Top Words People Get Mixed Up in TOEIC Exams

The TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) assesses your English language skills, and mastering its vocabulary can significantly improve your score. However, some words often confuse test-takers due to their similar spellings, pronunciations, or meanings.

Here is my list of the top words commonly mixed up in TOEIC exams, along with tips and examples to help you use them correctly.

1. Accept vs. Except

• Accept (verb): To receive or agree to something.
  • Example: She accepted the job offer yesterday.
• Except (preposition/conjunction): Excluding or apart from.
  • Example: Everyone attended the meeting except John.

Tip: Remember that "accept" is to agree, while "except" excludes.

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2. Advice vs. Advise

• Advice (noun): A suggestion or recommendation.
  • Example: His advice helped me solve the problem.
• Advise (verb): To offer a suggestion.
  • Example: The manager advised her to double-check the report.

Tip: "Advice" is the noun, and "advise" is the action(verb).

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3. Affect vs. Effect

• Affect (verb): To influence something.
  • Example: The weather affected our travel plans.
• Effect (noun): The result or outcome of an action.
  • Example: The new policy had a positive effect on employee morale.

Tip: Think "Affect is an Action" and "Effect is an End result."

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4. Complement vs. Compliment

• Complement (noun/verb): Something that completes or goes well with something else.
  • Example: This wine complements the meal perfectly.
• Compliment (noun/verb): A polite expression of praise.
  • Example: She received a compliment on her presentation.

Tip: "Complement" completes; "compliment" flatters.

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5. Stationary vs. Stationery

• Stationary (adjective): Not moving or fixed in place.
  • Example: The car remained stationary at the red light.
• Stationery (noun): Writing materials like paper, pens, and envelopes.
  • Example: I bought new stationery for the office.

Tip: "Stationary" stays still; "stationery" relates to writing.

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6. Principal vs. Principle

• Principal (noun/adjective): The head of a school or primary/most important.
  • Example: The principal announced the new policy.
• Principle (noun): A fundamental truth or belief.
  • Example: Integrity is one of her guiding principles.

Tip: The "principal" is your "pal," while "principle" refers to rules or beliefs.

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7. Economic vs. Economical

• Economic (adjective): Related to the economy or financial systems.
  • Example: The economic forecast predicts growth next year.
• Economical (adjective): Cost-effective or efficient.
  • Example: This car is very economical on fuel.

Tip: "Economic" deals with the economy, and "economical" saves money or resources.

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8. Elicit vs. Illicit

• Elicit (verb): To draw out a response or reaction.
  • Example: The teacher's question elicited an interesting answer.
• Illicit (adjective): Illegal or not allowed.
  • Example: He was arrested for illicit activities.

Tip: "Elicit" extracts; "illicit" is illegal.

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9. Lose vs. Loose

• Lose (verb): To misplace or fail to win.
  • Example: Don’t lose your keys again.
• Loose (adjective): Not tight or free.
  • Example: The screws are loose and need tightening.

Tip: "Lose" has one "o" and refers to loss, while "loose" has two "o"s and refers to slackness.

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10. Than vs. Then

• Than (conjunction): Used for comparisons.
  • Example: She runs faster than him.
• Then (adverb): Refers to time or sequence.
  • Example: Finish your homework, then you can watch TV.

Tip: Use "than" for comparisons and "then" for time sequences.

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Conclusion

Mastering these commonly confused words will help you improve your vocabulary accuracy and comprehension during the TOEIC exam. Practice using them in sentences to ensure you fully grasp their meanings and contexts. For more tips and resources, explore GG Exam. Good luck on your TOEIC journey!