We Bet You Can't Use All These Commonly-Misused Words Correctly

#1 Wow! There sure are _____ of buffalo over there.

1. A lot

2. Allot

#2 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "A lot"

"A lot" is a large quantity of something. "Allot" is to distribute or assign. "Alot," incidentally, is not a real word.

#3 There's no such thing as _____ many puppies, in my opinion.

1. To

2. Too

#4 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Too"

"To" means "in the direction of and reaching" while "too" means "excessively."

#5 All the girls _____ Lacey wanted to become scientists.

1. Accept

2. Except

#6 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Except"

To "accept" is to consent to receive something. "Except" is a preposition meaning "other than."

#7 Humans cannot ______ underwater.

1. Breathe

2. Breath

#8 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Breathe"

"Breath" is a noun, while "breathe" is a verb.

#9 In my opinion, pistachio ice cream is much better _____ raspberry.

1. Than

2. Then

#10 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Than"

"Than" introduces the second part of a comparison. "Then" refers to time, either meaning "at that time" or "after that."

#11 People having extramarital affairs sometimes book hotel rooms to try to be ________.

1. Discrete

2. Discreet

#12 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Discreet"

"Discreet" means "careful in one's actions." "Discrete" means "having separate parts."

#13 I really like how Linda's blue top _______ her eyes.

1. Complements

2. Compliments

#14 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Complements"

To "complement" is to "go together well," while to "compliment" is to "say something nice."

#15 Marina was stuck at the airport for ______.

1. A While

2. Awhile

#16 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "A while"

"A while" is a noun that in this case is the object of the preposition "for." "Awhile" is an adverb that modifies a verb, such as in "Marina decided to stay awhile."

#17 Cats are known for _____ intense eyes.

1. There

2. Their

3. They're

#18 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Their"

"Their" is a possessive pronoun. "There" is an adverb. "They're" is a contraction of "they are."

#19 Nancy wasn't actually that tall, it was just an optical ______.

1. Illusion

2. Allusion

#20 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Illusion"

An "allusion" is an indirect reference to something. An "illusion" is a misleading or deceptive image.

#21 Are you sure you don't want to stay for ________?

1. Dessert

2. Desert

#22 ANSWER

The correct answer is: "Dessert"

"Dessert" is sweet food served after a meal. A "desert" is a dry area of land. You can remember by thinking about how many s's are in each word: you want TWO desserts...but you only want to be lost in a desert ONCE.