Course Content
Diction
** Where only to refer to places or direction, who(m) to refer to people, and which or that to refer to things. Some of the words sound similar to the correct word but is spelled differently and has a different meaning. WRONG: The reel leaders told the prisoners that the guards would afflict pain if their questions were not answered truthfully. Afflict is usually used with the word with-afflicted with severe migraine headaches. Inflict means “to impose punishment or suffering on someone or something.”
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1. Commonly Confused Words
Commonly Confused Words Exercise
Mastering “Diction” for SAT Success

Read carefully and look up the definitions of unfamiliar words to be sure you are using them correctly. Two words that are similar in spelling may be confused, or any two words that are close in meaning but not the same.

accept-except             apathetic–empathetic                         access–excess

adapt–adopt               anonymous–unanimous                     affectation-affection

anecdote–antidote      circumlocution–circumnavigation       affect–effect 

ascetic-aesthetic        contemptuous – contemptible             arise–arouse 

condole–condone       contraction-contradiction                   censor–censure 

corrosive-corroded      discomfit-discomfort                          credible-credulous

crafty-skillful                decorous-decorated                          definitive-definite

critique-criticism          disinterested-uninterested                 discomfit-discomfort

disregard-disrepute     dissemble-disassemble                     deride-derive

divergent-divisive        duplicity-duplication                           ethical-ethnic

enervate-energize       empathetic-emphatic                         enmity-enormity       

epilogue-epitaph          exacerbate-exasperate                     eulogy-elegy          

eradicate-irradiate        expropriate-appropriate                    elude-allude

formally-formerly          grandiose-grand                               evade-invade

gratuity-gratitude          impassive-impassable                      implicate-imply

floral-florid                     indecisive-undetermined                  instill-install                

infer-refer                      indistinct-undistinguished                 irresolute-unresolved

malinger-malign            momentous-momentary                    liable-libel                      

morose-morass            ostensible-ostentatious                      lie-lay               

loath-loathe                  ostensible-ostentatious                      prolific -proliferate     

specious-special          predominant-predominate                  raise-rise        

urbane-urban               reactionary-reactive / responsive       sit-set

where-in which            resplendent-splendid                                        

 

With things that can be counted, use: fewer / number

With things that can’t be counted, use: less / amount

Use between with only two items, among with three or more – just like the comparative and superlative.

Use over only for position or location; use more than for an amount.

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