example: These video games are specifically aimed toward adolescents.

Advise is a verb that means to recommend, suggest, or counsel. Example: I advise you to be cautious. Advice is a noun that means an opinion or recommendation about what could or should be done. Example: I'd like to ask for your advice on this matter.

Conscious is a adjective meaning awake, perceiving. Example: Despite a head injury, the patient remained conscious. Conscience is a noun meaning the sense of obligation to be good. Example: Chris wouldn't cheat because his conscience wouldn't let him.

Idea is a noun meaning a thought, belief, or conception held in the mind, or a general notion or conception formed by generalization. Example: Jennifer had a brilliant idea—she'd go to the Writing Lab for help with her papers! Ideal is used as a noun meaning something or someone that embodies perfection, or an ultimate object or endeavor. Example: Mickey was the ideal for tutors everywhere. or Ideal is used as an adjective meaning embodying an ultimate standard of excellence or perfection, or the best. Example: Jennifer was an ideal student.

Its is a possessive adjective (possessive form of the pronoun it). Example: The crab had an unusual growth on its shell. It's is a contraction for it is or it has (in a verb phrase). Example: It's still raining; it's been raining for three days. * Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.

Lead is a noun referring to a dense metallic element. Example:The X-ray technician wore a vest lined with lead. Led is a past-tense and past-participle form of the verb to lead, meaning to guide or direct. Example: The evidence led the jury to reach a unanimous decision.

Than is used in comparison statements. Example: He is richer than I. or Than is used in statements of preference. Example: I would rather dance than eat. or Than is used to suggest quantities beyond a specified amount. Example: Read more than the first paragraph. Then is a time other than now. Example: She will start her new job then. or Then is next in time, space, or order. Example: First we must study; then we can play. or Then is suggesting a logical conclusion. Example: If you've studied hard, then the exam should be no problem.

Their is a possessive pronoun. Example: Their books were delivered today. There means that place. It is a place word, and so it contains the word here. Example: My house is over there. They're is a contraction for they are. Example: They're making dinner. *Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.

To is a preposition, or first part of the infinitive form of a verb. Example: They went to the lake to swim. Too means very or also. Example 1: I was too tired to continue. Example 2: I was hungry, too. Two is the number 2. Example: Two students scored below passing on the exam.

We're is a contraction for we are. Example: We're glad to help. *Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one. Where means location. It is a place word, and so it contains the word here. Example: Where are you going? Were is the past tense form of the verb be. Example: They were walking side by side.

Your is a possessive pronoun. Example: Your shoes are untied. You're is the contraction for you are. Example: You're walking around with your shoes untied. *Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.

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Write I before E, except after C, or when it sounds like an A, as in "neighbor" and "weigh" Examples: relief, believe, niece, chief, sieve, frieze, field, yield Write E before I: receive, deceive, ceiling, conceit, vein, sleigh, freight, eight Exceptions seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure, conscience, counterfeit, forfeit, neither, science, species, sufficient

-ible If the root is not a complete word, add -ible. aud + ible = audible Examples: visible, horrible, terrible, possible -able If the root is a complete word, add -able. accept + able = acceptable Examples: fashionable, laughable, suitable If the root is a complete word ending in -e, drop the final -e and add -able. excuse – e + able = excusable Examples: advisable, desirable, valuable, debatable Some exceptions to the above rules: contemptible, responsible, irritable, inevitable

Accept means consent to receive (a thing offered). Example: She decided to accept the offer. Except means not including; other than Example: He wanted to go, except he had other plans.

Affect is a verb that means to do something that causes an effect, which is a noun. Just think of the "a" in "affect" also is used in "action," which is what verbs do.

Fortunately spellcheck catches this one most of the time, but know this: If you're trying to say you have an abundance of something, there should be a space in a lot.

Breath is the air taken into or expelled from the lungs. Example: It was a breath of fresh air to meet someone so genuine. Breathe is to take air into the lungs and then expel it, as a regular physiological process. Example: After being cooped up for so long, it felt wonderful to breathe fresh air.

When using these words as commands think in terms of direction. People bring things toward you and take things away from you. Example 1: Please bring your report to my office. Example 2: Please take this report to the receptionist.

Continual means something that's always occurring, with obvious lapses in time. Example: The continual music next door made it the worst night of studying ever. Continuous means something continues without any stops or gaps in between. Example: Her continuous talking prevented him from concentrating

Different from is comparative and typically requires a noun or noun form to complete the expression. Example: My birthday this year was different from what it was last year. Different than is used to draw distinction and may be followed by a clause. Example: My birthday this year was different than it was last year. * When in doubt, use “different from.”

The word farther implies a measurable distance. Example: I threw the ball ten feet farther than Bill. Further should be reserved for abstract lengths you can't always measure. Example: The financial crisis caused further implications.

Few and fewer are for things you can quantify. Example: The firm has fewer than ten employees. Less is used for hypothetical quantities. Example: The firm is less successful now that we have only ten employees.

