Often Used and Misused

Often Used and Misused 

Choose/Chose 
Choose is a verb meaning select. It rhymes with bruise. 
Chose is past tense of choose; it means selected. It rhymes with hose. 
Example: 
Henry chose (selected) flex hours on Friday afternoons. I will choose (select) the same option. 

Loose/Lose/Loss 
Loose is an adjective meaning free, unrestrained, not tight. It rhymes with goose. 
Lose is a verb meaning misplace, to be defeated, fail to keep. It rhymes with shoes. 
Loss is a noun meaning defeat, downturn, the opposite of victory or gain. It rhymes with toss. 
Examples:  The chickens ran loose (free) in the yard. 
The knot holding the boat to the dock was loose (not tight). 
Where did you lose (misplace) your gloves? 
The investors will lose (fail to keep) considerable capital if the market suffers a loss (downturn). 

Suppose/Supposed 
Suppose is a verb meaning assume, imagine. 
Supposed as a verb is the past tense of suppose and means assumed, imagined. As an adjective it means expected, obligated. 
Examples: 
I suppose (assume) you'll be late, as usual. 
We all supposed (assumed) you would be late. 
You were supposed (expected) to have picked up the copies of the report before you came to the meeting. Than/Then 

Than is a conjunctive word used to make a comparison. 
Then is an adverb telling when or meaning next. 
Example:  Then (next), the group discussed the ways in which the new procedures worked better than (conjunction making a comparison) the old. 

Use/Used 
Use as a verb means utilize, deplete. It rhymes with ooze. As a noun, it rhymes with goose and means purpose. 
Used as a verb is the past tense of use and means utilized, depleted. As an adjective, it means second-hand. 
Used to can be used as an adjective, meaning accustomed to, or as an adverb meaning formerly. (Note that you never write use to when you mean accustomed to or formerly.) 
Examples: 
Just use (utilize) the same password we used (utilized) yesterday. 
What's the use (purpose) in trying yet another time? 
We should consider buying used (second-hand) equipment. 
We used to (formerly) require(d) a second opinion. 
Residents of Buffalo, New York, are used to (accustomed to) cold temperatures. 

Weather/Whether
 
Weather is a noun referring to the condition outside. 
Whether is adverb used when referring to a possibility. 
Examples: 
The weather (condition outsKiller a's and al's 

Accept/Except/Expect 

Accept is a verb meaning receive, bear. 
Except is a preposition meaning but, excluding. 
Expect is a verb meaning anticipate, demand, assume. 
Examples: 
This client expects (demands) nothing except (but) the most sophisticated options available. 
Will you accept (bear) the responsibility for this decision? 
We expect (anticipate) everyone to come except (excluding) John. 

Advice/Advise 
Advice is a noun meaning suggestion, suggestions. It rhymes with ice. (Hint: Think advICE. 
Advise is a verb meaning suggest to, warn. It rhymes with wise. 
Examples: 
We advise (suggest to) you to proceed carefully.That was the best advice (suggestion) I've received so far. 

Affect/Effect 
Affect is a verb meaning alter, inspire or move emotionally, imitate. Affected, besides being the past tense of affect, can also be used as an adjective meaning imitated, pretentious. 
Effect as a noun means consequence. As a verb, it means cause. 
Examples: 
How will this plan affect (alter) our jobs? What effect (consequence) will this restructuring have on profits? Will it effect (cause) an increase? 
The movie affected (moved emotionally) Marian. 
He affected (imitated) an English accent. 
The affected (pretentious) speech fooled no one. 

Capital/Capitol 
Capital as a noun means either assets or the city that is the seat of government. As an adjective, it means main, very important, or deserving of death. 
Capitol is a noun referring to the building that houses the government. 
Examples:  How much capital (assets) are you willing to invest? 
I think that's a capital (main) objective. 
First degree murder is a capital (deserving of death) crime. 
Albany is the capital (city) of New York. 
No legislators were injured in the explosion in the capitol (building). 

Personal/Personnel 

Personal is an adjective meaning private. 
Personnel is a noun meaning staff, employees or an adjective meaning dealing with staff or employees. 
Examples:  The director of personnel (staff) keeps all the personnel (employee) files in order and guards any personal (private) information they contain. 

Principal/Principle 

Principal as a noun refers to the head of a school or an investment. As an adjective, it means primary, major. 
Principle is a noun meaning rule, law, belief. 
Examples: 
The principal (head) of Calbert High School used the principal (investment) of an endowment fund to cover this month's salaries. 
The principal (primary) objective is to make decisions that are in keeping with our principles (beliefs).