So, now we come to the last part of this series and some of the most commonly misused words. I bet you recognize a few that you have used – or misused – in the past:

Adverse

Should be used to mean “hostile” or “unfavorable.”

Commonly mistaken for the word “averse” which means a dislike or opposition to something.

Compelled

Should be used to mean “to be forced to do something.”

Commonly misused as meaning “to do something willingly.”

Data

Should be used as a plural noun that takes plural modifiers and plural verbs, such as ‘these’, ‘many’ or ‘a few.’ The singular of ‘data’ is ‘datum.'

Commonly misused as a singular noun (mass) although this is a common way to use the word and seems to be acceptable in daily conversation.

Effect/Affect

Should be used as a noun to mean ‘result’ or ‘impact.

Commonly used as a verb meaning “to influence” whereas the right verb is “affect.”

Hone/Home

Should be used to mean “sharpen.”

Commonly mistaken as “home in”, meaning “to aim or target.”

Complementary

Should be used to mean “matching with or filling with something else; completing.”

Commonly mistaken for “complimentary” which is an adjective that usually means “free, or no cost” or “praise-worthy; flattering.”

Practise

Should be used as a noun to describe the business or the work of a professional, like a lawyer or a doctor, and as a verb to describe the regular performance of an activity.

Commonly mistaken with “practice”, a spelling that is not used in the USA. “Practise” as a verb is an English spelling of “practice."

Travesty

Should be used to mean “a distortion”, a “complete misrepresentation” or “a grotesque parody.”

Commonly used mistakenly as meaning “a tragedy.”

Simplistic

Should be used to mean that something is oversimplified, facile or naïve.

Commonly misused to mean that something is simple, isn’t complicated or even as meaning “pleasingly simple.”

Verbal

Should be used in the context of having something to do with spoken or written words.

Commonly misused in the context of meaning oral or spoken.

All Together

Should be used to mean that objects or people are in one place

Commonly mistaken as ‘altogether’ which has a different meaning – “completely.”

Borne

Should be used in the context of something or someone is being carried and is, in fact, the past particle of “to bear”, which is a verb.

Commonly mistaken for “born.” which means “to have started life/been given birth to.”

Disinterested

Should be used to mean someone is “unbiased.”

Commonly used to mean that someone is not interested or uninterested.

Learning these words and the correct usage of them will put you on the right path to proper English in no time at all. No doubt you will come across others in your writing journey and the only way to get it right is to make a note of the wrong way that you used a word, the right way it should be used and then to practise it.