These are not words. Regardless and Thaw are sufficient and don't need any senseless prefixes mucking them up.

Its is a possessive form of the pronoun it, meaning belonging to it. Example: The car needed its brakes repaired. It's is a contraction of the words it is or it has. (Interestingly, we don’t really contract it was into it’s.) Example: It’s been so long since we saw you!

Lose is what happened to you when you can't find your keys, you have to settle a bet, or were beat in a game. Example: Did you lose the car keys? Loose refers to when your dog has escaped his kennel, your change is clinking in your pocket, or your clothes are too big. Example: Where do you put your loose change?

May implies a possibility. Example: "I may go to the store" means I probably will go to the store. Might implies far more uncertainty. Example: "I might go to the store" means it's unlikely that I'll go to the store.

Chris and me? Chris and I? Chris and myself? The easiest way to avoid using the wrong one is to remove everyone else from the statement, and then see if it still makes sense. I is the subject pronoun, which means it performs the action of the verb. Example: I sent the email to Chris. Me is the object pronoun. That means it is acted upon. (In the example above, “Chris” is the object). Example: Chris sent the email to me. Myself is the reflexive object pronoun. The difference here is that reflexive objects are actions you perform on yourself. Example: I sent the email to myself.

Nor expresses a negative condition, literally meaning "and not." You are obligated to use nor if your sentence expresses a negative and follows with another negative condition. Example: Neither the men nor the women were drunk.

A Principle is a rule, a law, a guideline, or a fact that helps you know what is right and wrong and that influences your actions. Example: There exist certain fundamental principles of human rights. A Principal is the headmaster of a school or a person who's in charge of a company. Principal can also be used as an adjective to mean original, first, or most important. Example: She is the principal cellist of the orchestra. * A trick for keeping the two straight: The "a" in principal is first in the alphabet, just like a principal is someone who's first in rank.

Since refers to time. Example: Since I graduated from college, I’ve married and had two children. Because refers to causation. Example: Because I started running more frequently, I wear through my shoes more quickly.

That is a restrictive pronoun that refers to a direct noun. In the example, "I don’t trust fruits and vegetables that aren’t organic," I’m referring to all non-organic fruits or vegetables. In other words, I only trust fruits and vegetables that are organic. Which introduces a relative clause. It allows qualifiers that may not be essential. In the example, "I recommend you eat only organic fruits and vegetables, which are available in area grocery stores," you don’t have to go to a specific grocery store to obtain organic fruits and vegetables.

Their is the possessive case of the pronoun they, meaning belonging to them and is generally plural. Example: Someone left their book on the table. There is an adverb that means in or at that place. It is what’s known as an adverb of place, which answers the question where an action is taking place. Example: She is there now. They're is a contraction of the words they and are. Example: They’re mastering the differences between three homophones!

Whether and If are not interchangeable. Whether expresses a condition where there are two or more alternatives. Example: I don’t know whether I’ll go running tonight. If expresses a condition where there are no alternatives. Example: If my knee doesn't hurt, I will go for a run tonight.

Using who or whom depends on whether you’re referring to the subject or object of a sentence. Use Who when replacing the pronouns he, she, we, in the subject of a sentence. Example: "Who loves you?" can replace "He loves you." Use Whom when replacing the pronouns, him, her, them, in the object of a sentence. Example: "I consulted an attorney whom I met in New York." can replace "I consulted him."

Your is a possessive adjective used to show ownership, and is usually followed by a noun (including gerunds). Example: Your hair looks great today! You're is a contraction of the phrase you are. Example: I think you’re the perfect match for the job.

A colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a word, phrase, clause, list, or quotation. The colon signals that what follows proves or explains the sentence preceding the colon. Example: Incorrect: People move to Florida for: the warmer weather, the beach, and the theme parks. Correct: People move to Florida for three reasons: the warmer weather, the beach, and the theme parks.

These happen when a comma separates two clauses that could be two separate sentences. To fix comma splices, you can add a semicolon or a period, use a conjunction like and/or/but or some other connecting word, or rewrite the sentence entirely. Example: Incorrect: He checked out a book on gardening, she went to wait in the car. Correct: He checked out a book on gardening while she went to wait in the car. Correct:He checked out a book on gardening; she went to wait in the car. Correct: She waited in the car while he checked out a book on gardening.

Throwing commas around liberally when they aren’t necessary. is a common writing mistake. There are dozens of examples of this error, but here are a few common mistakes. Example 1: Incorrect: The woman never went into the city, because she didn’t feel comfortable driving in traffic. Correct: The woman never went into the city because she didn’t feel comfortable driving in traffic. Example 2: Incorrect: He wants to get a degree in engineering, or medicine. Correct: He wants to get a degree in engineering or medicine. Example 3: Incorrect: Sam knew immediately, what was going to happen next. Correct: Sam knew immediately what was going to happen next. Example 4: Incorrect: Old cars, that have been left in a junkyard, are an eyesore. Correct: Old cars that have been left in a junkyard are an eyesore. Example 5: Incorrect: The bouquet of flowers on the table, belongs to Mary. Correct: The bouquet of flowers on the table belongs to Mary.

