Commonly confused words

Written by Sara Ahmed (English)

MDCAT · English · 9 questions

Name: ____________________ Date: ____________

The new rule will ___ all the students in the school.
- A effect
- B affect
- C afect
- D effects
The ___ of the college addressed the new students.
- A principal
- B principle
- C principel
- D principals
Everyone ___ Ali was present at the meeting.
- A expect
- B accept
- C exempt
- D except
Please write on both sides of the ___ paper.
- A statuary
- B stationary
- C stationary's
- D stationery
The doctor gave me good ___ about my diet.
- A advised
- B advise
- C advices
- D advice
Do not ___ the key, because there is no spare.
- A lose
- B loose
- C lost
- D loss
The dog wagged ___ tail.
- A it
- B it's
- C its
- D its'
The student ___ essay won the prize is my cousin.
- A who
- B whom
- C who's
- D whose
I would rather study than waste time ___ the phone.
- A of
- B at
- C by
- D on

Answer key

1. B, 2. A, 3. D, 4. D, 5. D, 6. A, 7. C, 8. D, 9. D

Affect is a verb meaning to influence. Effect is usually a noun meaning a result.
Principal means the head of a school. A principle is a rule or belief.
Except means apart from. Accept means to receive or agree.
Stationery means writing materials. Stationary means not moving.
Advice is the noun, and advise is the verb.
Lose is the verb meaning to misplace. Loose is an adjective meaning not tight.
Its is the possessive form. It's is a short form of it is or it has.
Whose shows possession. Who's means who is or who has.
The usual phrase is to waste time on something.