THE WRITING CENTER
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Write with confidence
AFFECT & EFFECT
affect is usually a verb
The pandemic affected athletes negatively.
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effect is usually a noun
The pandemic had a negative effect on athletes.
WORDS EASILY CONFUSED
ACCEPT & EXCEPT
accept is a verb meaning to receive something willingly
The president accepted gifts from foreign dignitaries.
except is usually a preposition, meaning not including or but or a conjunction meaning unless. Use except when you want to exclude
Mrs. S is available after school every day except Wednesday.
LAY & LIE
Lay means to place (something or someone) down in a flat position.
Lay the book down.
lay, we have lay, laid, have laid, laying
Lie means to be in a flat position on a surface.
Let him lie there on the sofa for now.
BY TENSE
PRESENT PAST PAST PARTICIPLE
lie lay lain
lay laid laid
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Now, I lie on the beach and take a nap.
Yesterday, I lay on the beach and took a nap.
Before yesterday, I had lain on the beach and taken a nap.
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Now, I lay the test on your desk.
Yesterday, I laid the test on your desk.
Before yesterday, I had laid the test on your desk.
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