Page 985 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

I think that I shall never see
someone who looks so much like me,

with the same hair and eyes and teeth,

but not the same deep underneath.

It is the same way when we write:

Some words that look or sound alike
are different in the way they’re used;

these words are commonly confused.

Learning Objective

In this chapter, you will learn how to

1 Choose the correct word when faced with commonly confused

words, such as there and their, less and fewer, or to, too, and

two.

It’s hard to tell identical twins apart unless you

know them well. Similarly, unless you know them

well, words that sound alike when you say them

are easy to confuse when you use them in writing.
This chapter reviews words that are commonly

confused. Take note of the ones that confuse

you, and learn them well.