TRICKSTER WORDS

Here are some commonly confused words. Once you see these "tricksters" in context, you will be able to use them correctly. If you still have trouble distinguishing one from the other, here’s a tip: say the words out loud. Listen to how each one sounds; listen to the subtle but significant differences.

• Advice: A lawyer gives his client advice.
• Advise: I’ll be glad to advise you.

• Affect: Will it affect my grade?
• Effect: He studied the effect of the poison.

• Accept Will you accept the fee?
• Except Everyone except the defendant arrived on time.

• Already The classroom was already full when I arrived.
• All ready The students were all ready for the exam.

• Council The council met to discuss the future of the town.
• Counsel Please accept my counsel on your career plans.

• Disburse Be careful to disburse the funds to the proper accounts.
• Disperse Disperse the papers to the audience.

• Envelope Put this letter in the envelope.
• Envelop This fog seems to envelop the whole road.

• Imply The speaker seemed to imply that he could resign.
• Infer I was in the audience and I could infer from his statement that he would indeed resign.

• Passed He passed the bar exam.
• Past        We should not forget lessons we learned in the past.

• Proceed Please proceed with the lesson.
• Precede Your lawyer will precede you into the courtroom.

• Respectfully Tom rose respectfully when the judge came in.
• Respectively We discussed goals, plans, and actions, respectively.

• Than He is heavier than I am.
• Then Then he left the courtroom.