Commonly confused words

A lesson on commonly confused words
Choose the right word for a business context. Answers and explanations are below.

1. Budget reductions may negatively (a. affect b. effect c. impact) some projects.
2. Every mechanic knows that regular (a. maintainence b. maintenance c. maintainance) extends equipment life.
3. The new employee (a. implied b. inferred) from the manager’s email that he would soon be called for a performance review.
4. Gloria’s husband, Mike, is shorter than (a. me b. I).

Answers

1. a
'Affect' means 'to influence.'
'Effect' means 'to bring about, to produce.'
'Impact' means 'strike with a blow.' It is not a substitute for 'affect.'

2. b
'Maintenance' is the correct spelling.

3. b
'To imply' means to suggest without stating explicitly.
'To infer' means to try to arrive at a conclusion based on evidence.

4. b
Although often said 'than me' in common speech, the correct answer is 'than I.'
Think of it like this:
'He's shorter than I (am).'
'He's shorter than I.'


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