Commonly Confused Words: Spot Every Mistake

This brief is packed with commonly confused words — principal/principle, affect/effect, lay/lie, lose/loose, and many more. Find and fix them all.

This paragraph contains over 15 commonly confused word errors. Your job is to find and fix every single one.

Common confusions to watch for:

Principal vs. Principle

Principal = main, chief, or a person in charge ("principal argument," "school principal")
Principle = a rule or belief ("legal principle," "matter of principle")

Accept vs. Except

Accept = receive or agree to ("accept the offer")
Except = exclude ("everyone except him")

Then vs. Than

Then = time or sequence ("first this, then that")
Than = comparison ("more than," "rather than")

Affect vs. Effect

Affect = verb meaning to influence ("this will affect the outcome")
Effect = noun meaning result ("the effect was significant") — rarely a verb meaning "to bring about"

Ensure vs. Insure

Ensure = make certain ("ensure compliance")
Insure = provide insurance ("insure the property")

Lay vs. Lie

Lay = put something down (takes an object: "lay the book down")
Lie = recline (no object: "lie down")

Lose vs. Loose

Lose = fail to keep ("lose the case")
Loose = not tight ("loose interpretation")

Their vs. There vs. They're

Their = possessive ("their argument")
There = location ("over there")
They're = they are ("they're ready")

Your vs. You're

Your = possessive ("your brief")
You're = you are ("you're correct")

Set vs. Sit

Set = put/place something (transitive: "set the rules")
Sit = be seated (intransitive: "sit down")

Setup vs. Set up

Setup = noun ("the setup was complex")
Set up = verb ("set up the meeting")

Find every error and fix it. Preserve the meaning where possible.

Edit the Text

Improve clarity, conciseness, and legal precision

Your Edited Version

In the principle case, Mr. Smith had excepted the contract. He than logged into his account and setup the document. He noted, which the document did not include the necessary clauses. He tried to affect the document, but could not find anyway to do so. This had a serious effect on him. His login was rejected, and he was unable to complete the document setup. Fewer than two members of the team were their, so they're was no one to assist him. He was unable to insure that the changes were made. The judge will infer that he failed to make the changes. His failure to lie the document down properly might loose him the case. The judge may not accept this. It's important to remember, e.g., that a person should always imply their intent, not just suggest an allusion. He did not move further into the matter. His failure to elicit the right actions was not illicit. He had the right to sit the rules of the document. However, he chose not to. Lastly, it's always important to remember that it's you're responsibility to ensure the correctness of your actions.

Complete the exercise and submit for Write.law feedback

Commonly Confused Words: Spot Every Mistake

Edit the Text

Writing Assistant

Ask me anything about legal writing

Edit the Text