Commonly Confused Words on the SAT
The Easiest Points You're Not Getting Yet
Master sentence structure, punctuation, and clarity with repeatable rules.
Guard the Sentence Core
Identify the subject and verb, then make sure punctuation does not split them or add extra ideas.
- Find the subject + verb first. That is the sentence core.
- Only add commas around extra information, never inside the core.
- Re-read the sentence without the modifier to test clarity.
Why Commonly Confused Words Matters on the SAT
Commonly confused word questions on the SAT Reading and Writing section are practically giving away points if you know what to look for. These questions test whether you can tell the difference between words that sound alike but mean completely different things. Words like affect vs. effect, than vs. then, and allusion vs. illusion trip students up every single test cycle.
The reason these are "easy points" is that the list of commonly tested pairs is short and predictable. Once you learn ten or so word pairs and practice spotting them in context, you'll be able to answer these questions in under 30 seconds with confidence. This post walks you through the concept, the most important pairs, and gives you SAT-style practice so you can lock in those points.
What Are Commonly Confused Words?
Commonly confused words are pairs or groups of words that students mix up because they sound similar, look similar, or get swapped in casual speech. On the SAT, you won't be asked to spell anything, instead, you'll see a passage with a blank, and you'll choose from four real English words. The challenge is picking the one that fits the meaning of the sentence.
These fall into a few categories:
- Homophones, words that sound identical but differ in meaning and spelling. Think their / there / they're or accept / except.
- Near-homophones, words that sound almost alike. Think affect / effect or allusion / illusion.
- Usage pairs, words commonly swapped in everyday speech. Think than / then, fewer / less, or who / whom.
A common misconception is that these are "spelling questions." They're not. The SAT gives you distinct answer choices, you just need to know which word carries the right meaning. And the sentence itself almost always provides enough context to figure it out, as long as you read carefully before looking at the choices.
The Word Pairs You Need to Know
You don't need to memorize a dictionary. Here are the pairs that show up most often on the SAT, along with quick definitions to anchor each one:
Commonly Confused Pairs
- Affect (verb: to influence) vs. Effect (noun: a result).
"The rain will affect the game." / "The effect was immediate." - Accept (verb: to receive) vs. Except (preposition:
excluding).
"I accept your apology." / "Everyone except Tom arrived." - Than (comparison) vs. Then (time sequence).
"She is taller than her brother." / "We ate, then left." - Allusion (indirect reference) vs. Illusion (false
perception).
"The poem makes an allusion to Shakespeare." / "The mirage was an illusion." - Complement (to complete) vs. Compliment (to praise).
"The wine complements the meal." / "She paid him a compliment." - Fewer (countable items) vs. Less (uncountable
quantities).
"Fewer students enrolled." / "There is less water in the tank."
SAT Strategy: How to Handle These Questions
On the Digital SAT, commonly confused word questions appear as a short passage, usually one to three sentences, with a blank or underlined section. Four answer choices follow, and often two or more of them will be words that sound alike. Here's your game plan:
- Read the full sentence first. Don't jump to the answer choices. Understand what the sentence is trying to say.
- Paraphrase the blank. Ask yourself: "What word would I naturally put here?" Come up with your own answer before looking at the options.
- Eliminate by meaning, not sound. Cross out any choice that doesn't match the meaning you identified, even if it sounds right when you say it out loud.
- Plug in and confirm. Read the sentence with your chosen word inserted. Does it make logical sense? If yes, move on. Don't second-guess.
These questions reward vocabulary knowledge, not deep analysis. If you know the distinction between the words, you can answer in seconds. Don't overthink them.
Practice Commonly Confused Words with SAT-Style Questions
Let's put this into practice with SAT-style questions. Start with the easier ones and work your way up. Pay attention to the context clues in each sentence, they'll guide you to the right answer every time.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise words?
Key Takeaways for Commonly Confused Words
- The list is short and predictable. Commonly confused word questions on the SAT draw from the same pool of word pairs again and again. Learn the major pairs and you'll recognize them instantly on test day.
- Read the full sentence before looking at choices. Context almost always makes the correct word obvious, but only if you read carefully first. Paraphrase the blank in your own words before scanning the options.
- "Affect" is almost always the verb; "effect" is almost always the noun. This single rule covers one of the most frequently tested pairs on the entire exam.
- "Than" compares; "then" sequences. If two things are being weighed against each other, you need "than." If events happen in order, you need "then."
Conclusion: The Core Rule for Commonly Confused Words
Commonly confused words are one of the rare SAT question types where a small amount of focused study pays off enormously. The pairs are predictable, the context clues are generous, and once you've drilled them a few times, these questions become automatic. Bookmark this page, revisit the word pairs list before test day, and claim those points.
Remember: Read the sentence, paraphrase the blank, then match the meaning, not the sound. Do that, and commonly confused words become the easiest points on the SAT.
