Commonly confused expressions
Accept and except
These words are often confused. Accept means ‘agree to receive or do something’.
- She accepted the invitation.
- She didn’t accept the job.
Except means ‘not including’.
Everyone except John attended the meeting.
- I work every day except Saturday.
Adverse and averse
These words are often confused. Adverse means ‘harmful’ or ‘unfavorable’.
- This drug may have adverse side effects.
- The adverse effects of antibiotics are being discussed all over the world.
Averse means ‘opposed’ or ‘strongly disliking’.
- Which cat is averse to fish?
- I am not averse to cooking.
Advice and advise
Advice is a noun. Advise is a verb.
- I am tired of listening to advice.
- I would like some advice.
Note that advice does not have a plural form.
- He gave me advice on diet. (NOT He gave me advices on diet.)
To advise is to recommend that someone should do something.
- The doctor advised him to quit smoking.
- The teacher advised them to work hard.
Aloud and allowed
Aloud means ‘out loud’.
- I read the letter aloud.
- They were singing aloud.
Allowed means permitted.
- Smoking is not allowed in the kitchen.
Altogether and all together
Altogether means ‘in total’ or ‘completely’.
- There are four bedrooms altogether.
- She stopped seeing him altogether. (= She stopped seeing him completely.)
All together means ‘all in one place’ or ‘all at once’.
- They came in all together.
Appraise and apprise
Appraise means ‘assess’.
- She appraised the situation quickly.
Apprise means ‘inform’.
- He has been apprised of the situation.
Bacteria and bacterium
Bacteria is the plural form of bacterium. The word bacteria should be used with plural verbs.
- Bacteria multiply fast.
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