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Commonly confused and misused - 'A' Words

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In this section we will discuss some pairs or groups of words that are similar enough to be confused with one another. Learn exactly what each word means, how to spell it and use it exactly.

Accesary V/S Accessory

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Accessary: A helper in any act, especially in a crime.

Accessory: Additional products, Spares.Say, Fashion Accessories.

Accept V/S Except

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Accept is a verb that means to receive willingly.

Except is a preposition that means "but" or "with the exception of."

Usage:
Vishal, please accept our invitation to attend the marriage. Everyone from our group, except you, are already confirm.
Means to insist Vishal to get agree to attend the marriage as everyone other than him is already accepted the invitation.

All ready V/S Already

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The words all ready mean completely prepared.

The word already means previously.

To master the concept, try the following.

1. I was (all ready,already) to scold my son about breaking the showpiece when I realized boy was innocent.
   
2. Onya rushed home from work to prepare dinner, and was pleasantly surprised to find dinner (all ready,already) prepared and on the table.
   
3. The overweight man had (all ready,already) eaten a slice of cake, but was tempted to eat the ice cream,too.

Answers:

1. All ready
2. Already
3. Alrady

Allude V/S Elude

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Allude: means to give indirect reference.

Elude: means to escape, evade.

Allude and Elude both are verbs and being similar in pronunciation, may create confusion.

Usage: You can allude (refer) to your daughter’s membership in the honor society when boasting about her, but a criminal tries to elude (escape) captivity.

Aught V/S Ought

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Aught: means anything, in general.

But can be classified as:

1. As a noun:- anything whatever; any part: for aught I know.
2. As an Adverb:- Archaic. in any degree; at all; in any respect.

Ought: means 'Should' in layman's term. Can be explained as:

1. Used to express duty or moral obligation: Every citizen ought to help.
   
2. Used to express justice, moral rightness, or the like: He ought to be punished.or You ought to be ashamed.
   
3. Used to express propriety, appropriateness, etc.: You ought to be home early. We ought to bring her some flowers.
   
4. Used to express probability or natural consequence: That ought to be our train now.
   
   
   

   Altar V/S Alter

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   Altar means a platform where sacrifices are made to a god or a platform at the front of a house of worship
   
   Alter means to change or to amend.
   
   

   Usage:
   In ancient days, Kings use to sacrifice their slaves at Altar in order to please God to give them long life and it took socialists, thousands of years to alter this myth.

   
   
   Try answering the following questions for better understanding.
   
   
   1. My new jeans were too long, so I took them to a seamstress who (altars, alters) all my clothes.
      
   2. The (alterations, altarations) were perfect! The length is just what I need.
   3. The bride's priest and the groom's minister stood side by side at the (altar, alter) to conduct the wedding ceremony.
   
   
   Answers:
   1. Alters
   2. Alterations
   3. Altar
   
   
   

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