Misused Words

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About This Quiz

Are you a grammar Nazi? Then this quiz is for you. Test your knowledge of these commonly misused words.

Did you do well in English? Were you on the school newspaper? Does the glut of incorrect grammar on the internet make you want to bang your head against a wall? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you're not alone. But you don't have to have been an English major to be bothered by grammar errors. Even us regular folk find it difficult to stomach.

Some of the most commonly misused words include there, their and they're. These are big ones. The trick to knowing how to use these is to know what they mean. "Their" is the possessive form of "they," so the correct use of this word would be "They left their luggage at the airport." "There" indicates placement, so the correct usage of this word would be "Put your coat there." And "they're" is a contraction of the words "they" and "are." The correct usage of the word "they're" would be "They're leaving on vacation tomorrow." See the difference? If you don't get it, go back to school.

So, do you think you can ace this misused words quiz? Let's get started.

I will go to the store ______ to the restaurant.

Than

Then

This

The magician created the most fantastic __________ for the crowd.

Elusive

Allusion

Illusion

Effervescence

It's difficult to say if my friend is _______ by the weather because he seems happy either way!

Effected

Effective

Affective

Affected

If you're invited to a party and would love to go, you must _____ the invitation.

Except

Effect

Affect

How many times have you found lint from your clothes in your ______?

Naval

Natal

Nettle

Navel

Have you ever been to the _______ city of Spain?

Capital

Capitol

Capitle

Capitel

This word means, "a narrow passage of water.â€

Straight

Stratus

Strate

Strait

My favorite fruit is a _________.

Plumb

Plume

Plum

Plome

It would be better if we had ______ chairs on the patio.

Too

Tue

Two

I'd rather be _____ than intentionally hurt an innocent wild dog.

Human

Humane

Humour

Hummus

What _________ did the bank agree to on the loan for your new car?

Principle

Principal

Prince

Prickle

________ are quite a few options, but I think you'll find the right one!

They're

Their

This

There

How many times did the car _____ down the hill before you parked it?

Roll

Roal

Rolle

Role

I think the bright lights are having an _____effect on the quality of my sleep.

Inverse

Adverse

Averse

Universe

Would you like to eat cookies or ice cream for _________?

Dessert

Desert

Deseret

Desart

I think he had ______ phone when he left the bar.

Your

You're

Yore

You

My favorite bread is made from ____ flour.

Wry

Rye

Ray

This word describes a person with honorable intentions and a suit of armor.

Night

Nite

Knight

Neigh

Please _____ the web_____ that you used for your project about animal eye______.

Sight / Cite / Site

Cite / Sight / Site

Cite / Site / Sight

Site / Sight / Cite

When was the last time you _____ the ball ______ the goal posts?

Through / Threw

Threw / Through

I didn't realize that the headband you wear is a communication ______.

Device

Devise

Devize

When you feel sick to your stomach, you're feeling_______.

Nauseated

Native

Nasseated

Nauseous

There were three ____ in the front hard, but my father didn't want them to eat the grass, so he scared them away!

Dough

Doe

Doh

I _______ a ______ of sheep over the hill, but when I looked, there were none to be seen!

Heard / Herd

Herd / Heard

Hered / Herd

Have you ever eaten a ______ with a ______ while sitting on the ______?

Peer/ Pier / Pear

Pear / Pier / Peer

Pear / Peer / Pier

Pier / Pear / Peer

I never knew that there was a killer ________ at the aquarium!

Wail

Whale

Wale

Well

Who would you place on the soccer ______ for the finals?

Time

Teem

Theme

Team

The dwarves were astounded to find that the dragon had a _______ of gold!

Hoard

Horde

Hored

Whole

Everyone was smiling with joy when he lifted her _____ at the wedding.

Vale

Veil

Vail

Ville

It would be better if you got your ______ from someone with more experience.

Advice

Advise

Adveis

Advize

Do you think that the _____ of the story was easy to understand?

Morale

Morel

Moral

Morle

It is a very _______thing to ask someone about their medications.

Pearson

Persona

Personal

Personnel

The fishing weights are made of _____.

Led

Lead

Lede

Leed

She is a very practical woman, but unfortunately she often ends up settling on the ______solutions, missing out on crucial elements.

Simple

Simplistic

Expansive

Hilarious

The family __________ to Europe to find better work and delicious food.

Immigrated

Emigrated

Eviscerated

Emancipated

I don't think you put the money in the ________, but I'll check again.

a. Envelop

a. Envelope

c. Anvelope

d. Antelope

He was so drunk that he thought he was in the park, even though he was on a ______ bike!

Stationary

Stationery

Stashionary

Stachionary

With a smile and a nod, it was clear that she was aware of his _______ meaning.

Inferred

Impede

Implied

Emplied

This word means, "in addition; alsoâ€.

Two

Too

Tew

If you make a funny face, it should _________ a response from that baby.

Elicit

Illicit

Alicit