The English language is tricky; there’s no way around it. Sometimes when it comes to grammar and usage, there are a few rules rather than patterns to memorize. Today we’re tackling some commonly confused words.

Affect/Effect

Affect is a verb, whereas effect is a noun. You can affect change to bring about an effect.

Among/Between

Among typically expresses the collective relationship of several items, whereas between typically refers to the relationship between one thing and another or many other things. Alice found her phone among the clutter in the floor. Alice’s text message were between her and her friend, Grace.

Assure/Ensure/Insure

Assure means to confirm, usually with another person. Ensure is to make sure something is accomplished or completed. Insure means to protect from harm. Jenny assured the buyers that the newly purchased home was insured. She ensured this by giving them a thorough insurance policy.

Farther/Further

Farther refers to distance, while further refers to time. Do not go any farther until you’ve received further notice.

Historic/Historical

Historic refers to something that is monumental. Historical refers to something related to history. The speech given on Friday was a historic event. On Saturday, we put on our historical costumes for the play.

Its/It’s

Its is possessive. It’s is a contraction meaning “it is.” It’s about time we clean the house before its remodel.

Lay/Lie

Lay refers to putting down an object. Lie refers to reclining. He lays the magazine on the ground as he lies out to tan.

Lead/Led

Lead is present tense (pronounced LEED) or the element (pronounced LED). Led is the past tense verb form of lead.

The chemistry teacher leads the class as he discusses the element lead. Afterward, he led the class through their homework assignment.

Loose/Lose

Loose refers to the free state of something. Lose means to misplace something or to fail. The girl with the loose ponytail thought she would lose her basketball game.

Principle/Principal

Principle is a value or belief. Principal is either an adjective or a noun. As an adjective, it refers to something that is most important or comes first. As a noun, it is the person in charge of a school or organization. The school’s principal announced the principal reason for the new handbook rules. The rules adhere to the school’s values and principles.

That/Who

That refers to objects, and who refers to people. The boy who lost his homework found it had been turned into the bin that was on the green wall.

Then/Than

Then refers something that comes next, while than means a comparison. Then, I asked if peanut butter was better than jelly.

There/Their/They’re

There is a noun meaning a place. There is a possessive pronoun. They’re is a contraction meaning “they are.” They’re traveling to their grandma’s house over there.