Review Quiz: Commonly Confused Words

As we've seen, it's easy to confuse words that are similar in sound, spelling, or meaning. But if you have studied our Glossary of Usage: Commonly Confused Words, you should have no trouble completing this short review quiz.

Review Quiz: Commonly Confused Words

Choose the word in parentheses that completes each sentence correctly. When you are done, compare your responses with the answers at the bottom of this page.

1. She worked harder (than, then) she had ever worked before.



2. If I had known your number, I would (have, of) called.



3. The bingo game has (all ready, already) started.



4. (Whose, Who's) shorts are hanging from the flagpole?



5. Britney has (alot, a lot) of problems.



6. The program changes will not (affect, effect) you.



7. What is your (principal, principle) reason for wearing a parrot on your head?



8. (Whose, Who's) hiding in your closet?



9. Last year Beckham (lead, led) the league in goals.



10. Get your facts first, and (than, then) you can distort them as much as you please.



11. The ultimate result of shielding men from the (affects, effects) of folly is to fill the world with fools.



12. There cannot be a crisis next week: my schedule is (all ready, already) full.



13. Computers are being called on to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework (formally, formerly) eaten by the dog.



14. Kate (implied, inferred) that she had a good alibi, but Jack (implied, inferred) otherwise from her nervous behavior.



15. Many are predicting that the TV series Lost won’t last much longer because (fewer, less) people are watching these (days, daze).



16. Although the recording (device, devise) was primitive, (you're, your) voice came across clearly.



17. I was (conscience, conscious) after the collision but (to, too) frightened (to, too) move.



18. (Quiet, Quite, Quit) was restored, and the judge (preceded, proceeded) with the case.



19. Following the ice storms, (there, they're, they're) (maybe, may be) a plague of locusts and a swarm of frogs.



20. The handle was (lose, loose) and could (have, of) fallen off at any moment.

REVIEW
Glossary of Usage: Commonly Confused Words

ANSWERS:

1. than
2. have
3. already
4. Whose
5. a lot
6. affect
7. principal
8. Who's
9. led
10. then
11. effects
12. already
13. formerly
14. implied; inferred
15. fewer; days
16. device; your
17. conscious; too; to
18. Quiet; proceeded
19. there; may be
20. loose; have