Alike and like

Alike means 'like each other.'

The two sisters are alike in looks. (NOT The two sisters are like in looks.)
She is like her mother. (NOT She is alike her mother.)

Alike is mainly used in predicative position (after a verb). In attributive position (before an adjective) we use other words or phrases to express the idea.

The two sisters are very much alike.
He has two very similar-looking sisters. (NOT He has two very alike sisters.)

Accept and agree

These verbs have similar meanings. Before an infinitive we use agree, not accept.

He agreed to come. (NOT He accepted to come.)

All right and alright

The standard spelling is all right. Alright is common but many people consider it incorrect.

Alone and lonely

You are alone when you have nobody around.

I don't like to be alone even for short periods.

Lonely and lonesome refer to unhappiness caused by being alone.

After being alone for a few days, I started getting lonely / lonesome.

Alternate and alternative

Alternate means 'in turn', 'first one and then the other'.

We meet on alternate days. (Monday, Wednesday etc)

Alternative is a second choice that can be made other than one's first choice.

I had to go there was no alternative.

Altogether and all together

Altogether means 'entirely', 'completely'.

It is altogether wrong to ill-treat animals.
My new novel isn't altogether finished.

All together means 'everybody or everything' together.

Put the books all together on the table.

Any more and anymore

In British English, any more is usually written as two separate words. In American English, it is often written as one word anymore.

She doesn't live with her parents any more. (GB)
She doesn't live with her parents anymore. (US)

Dead and died

Dead is an adjective.

He is dead.
James is dead.

Died is the past tense and past participle form of the verb die.

He died in 1995.

Disinterested and uninterested

Disinterested means 'unbiased' or 'neutral'. You are disinterested when you have no reason to support one side or another in a disagreement or negotiation because you have nothing to gain or lose if one side wins.

I can't give you disinterested advice because I am a shareholder of the firm.

Disinterested is commonly used to mean 'uninterested'. Many people consider this incorrect.

I am quite disinterested in sports. (Meaning: 'I am quite uninterested in sports.')

Drown and was drowned

In British English both active and passive forms of drown can be used to talk about accidental drowning.

He drowned while swimming across the river. OR He was drowned while swimming across the river. (GB)

In American English, only active forms are used to talk about accidental drowning.

He drowned while swimming across the river. (US)

Manjusha Nambiar is an ESL tutor and content developer. Her blog grammarenglish gives free English grammar lessons and printable grammar worksheets http://grammarenglish.org/english-grammar-worksheets.

[Edited by Administrator (admin) Wed, 06 Jul 2011, 02:45 PM]