"Effect" or "affect"? "Than" or "then"? "It's" or "its"? Test your knowledge of some of the more troubling look-alike words in English!

Ice cream has a positive ______ (effect, affect) on my productivity.

effect

affect

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Effect" here is a noun meaning "impact." If you wanted to convey a similar idea with a verb, you would need "affect," as in:

Ice cream affected my productivity in a positive way.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Effect" here is a noun meaning "impact." If you wanted to convey a similar idea with a verb, you would need "affect," as in:

Ice cream affected my productivity in a positive way.

_______ (Your, You're) welcome.

Your

You're

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"You're" is correct because the idea is "You are welcome." Therefore, you need the contraction.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"You're" is correct because the idea is "You are welcome." Therefore, you need the contraction.

Which of the following sentences is correct?

Their going their to visit their associates.

Their going there to visit their associates.

They're going there to visit their associates.

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"They're" means "they are." That's what you need for the first word in the sentence. The second th-word describes location, so use "there." The third th-word, "their," is a possessive.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"They're" means "they are." That's what you need for the first word in the sentence. The second th-word describes location, so use "there." The third th-word, "their," is a possessive.

Your sculpture is bigger ____ (then, than) my sculpture.

then

than

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Than" is used for comparisons: "bigger than," "taller than," "more concise than," etc.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Than" is used for comparisons: "bigger than," "taller than," "more concise than," etc.

His clothes were so loose he was in danger of _______ (losing, loosing) them.

losing

loosing

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The verb "lose," as in what happens when you misplace something, is often misspelled with a double o. It has only one o.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The verb "lose," as in what happens when you misplace something, is often misspelled with a double o. It has only one o.

Thank you for the automotive ______ (advise, advice).

advise

advice

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Advise" is the verb; "advice" is the noun. Here you need the noun.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Advise" is the verb; "advice" is the noun. Here you need the noun.

Is this correct?

Who's book is this?

yes

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Who's" is always a contraction, for "who is" or "who has." Here we need the possessive form: "whose."

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Who's" is always a contraction, for "who is" or "who has." Here we need the possessive form: "whose."

We ________ (affected, effected) change in our family ice cream policies.

affected

effected

could be either "affected" or "effected"

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Effect change" means "bring about change." Use "effect" with an e when you want this meaning.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Effect change" means "bring about change." Use "effect" with an e when you want this meaning.

____ (It's, Its) not ____ (it's, its) most reliable product.

It's, it's

Its, its

It's, its

Its, it's

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

The first is "It's," which is a contraction meaning "It is." The second is "its," the possessive form for "it." The possessive form does not contain an apostrophe.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

The first is "It's," which is a contraction meaning "It is." The second is "its," the possessive form for "it." The possessive form does not contain an apostrophe.

Is this sentence correct?

Dr. Arias noted the patient's flat effect.

yes

Incorrect, but never fear—an explanation is here!

"Effect" should be "affect." A person with a flat affect shows little or no emotion.

That’s correct! Here’s why:

"Effect" should be "affect." A person with a flat affect shows little or no emotion.

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