Some words in the English language are so overused that we don’t notice that they are incorrect or don’t even exist. A perfect example is irregardless. There is no such word as irregardless because regardless already means without regard. The –ir prefix is redundant.

Sneaked vs. Snuck

Sometimes, two forms of a word may be correct. For example, both sneaked and snuck may be used as the past and perfect tenses for sneak.

Example: She snuck up on him. OR She sneaked up on him.

Example: She has snuck up on him twice while he was napping. OR She has sneaked up on him twice while he was napping.

Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure

These three words can be confusing.

Assure = to promise or say with confidence
Example: Let me assure you that I will be at the meeting.

Ensure = to make sure something will/won’t happen
Example: To ensure my family’s safety, I have installed an alarm.

Insure = to issue an insurance policy
Example: I will insure my home with an additional fire policy.

Quiz
1. She sneaked out of the house in the middle of the night.
2. I ensure you that I have been honest about the money I spent.
3. I will ensure my car as required by law.
Answers
1. She sneaked out of the house in the middle of the night. (Correct OR snuck)
2. I assure you that I have been honest about the money I spent.
3. I will insure my car as required by law.

Try This Online Quiz

Take this Online Confusing Words Quiz usually reserved for subscribers only. Get answers and explanations instantly! For hundreds more quizzes, click here to subscribe.

Word Play

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

A Comma Urban Legend

Hundreds of Quizzes at Your Fingertips

Get hundreds of additional quizzes not found in The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation or anywhere else! Click here to subscribe.

* Take the quizzes online or download and copy them.
* Get scored instantly.
* Read explanations for every quiz answer. NEW!
* Reproduce the quizzes to your heart`s content.
* Use one subscription for your entire family, classroom, or office.
* Dozens of English Usage Topics including:
o Subject/Verb Agreement
o Problems with Prepositions
o Pronouns including Who/Whom/Whoever/Whomever
o Adjectives and Adverbs including Good vs. Well
o Capitalization
o Writing Numbers
o Punctuation Marks including Commas, Semicolons, Quotation Marks, Hyphens, and Dashes.
o Hundreds of Spelling,Vocabulary, and Confusing Words including Affect vs. Effect, Lay vs. Lie, It`s vs. Its

Click here to subscribe.

Hundreds of quizzes designed to help you become a better writer, student, or proofreader. Great preparation for the SAT.

A gold mine for teachers, homeschoolers, and trainers:

* self-paced
* automatic, instant scoring online
* explanations to every answer provided
* every relevant topic covered
* downloadable and reproducible
* one subscription works for an entire family, classroom, or office

Click here to subscribe.

Don’t need all the quizzes at once? You can now purchase the same interactive, downloadable subscription quizzes individually.
Click here.

The Blue Book of Grammar E-Book Is Now Available!

What’s the advantage? It’s downloadable so you will have it with you wherever you have your laptop. Click here to order.

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation 10th Edition
An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, home-school families, editors, writers, & proofreaders. Great resource for SAT preparation.

View entire contents online
• Grammar Rules
• Punctuation & Capitalization Rules
• Rules for Writing Numbers
• Hundreds of Spelling/Vocabulary/Confusing Words
• Reproducible quizzes with answers

Discounts available for schools, bookstores, and multiple copies. Click to order.
________________________________________
English In A Snap: 68 One-Minute English Usage Videos
View Jane’s 68 one-minute video lessons that are available FREE. Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and bosses), children, teachers, and friends.
Click here to view.

Valuable Link
Click here to read excerpts from Jane’s other wonderful book, Enough Is Enough! Stop Enduring and Start Living Your Extraordinary Life and listen to her podcasts. Learn more about Jane’s personal coaching work, speaking engagements, and articles that will inspire you to thrive.

Editing Services
“You Write It–We Right It!”

Are you looking for the “WOW” factor for your resume or the newsletter you’re working on?

Do you want your Web site to reflect professionalism?

Are you stressed about organizing or formatting an important report?

Are you stressed about organizing or formatting an important report?

Let Linda Meehan work her proofreading, editing, and design magic on your important projects. With her unrelenting eye for detail, design, and consistency, Linda will strengthen your materials to impress customers, colleagues, and employers.

See her reasonable rates