peek: (noun) a quick look or glance; (verb) to take a quick look or glance, often secretively Used in the expression “a sneak peek”. peak: (noun) the summit; pointed top; highest level; (verb) to reach the highest level NOT used in the expression “a sneak peek”. A sneak peak is …
fond: (adjective) affectionate; loving; caring; admiring; desirous found: (verb) to establish; to begin building; to base found: (adjective, past participle of to find) discovered; rediscovered; retrieved, located
than: (conjunction, preposition) used to link two parts of a comparison; used with “more’, less’, and ‘fewer’ to indicate amounts (a group of more than 10 people); used to state a preference between two objects then: (adverb) next; afterward; at a specified time “I would rather have the cookie than …
hear: (verb) the action of processing information with your ears Used in the expression, “Hear! Hear!” here: (adverb) indicates your current location; confirms your attendance NOT used in the expression, “Hear! Hear!”
advise: (verb) to give counsel, tips or suggestions advice: (noun) the counsel, tips or suggestions that are given If you want the verb–the word that represents the action–spell it with an S. If you want the noun, spell it with a C.
lightning: (noun) a bolt of electrostatic discharge that occurs in the sky during a thunderstorm e.g. thunder and lightning lightening: (verb) making less heavy; making less dark or less dense in colour e.g. lightening the load
peer: (noun) a person who has equal societal or legal status with another; (verb) to look intently pier: (noun) a pillar or a structure built upon pillars, commonly extending over water
pair: (noun) a set of two identical, similar, or coordinating items pare: (verb) to cut away the outer layer or edge (with a paring knife); to reduce (used in the expression “pare down”) pear: (noun) a fruit
strait: (noun) a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water Used in the expression “dire straits”. straight: (adjective) (adverb) moving in one direction; level; upright; not crooked, curved, or bent NOT used in the expression “dire straits”.
By far the most common uses of affect and effect are affect as a verb and effect as a noun. The memory trick I use to help keep them straight is that affect is an action and starts with A. A is for action. Effect is a consequence or end result. E is for end. And if you have trouble remembering which is which, I would recommend trying to avoid the less common versions.
