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Words Frequently Misused

Homonyms (words that sound the same, but have different meanings and spellings) are commonly misused because of the similarities in the way they are pronounced and/or spelled.

  • Incorrect: Durham College has more sports teams then UOIT.
  • Correct: Durham College has more sports teams than UOIT.
  • Incorrect: How are you’re peers doing in school?
  • Correct: How are your peers doing in school?

Tips:

  • Lists of commonly confused words are widely available in style guides and online.
  • Use a dictionary. If you have a green or blue underline in your Word document, check the definition to make sure you are using the correct word for what you are saying.