Siguiendo con la lista de las palabras frecuentemente confundidas:
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precede, proceed: Precede means to go before in time, place, rank, etc. His remarks preceded the musical program. Proceed means to move forward. Before we proceed, we should be sure of the rules. Since the meaning of proceed includes the idea of moving forward, don't use it as a fancy word for go, particularly in situations when the movement isn't forward. They went back (or returned) to the car, not They proceeded back to the car.
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principal, principle: Principal as an adjective means first in importance. As a noun, principal means the head of a school. The principal reason that Mrs. Nelson was chosen to be principal of our school was her dedication. Principle is a noun meaning a fundamental truth or law upon which others are based, or a rule of conduct. The principal's principles were questioned by the parent group.
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prone, supine: If you are prone, you are lying face downward. If you are supine, you are lying face upward.
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prostate, prostrate: The prostate is a male gland. Prostrate, an adjective, means lying prone or overcome. He has recovered from prostate cancer but She was prostrate from the heat.
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ravage, ravish: Ravage means to destroy violently or to devastate, while ravish means to abduct, to rape, or to transport with joy or delight. The troops ravaged (not ravished) all the cities they entered. The villain ravished (not ravaged) the beautiful maiden. The soprano's voice ravished (not ravaged) his ears and left him smiling.
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rebut, refute: The common error is to use refute for rebut. When you rebut an opponent's argument, you speak or write against it. When you refute an argument, you actually disprove it. Whether you have refuted your opponent's argument is often a matter of opinion. Avoid using it loosely. The government spokesperson rebutted (not refuted) the argument that the war on drugs had been a disaster.
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regretfully, regrettably: Regretfully means filled with regret. Don't use it in place of regrettably, which means in a manner that calls for regret. Regrettably (not regretfully), the militia was too late to save the small village. The soldiers watched regretfully as the buildings burned.
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reticent, reluctant: Don't use reticent as a synonym for reluctant. Reticent means disinclined to speak, not just disinclined or unwilling (reluctant): The group was reticent about its reluctance to admit new members.
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sit, set: Sit usually doesn't take an object: I sit down. Set usually takes an object. I set the book down. Don't use them interchangeably. Set (not Sit) that load down and sit (not set) down and talk to me. Sit can take an object when it means to cause to sit, to seat. I sat the toddler in the high chair and called the doctor. Set doesn't take an object when it means to become firm (Let the cement set overnight); to begin to move (We set forth yesterday); or to sink below the horizon (The sun sets).
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some time, sometime, sometimes: Some time is a span of time: Some time passed before she came in. Sometime means at an unspecified time. He said we should get together sometime. Sometimes means at times. Sometimes I'm so nervous I can't sleep.
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stationary, stationery: Stationary means still, at rest; stationery is paper. Think of writing letters (spelled with an e) on stationery (also spelled with an e).
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tack, tact: One meaning of the noun tack is a course of action or policy, especially one differing from a preceding course. He decided to take a different tack. A common mistake is to use the noun tact in such contexts. Tact usually means sensitivity and skill in dealing with people, or diplomacy.
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than, then: Don't use then (which means at that time) in comparisons. Use than: He is wiser than (not then) his father was then.
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their, there, they're: Their is the possessive form of they; there usually refers to a place or is used in impersonal constructions (there is, there are); they're is a contraction of they are. Notice the correct uses of these words in the following sentence: There is no question that their friends live there and that they're willing to help.
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themselves, theirselves: Themselves, which is an emphatic form of them, is correct, as in, The producers themselves left the movie theater. Theirselves is not acceptable usage.
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to, too: To has several meanings, the first being toward. Too means also or more than enough. I walked to the river, which was too wild for me to swim in. My father thought so too.
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tortuous, torturous: Tortuous means full of twists and turns: a tortuous mountain road, a tortuous plot. Torturous means severely painful, agonizing. Enduring the hot, dry trek across the Sahara was torturous.
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toward, towards: American usage is toward; towards is used in Britain.
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usage, use, utilize: Usage means established practice. Don't use it as a substitute for the noun use. Use (not Usage) of gloves is recommended. A common tendency is to replace the verb use with utilize and the noun use with utilization to make the verb sound more important. This inflation is not recommended. We want to use (not utilize) our assets wisely. Use (not Utilization) of old equipment has become a major problem.
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waive, wave: The correct expression is to waive one's rights, not to wave one's rights. Waive means to relinquish; wave means move to and fro.
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weather, whether: Weather is the state of the atmosphere; whether means if.
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whose, who's: Whose is the possessive of who. Who's is a contraction of who is. Who's going to tell me whose jacket this is?
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your, you're: Your is the possessive of you. You're is a contraction of you are: You're certain this is your jacket?
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