Library: Academic writing: Commonly confused words

Commonly confused words: Things you need to know...

Good spelling aids communication - people expect you to be able to spell correctly. Mistakes in assignments will make your meaning unclear.
Be professional - errors in academic work may cost marks, and errors on application forms and in letters may cost you a job.
Do you use a spell checker? If you do be careful as it only checks for the accuracy of the spelling and not the correct usage of the word.
Use a dictionary and a thesaurus - this will help you to ensure the meaning of the word you are using is correct. This will also help you to widen your vocabulary. Please read the guide by Microsoft if you are not sure how to do this.

Commonly confused words
Contains pairs of words which are commonly confused and their definitions

Academic writing
Illustrates the main features of academic writing so that you are aware of what it is and what it involves
Effective writing
To write effectively: clarity; structure; relevance; argument and precision all require development.
Formal writing
Formal writing is grammatically correct with correct punctuation and spelling.
Critical Thinking
Academic work involves thinking, not just accepting what you read or are told.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS (2015) Commonly Confused Words [online]. [Accessed:13th July 2020]

MS guide to using the Thesaurus
Guidance on using different tools available within Microsoft Word to help to develop the most appropriate vocabulary