Some words are frequently used in the wrong context. Of the many words that are often seen in such lists, the following errors are some of the most common.
ACCEPT - take or receive
EXCEPT - exclude
ADVICE - an opinion (noun)
ADVISE - to give advice (verb)
AFFECT - to influence
EFFECT - a result or outcome (sometimes a verb)
A LOT - avoid if possible
ALOT - never used. Often confused with ALLOT.
COARSE - rough, crude
COURSE - all other uses
FEWER - used with countable things
LESS - used with uncountable things
IT'S = it is or it has
ITS - shows ownership
ITS' - never used
LOOSE - not tight and rhymes with moose
LOSE - misplace or be defeated; rhymes with fuse
PERSONAL - private
PERSONNEL - a group of employees
QUIET - two syllables
QUITE - one syllable
THAN - used for comparison
THEN - refers to time
THEIR - shows ownership
THERE - indicates a location or points out something
THEY'RE = they are
TOO = also or answers how?
TO - all other uses
WEATHER - hail or sleet, etc.
WHETHER = if
WERE - a verb
WE'RE = we are
WHERE - refers to a place
WHO'S = who is or who has
WHOSE - shows ownership
YOU'RE = you are
YOUR - shows ownership
COULD OF - use could have
SHOULD OF - use should have
WOULD OF - use would have
MUST OF - use must have