A comma should be used after an introductory word, phrase, or clause. Using a comma gives the reader a slight pause after an introductory element and often can help avoid confusion. Example 1: Incorrect: In case you haven’t noticed my real name doesn’t appear in the article. Correct: In case you haven’t noticed, my real name doesn’t appear in the article.

A comma separates two or more independent clauses in a compound sentence separated by a conjunction. The comma goes after the first clause and before the coordinating conjunction that separates the clauses. Example: Incorrect: She was beautiful and she was happy and she was full of life. Correct: She was beautiful, and she was happy, and she was full of life.

Apostrophes indicate one of two things: Possession, as in Sara's iPad, or letters missing, as in it's (for it is, in which the second "i" is missing.) Apostrophes do not belong on plurals. When you have more than one of something, there is no need to add an apostrophe. The same goes for your last name. If you want to refer to your family, but don't want to list everyone's first name write The Johnsons not "The Johnson's." Years also shouldn't have apostrophes. For example, 1980s is correct but "1980's" is not.

Faulty parallelism occurs when two or more parts of a sentence are similar in meaning but not parallel (or grammatically similar) in form. It often occurs with paired constructions and items in a series. Example 1: Incorrect: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemist, and research scientist. Correct: He wanted to learn more about careers in programming, engineering, biochemistry. Example 2: Incorrect: The key directives of his boss were clear: - Meet monthly sales quotas. - Aggressive marketing techniques. - Reporting in every day. Correct: The key directives of his boss were clear: - Meet monthly sales goals. - Practice aggressive marketing techniques. - Report in every day.

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated improperly from the word it modifies or describes. Sentences with this error can sound awkward, ridiculous, or confusing. A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word that is not clearly stated in the sentence. Example 1: Incorrect: While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a sparkly girl’s bracelet. Correct: While walking on the sidewalk, Mary found a girl’s sparkly bracelet. Example 2: Incorrect: After finally setting off on the trail, the morning felt more exciting. Correct: After finally setting off on the trail, he felt the morning was more exciting.

A run-on sentence occurs when you connect two main clauses with no punctuation. Example 1: Incorrect: She tried to sneak out of the house her mother saw her leaving. Correct: She tried to sneak out of the house, but her mother saw her leaving. Example 2: Incorrect: He ran through the field as fast as he could all the while rain was soaking him to the bone. Correct: He ran through the field as fast as he could. All the while rain was soaking him to the bone

Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences that don’t have an independent clause. A fragment may lack a subject, a complete verb, or both. Sometimes fragments depend on the proceeding sentence to give it meaning. Example 1: Incorrect: He gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument. In spite of everything. Correct: In spite of everything, he gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument Example 2: Incorrect: The boys snuck home late that night. Then waited for the consequences. Correct: The boys snuck home late that night, then waited for the consequences.

A sentence can become a burden to read when there are too many equally weighted phrases. Example 1: Incorrect: Jason was planning to attend his friend’s wedding on June 30, but at the last minute he found out he had jury duty, so he couldn’t attend the wedding, and he felt really guilty about it. Correct: Unexpectedly Jason was called for jury duty and couldn’t attend his friend’s June 30 wedding. He felt guilty about missing it.

An infinitive is the word “to” with a verb. A split infinitive separates the word “to” and the verb with another word (often an adverb). There are no grammar rules that prohibit split infinitives, but many experts disapprove of them. If the sentence sounds awkward by correcting the split, our rule of thumb is to go with what makes the most sense in the context of your writing and for the ease of reading. (For example, “To boldly go where no man has gone before” would sound awkward and less powerful as, “To go boldly where no man has gone before.”) Example 1: Incorrect: She tried to quickly finish the book before she had to leave. Correct: She tried to finish the book quickly before she had to leave.

The subject and verb of a sentence must agree with one another in number, whether they are singular or plural. If the subject of the sentence is singular then its verb must also be singular. Example 1: Incorrect: An important part of my life have been the people who stood by me. Correct: An important part of my life has been the people who stood by me. Example 2: Incorrect: The two best things about the party was the food and the music. Correct: The two best things about the party were the food and the music.

A pronoun can replace a noun, and its antecedent should be the person, place, or thing to which the pronoun refers. A vague pronoun reference (including words such as it, that, this, and which) can leave the reader confused about what or to whom the pronoun refers. Example 1: Incorrect: Don felt a lot of anger and bitterness as a result of Marie’s decision. This is what ended everything. (What ended everything? Don’s anger and bitterness or Marie’s decision?) Correct: Don felt a lot of anger and bitterness as a result of Marie’s decision. Her choice ended everything.