7 Commonly Misused Word Pairs

Sets of words that sound similar often confuse writers. My book, Get to the Point, 2nd edition, contains an extensive (or was it intensive?) list of these words. Several Writamins subscribers have requested that we review a few classics.

Affect versus Effect

AFFECT (verb or noun) in its verbal usage means to act on; to produce an effect; to impress the mind or move the feelings. As a noun, it is a psychological term that describes a person’s emotional state.

EFFECT (noun or verb) means result or consequence.

In general, you can simplify your life by using affect only as a verb and using effect only as a noun. By following this principle, you’ll minimize the likelihood of mixing up these two words.

His entire life has been affected by his inability to see the effect of his own actions.

Amount versus Number

AMOUNT (noun or verb) refers to a sum of money or a quantity of something that is not counted in separate units.

NUMBER (noun or verb) refers to something that can be counted in individual units.

It was an enormous amount of work to ascertain the exact number of votes received by each candidate.

Assure, Ensure, and Insure

ASSURE (verb) means to state in a convincing manner so as to remove doubt.

ENSURE (verb) means to secure or make certain of.

INSURE (verb) means to guarantee against a monetary loss of (life, property, etc.) with insurance.

I assure you that I will insure your diamond necklace before I wear it. This will ensure that if it is stolen, I will be able to replace it for you.

Compose, Comprise, and Consist

COMPOSE (verb) means to make a whole by combining several parts.

COMPRISE (verb) means to include or contain. The whole comprises the parts, and the parts compose the whole.

CONSIST (verb) means to be made up or composed of, to have a basis in, or to be compatible with.

The United States comprises 50 states.

Fifty states compose the United States.

The United States consists of 50 states and various territories.

Continual versus Continuous

CONTINUAL (adjective) means frequently repeated.

CONTINUOUS (adjective) means without interruption.

Your continual bickering is giving me a continuous headache.

Farther versus Further

FARTHER (adverb) means a longer distance.

FURTHER (adverb) means to a greater degree or extent.

At the risk of annoying you further, I’d like to ask you how much farther we have to walk.

Fewer versus Less

FEWER (adjective) means of a smaller number. Use it when referring to something that can be counted in individual units.

LESS refers to a smaller amount of money or degree of something that is not counted in discrete units.

The fewer responsibilities you take on, the less likely you are to succeed.

You Are Not Alone

If you struggle with these sets of words, you are not alone. Television newscasters, politicians, and writers who should know better are often confounded.

Take comfort in the fact that you care enough about language to ensure that you are not affecting the lives of others by making continual errors. You can further reduce the number of blunders by proofreading everything you write. When you write carefully, your messages will consist of carefully composed language that touches your readers’ minds.

If you are wondering about the meaning of any other word pairs, write to me and I’ll cover them in a future Writamin.

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About Worktalk

Worktalk prepares teams to write clearly and confidently amid the pressures of constant communication. Our trainings and webinars equip individuals with the mindset and tactics to strengthen credibility, increase influence, and generate new possibilities. If you’re wondering how Worktalk might make a difference in your organization, call Liz Danziger at 310.396.8303 or email [email protected].