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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Words that sound similar

Word

Hint

Accept
Except

Verb: to receive (I accept your apology.)
Not including (Everyone is going except me.)

Affect
Effect

To have an influence on. Note: this word is only used as a verb
Can be used as either a noun (a result) or as a verb (to bring something about.)

Allowed
Aloud

Permitted (Am I allowed to smoke here?)
To speak or laugh so that other people can hear

Aural
Oral

Related to the ability to hear
Related to speaking or to the mouth

Broach
Brooch

Verb: to carefully introduce a topic that may be sensitive
Noun: decorative jewellery worn on clothing

Change
Exchange

Verb: to make something different 
Verb: to give something and receive something else in return

Choose
Chose

Present tense of the verb to choose; stress the /oo/sound
Past tense of the verb to choose; stress the /o/ sound

Complementary
Complimentary

Adjective: describes when two different things match or go well together
Adjective: free; no charge

Coarse
Course

Adjective: describes a rough texture; rude or offensive material (for example: coarse jokes)
Noun: this word has many meanings; for example: a series or program

Council
Counsel

Noun: a group of people with a particular responsibility
Verb: to advise

Foreword
Forward

Noun: an introduction to the author or the subject, at the beginning of a book
Adjective: relating to the future (eg forward planning)

Loose
Lose

Adjective, meaning ‘not tight’ (I lost weight and now my clothes are loose.)
Verb; think of ‘lost’ to help you remember this word (I win: you lose.)

Of
Off

Stress the /ov/ sound
Stress the /ff/ sound

Passed
Past

Verb, the past tense of to pass (The car passed me at full speed.)
Can be an adverb, an adjective, a noun – but never a verb

Personal
Personnel

Adjective: individual or private
noun: employees or staff

Principal

Principle

Noun: the head of, or person in charge, of an institution
Adjective: the most important (eg the principal reason)
Noun: a belief or value (eg Truth is a basic principle.)

Quiet
Quite

Adjective: to be silent or almost noiseless (The class was completely quiet.)
Adverb; can mean either almost (It’s quite impossible.) or completely (She was quite lovely.)

Role
Roll

Noun: relating to the way someone is involved in an activity
Multiple meanings, as a verb, noun, adjective, prep: refer to a good dictionary

Stationary
Stationery

Adjective: not moving (There was a stationary car outside the house.)
Noun: paper, envelopes, writing pads, etc. The ‘e’ in envelope will help you to
remember.

 

For additional support see the Words That Sound Similar Tip Sheet.