MEANING
EXAMPLE
all ready
prepared
The women are all ready for the show.
already
 previously
The forms are already completed.
all together
everyone in the group
We will go in one car all together.
altogether
 entirely
Our trip was an altogether happy event.
all ways
every method
She had examined all ways of improving the program.
always
 at all times
She is always happy.
any one
any one person or thing
Any one of the girls could have written the report.
anyone
 anybody
Anyone is invited to the party.
any way
by whatever means
I will take care of her any way I can.
anyway
nevertheless
Beth was tired but went to the party anyway.
every day
each day
She goes to the park every day.
everyday
 routine
Linda was wearing her everyday clothes.
every one
each person or thing
Every one of the girls wore high heels.
everyone
 everybody
Everyone gathered around the pool.
some time
an amount of time
For some time, I have been jogging every day.
sometime
at an unspecified time
Give me a call sometime.
MORE TROUBLESOME WORDS
 
EXPLANATION
EXAMPLE
AFFECT/EFFECT
Affect
Influence (verb) The colors affect her mood.
 

Effect




Produce (verb)


Result(noun)

The teacher is effecting changes in the program.


The effect of sales on profits has been excellent.
GOOD/WELL
Good

Competent, positive
(adj)

Her scores were quite good.
 
Well

Satisfactorily (adv)


Good health (adj)

The plan is progressing very well.


John felt
well and looked forward to school.
LAY/LAID/LAYING
Lay
Put or place (verb) The coaches lay great emphasis on exercise.
 
Laid
Put or place (verb) The blanket was laid on the ground.
 
Laying
Put or place (verb) Brad is laying the tile tomorrow.
LIE/LAY/LAIN/
LYING
Lie
An untrue remark
(verb)
He told a lie to get a date with Beth.
 
Lay
Rest or recline (verb) Last week the key lay on the table.
 
Lain
Rest or recline (verb) For two days, the key had lain on the table.
 
Lying
Rest or recline (verb) The book is lying on the shelf.
ME/MYSELF/I
Me
Personal pronoun He gave the report to Alice and me.
 
Myself
Compound personal
pronoun



Other personal
pronouns:
yourself,
herself, himself,
and
itself



I told myself it didn't matter.



When using a compound personal pronoun,
the sentence must always include the
antecedent (word referred to by the pronoun).


In the example, the word
I is the antecedent.
 
I
Personal pronoun Rhonda and I want to go to the movies.
SELL/SALE
Sell
Give up property to
another for money
(verb)
She's going to sell the car to Jeff.
 
Sale
The act of selling
(noun)
The store will have a sale on Saturday.
SET/SIT
Set
To place in position
or to bring about

(transitive verb)
She set the timer on the oven.


Ashley
set a record in scoring.
 
Sit
To be in a sitting
position
(verb)
She asked the child to sit in the chair.
WHO/WHOM
Who
Subject of the verb Who opened the package?
 
Whom
Object of the verb


Object of the
preposition
Whom did David pick as his partner?



To
whom did you give the money?



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