Affect-to influence

Bad Publicity affected public reaction to our product. (The publicity influenced the public's previous reaction.)

Effect- to cause to happen

The salesman effected the Sale. (The salesman brought about the sale.)

Aggravated -to make an already bad situation worse.

This vice president was aggravated by the general manager's implementation of the new policy.

 Irritated-to annoy or make worse.

This vice president was irritated by the general manager's implementation of the new policy. In the first sentence the reader has no information about the vice president before the general manager's actions; in the second sentence, the word "aggravate" indicates that the vice president was already in some way upset before the general manager's actions.

anxious = anxiety you probably want to avoid using anxious unless you mean anxiety

Eager= looking forward

I am anxious to attend the Friday manager's meeting.

This is better said I am eager (unless your job is on the line).

Our team is anxious to begin working with your clients.

This is better said- Our team is looking forward to working with your clients.

We are anxious to receive our update of Lotus 123

better- We are eager to receive our upgrade of Lotus 123.

Insure = "to protect against risk or loss with insurance" to make certain or gurantee.

Use for things.

Assure= "declare confidently" "to cause to feel sure" 

best used with people.  

The genral manager assured them the new pay scale would not hurt anyone.

You will want to insure your property.

Because = causal connection

Since =with a time word

Comprise=contain, include

Compose=to make up

This department comprise many management and secretarial services.

Computer chips compose our most profitable product line.

Between- two items

Among- three

The return on investment was divided up equally between Betsy and Nicole

The return on investment was divided among Betsy, Nicole and Alicia

Bring = toward

Take = Away

Comprise-Contain, Include

Compose-To make up

This department comprises many management and secretarial services.

Our softward line comprises database programs and spreadsheets utlities.

Compute chips compose our most profitable product line.

Continually  and Continuously

Continually- recurring frequently

Continuously- uninterrupted or incessant

Disinterested and Uninterested

Disinterested- a person free of bias or interest

Uninterested-indifferent/unconcerned

Enormity-atrocity, crime

Enormous- Large/size

Fail-tried unsucessfully

Neglect-disregard or ignore

Further- (not real distance) used for Intelligence, more information, not measurable

Farther-Distance, physical or literal, real

Infer-read between the lines, readers and listeners

Imply-Suggest between the lines speakers and writers

Likely-is an adjective modifies nouns (not verbs) 

Likely is like liable (reserve using this) replace with may.

Michaels is a likely candidate who will probably succeed.

Oral is spoken only

Verbal- written only (this can confuse people)

eg a  contract.

Principal=chief

Principle=rule (science)

Reticent-unwilling to speak

Reluctant- unwilling in a much less specific way.

Avoid using reticent

While =expression of time

She = Who

Her= Whom

Subject Pronouns                               Object Pronouns

I You                                               Me

He/she/It                                         You

You                                                 Them

They Who                                         Whom