Check out our list and feel free to add your own:
1. Pubic vs. public: This is my favorite one.
2. Manger vs. manager: Let's hope you don't confuse your boss for where the baby Jesus used to chill out.
3. Diffuse vs. defuse: Diffuse means to spread, as in diffuses the light. Defuse means to make less harmful, as in "defuse a crisis," or to defuse a bomb, which is important if you're applying for a bomb squad job.
4. Stationery vs. stationary: You exercise on a stationary bike. You print out your resume and cover letter on high-quality stationery.
5. Desperate vs. disparate: "My desperate ideas have always been embraced by my manger." Oy, spell-check won't catch those. See ya.
6. Loose vs. lose: Don't be a grammar "looser."
7. Allot vs. a lot: And please never write "alot," though your spell-check may be able to find that one.
8. Accept vs. expect vs. except: All three of them sound alike, and the last two look a lot alike, so be careful.
9. Fro vs. for: A lot of people just fly by these small words.
10. Preventive vs. preventative: Look at this example from TalkTalk: Preventive medicine regards vitamin C as an effective preventative against colds.
11. Site vs. sight vs. cite: Did you forget to cite your sources and then lose sight of your goals at your next job site?
12. I could of vs. I could have: Eek, this is not Twitter, folks -- have always wins.
13. Infamous vs. famous: Did you just have lunch with your infamous client? Meaning the worst kind of client ever? Infamous means not good. You don't want to say in your cover letter that the "infamous Mother Teresa" was one of your idols.
14. Flesh out vs. flush out: You can flesh out a great plan, while you flush out the insects from your baby's formula.
15. Access vs. assess: Assess your resume by accessing this post.
16. Definitely vs. defiantly: So many people still try to spell "definitely" with an "a" and get "defiantly" instead. Head. Meet. Wall.
17. Then vs. than: Perfect your resume, then apply for the job. It's better than sending one full of mistakes.
18. Lead vs. led: Colonel Mustard may be in the dining room with a lead pipe, but hopefully you led your team in sales last year.
19. Insure vs. ensure: You insure your car. A mistake-free resume ensures a shot at an interview.
20. Form vs. from: Again, always check even the most common and smallest of words!
21. Lay vs. lie: You lay down your paper. Hopefully you won't be lying down with your potential boss in your bed to get this job. Try to remember that "lay" needs a direct object.
This one needs a little bit more explanation though. The past tense of "lie" is "lay." I know, who exactly invented the English language?? You lay down on your bed yesterday. As for the past tense of "lay"? You laid those papers on your coworker's desk a week ago. Make sense?
22. Less vs. fewer: Yes, there is a difference. Check out Grammar Girl's take. All those signs in the grocery store? They should say "10 Items or Fewer."
23. Principle vs. principal: "My strong principals make me a great candidate." Nice to know you're so well acquainted with school leaders on steroids.
24. Farther vs. further: Use "farther" only for physical distance, "further" for everything else. And please don't type in "father" by accident. Trust me, you'll go so much further in life.
25. Alter vs. altar: You altered the course of your company's future. Then you went home and sacrificed a pig on your altar for dinner. You badass woman, you. |
Posts
