Confusing Word Pairs

This test will help you learn to make the right choices when you must choose between two words that writers often confuse. Click on the circle to the left of the answer you believe is correct.

We could not _________ the explanation.
- except
- accept
- Don't Know
We were not ________ to the idea.
- adverse
- averse
- Don't Know
We found everything _________ the right document.
- except
- accept
- Don't Know
The chemical had _______ effects on her system.
- averse
- adverse
- Don't Know
The cost will _______ the final contract.
- effect
- affect
- Don't Know
We know that the _____ of the merger will create problems.
- effect
- affect
- Don't Know
The plaintiff found herself _______ several hostile women.
- between
- among
- Don't Know
The agreement was made ________ two employees of the business.
- between
- among
- Don't Know
The owners _______ the building in the fall.
- apprised
- appraised
- Don't Know
John agreed to keep Linda ______ of all changes in the agreement.
- appraised
- apprised
- Don't Know
The defendant did his best to _______ the plaintiff that the damage was minimal.
- assure
- ensure
- Don't Know
The owners added a scaffold to ______ that workers were safe.
- ensure
- assure
- Don't Know
The __________ meeting occurs every other month.
- bimonthly
- semimonthly
- Don't Know
A ________report is produced twice a year.
- biannual
- semiannual
- Don't Know
The committee read the document and _________ objectionable parts.
- censured
- censored
- Don't Know
The result of his misconduct was a vote to ________ the alderman.
- censor
- censure
- Don't Know
The firm agreed that increasing client satisfaction was our _______ goal.
- common
- mutual
- Don't Know
It was in the parties' _________ interest to reach an agreement quickly.
- common
- mutual
- Don't Know
Using the invention was the highest ________ someone could pay the inventor.
- compliment
- complement
- Don't Know
The new subsidiary ________ the focus of the larger company.
- complimented
- complemented
- Don't Know
The legal team is _________ of staff members from three firms.
- comprised
- composed
- Don't Know
The legal team _______ the top defense lawyers in the country.
- composes
- comprises
- Don't Know
The incidents occurred for three _______ months: June, July, and August.
- consecutive
- successive
- Don't Know
The defendant's behavior continued over three ______ months: December, March, and July.
- consecutive
- successive
- Don't Know
Mark's ______ absence resulted in his termination.
- continuous
- continual
- Don't Know
Once started, the motor will run _______ until it runs out of gas.
- continuously
- continually
- Don't Know
Both tried to be ______ about their romance, but were unable to keep it secret.
- discreet
- discrete
- Don't Know
The incidents occurred in three _______ periods.
- discreet
- discrete
- Don't Know
The residents smelled the ______ odor of marijuana.
- distinct
- distinctive
- Don't Know
The defendant's recording was easy to assign to him because of his _________ voice.
- distinct
- distinctive
- Don't Know
Dr. Rogers was an _________ scientist.
- imminent
- eminent
- Don't Know
As the crowd grew unruly, it was apparent that violence was ___________.
- eminent
- imminent
- Don't Know
The two defendants were ______ happy with the verdict of innocence.
- exceedingly
- excessively
- Don't Know
The two talked __________ in the interview.
- excessively
- exceedingly
- Don't Know
There were _______ hours logged than the company expected.
- less
- fewer
- Don't Know
The amount of gasoline was ________ than we had budgeted for.
- less
- fewer
- Don't Know
We decided to go ________ with the project.
- forward
- foreword
- Don't Know
Most of the really valuable information was in the book's _________.
- forward
- foreword
- Don't Know
The fires were ___________ to the firm's growth, but not long-term problems.
- obstacles
- impediments
- Don't Know
The city's zoning ordinance became an _________ the builders could not overcome.
- obstacle
- impediment
- Don't Know
The minister's statement ______ that he knew who had stolen the books.
- inferred
- implied
- Don't Know
We _______ from his statements that he was not happy with the results.
- implied
- inferred
- Don't Know
We learned that to find something quickly, we needed to look in the books' __________.
- indices
- indexes
- Don't Know
The report listed the cost-of-living ________ that affected the economy during those years.
- indices
- indexes
- Don't Know
We knew that the keynote speaker ________ the speaker we wanted to hear.
- preceded
- proceeded
- Don't Know
After the city approved the plans, the company ______ with digging the foundation.
- preceded
- proceeded
- Don't Know
The ____________ reason we did not pursue it was the cost.
- principle
- principal
- Don't Know
We did not want to continue the case, mostly because of _______.
- principle
- principal
- Don't Know
The dining room was not easily ___________.
- assessable
- accessible
- Don't Know
The impact on our firm will not be _________ for at least three months.
- accessible
- assessable
- Don't Know
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Which of the following would you like to improve?
- Business Emails
- Business Letters
- Business Reports
- Editing and Proofreading
- Grammar and Usage
- Meeting Minutes
- Non-Native English
- Writing Clarity

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