Chapter 10

Usage

Words that sound alike or look alike can cause many problems in spelling. Study the following words and refer to these pages when you are writing your paragraphs.

10.1 A / An / And

1. Use a before words beginning with consonants or consonant sounds.

Examples: a chair, a boy, a tree, a picture, a youth

2. Use an before words beginning with vowels (a, e, i, o u) or a silent h.

Examples: an apple, an egg, an idea, an honor, an opal

3. And connects words, phrases, and clauses. It is a coordinating connective.

Examples: Don and I are going to the concert.

10.2 Accept / Except

1. Accept is a verb. It means to receive gladly, to agree to.

Example: I accept your invitation with pleasure.

2. Except is a preposition. It means excluding, ...

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