The Essay Cheat Sheet

1
The Essay Cheat Sheet
Tips for an "A"
Five Sets of Easily Mixed-up Words
As students of English, you are expected to have
a firm grasp of word usage when writing essays.
This cheat sheet is available so that you may
write without fear of points being docked for
little, but costly, mistakes in your works due to
the use of the incorrect form of these easily
mixed-up words. Photographs and sample sentences
are provided to help you fully understand the
proper forms of these words.

• Affect is a verb meaning to influence.
• Effect is a noun meaning the result.
• i.e. The zoo affected James so much that he felt
  the need to do something. One of the most obvious
  effects was his sudden urge to set birds free.

vs.

• Except is a preposition meaning aside from or
  excluding.
• Accept is a verb meaning to agree to or
  receive.
• i.e. Everyone except James accepted the monetary
  donation.

vs.
Some time

• Some time refers to a length of time.
• Sometime is at an indefinite future time.
• Sometimes means occasionally.
• i.e. Some time ago, I thought that sometime, I
  would let you drive my car. I sometimes also
  worried about how you would treat it!

vs.
vs.
MYCAR
There

• There represents a reference to a location.
• Their is a possessive pronoun.
• Theyre is the contraction of the words they
  and are.
• i.e. James and Nicole are already over there
  with their meals. I guess theyre very hungry!

vs.
vs.

• Your is a possessive pronoun.
• Youre is the contraction of the words you
  and are.
• i.e. What did you put in your cappuccino, James?
  You dont look like youre enjoying it.

vs.