accept, except

Accept means "to receive". Example: Please accept my gift.

Except means "not including". Example: I brought all the gifts except yours.



advice, advise

Advice is an "opinion about what should be done". Example: She gives good advice.

Advise means "to recommend". Example: Please advise me on what to do.



affect, effect

Affect means "to influence". Example: Do not let the loss affect you.

An effect is "a result". Example: The loss did not have an effect on me.



all ready, already

All ready means "everything is ready". Example: We are all ready to move.

Already means "previously". Example: We already moved our things yesterday.



buy, by

Buy means "to purchase". Example: Please buy me a ticket.

By means "beside". Example: The book is by the table.



choose, chose

Choose means "to select". Example: Today, I will choose a new house.

Chose is the past tense of choose. Example: Yesterday, I chose a new house.



complement, compliment

Complement means "to make complete". Example: This hat will complement my new dress.

A compliment is something said in praise. Example: Thank you for the compliment about my dress.



emigrate, immigrate

Emigrate means "to leave one country to settle in another". Example: I intend to emigrate from Hong Kong.

Immigrate means "to come to live in a new country". Example: I intend to immigrate to Canada.



it's, its

It's is the short form of "it is". Example: It's in the dog house.

Its is a pronoun that shows ownership or possession. Example: The dog has its own house.



loose, lose

Loose means "not tight". Example: My pants are loose.

Lose means "to be defeated or no longer have". Example: I do not want to lose the game.



miner, minor

A miner is a person who works in a mine. Example: My uncle is a miner.

Minor is an adjective that means "unimportant". Example: This is a minor problem.
A minor also refers to a person who is not yet an adult. Example: It is illegal for a minor to drink alcohol.



past, passed

Past means "gone by" or "history". Example: The car drove past my house.

My past is very interesting.

Passed is the past tense of pass. Example: We passed the truck earlier.



principal, principle

A principal is the head of a school. Example: The principal spoke to us today.

A principle is an important fact or law. Example: The principle of democracy is important to Canadians.



stationary, stationery

Stationary means to be "standing still". Example: Please remain stationary.

Stationery means "writing materials". Example: They went to the store to buy some stationery.



than, then

Than means "in comparison with". Example: He is bigger than me.

Then means "next". Example: After going home, he then started his assignment.



their, there, they're

Their is a form of "they" that shows ownership. Example: Their flowers are on the table.

There describes where something is. Example: The flowers are there on the table.

They're is a short form of "they are". Example: They're going to buy flowers.



threw, through

Threw is the past tense of throw. Example: He threw the ball over the fence.

Through means from "end to end". Example: We drove through the tunnel.



to, too, two

To means "in the direction of". Example: He went to the store.

Too means "also". Example: He went to the store, too.

Two is a number. Example: Two of my friends went to the store.



weather, whether

Weather means "conditions outdoors". Example: The weather is terrible.

Whether is an expression of choice between two options. Example: I do not know whether I will stay home or go to school.



your, you're

Your is a form of "you" that shows ownership. Example: Your car is new.

You're is a short form of "your are". Example: You're going to the store.