英文写作常见易混单词
英语中有许多对单词很容易混淆。此贴士主要讨论拼写相近而意义不同单词，或者充当不同词性的单词。
在看常用易混单词的释义之前，请先做以下小测试检验一下自己的知识。答案解答在文末。
affect = A, effect = B, capability = C, capacity = D, continually = E, continuous = F, adverse = G, aversion = H
1. The _______ conditions caused by the hurricane prevented the plane from taking off.
2. Despite the skill of its employees, the small factory did not have the ________ to produce large amounts of goods.
3. The _________ noise of the waves crashing on the beach was very relaxing.
4. Luckily, the medicine did not adversely ______ the patient.
5. Because he had not received any training, John did not have the __________ to repair the complicated machinery.
6. Many scientists believe that global warming is the ______ of greenhouse-gas emissions.
7. Because of she is a vegetarian, Susan had an ________ to the idea of going to the Korean Barbeque restaurant.
8. The website is ___________ updated.
常见易混单词列表
1. capability/capacity
capability: a certain ability, the quality of being capable, a potential aptitude.
capacity: the ability to contain; the volume or amount that fits in a certain container.
2. compliment/complement
complement: a worthy addition (n.)
(e.g., The girl’s pink cheeks were the perfect complement to her dark eyes.)
compliment: to praise (v.); a piece of praise (n.)
(e.g., The girl accepted the compliment with a shy blush.)
3. trial/trail
This is often the result of a simple typing error.
trial: a tryout or experiment to test quality, value, or usefulness of something (e.g., clinical trial). It also refers to the number of repetitions of an experiment.
trail: a marked or established path or route, or a course followed or to be followed (e.g., mountain trail).
4. intercellular/intracellular
intercellular: located between cells
intracellular: occurring or situated within a cell or cells (e.g., intracellular fluid).
5. principal/principle
principal (adjective): chief, main, leading, most important.
principal (noun): the most important person or group of people ("After much debate, the two principals reached an agreement"); the head of a school (the principal person in the administration); borrowed money (as distinct from interest).
principle (always a noun): a rule, standard, law, guideline, or doctrine.
6. adverse/averse
adverse: bad, opposed
(e.g., Benjamin ate zongzi every day for lunch and suffered no adverse effects.)
averse: feeling unwilling; experiencing distaste
(e.g., Benjamin’s mother was averse to the idea of an all-zongzi lunch.)
7. affect/effect
affect (verb): “to influence”
(e.g., Xiao Wang’s wild partying on Thursday night affected his performance on the history test.)
effect (noun): “result”
(e.g., Xiao Wang’s wild partying on Thursday night had a terrible effect on his performance on the history test.)
8. continually/continuously
continual: repeatedly (e.g., For two weeks, the travelers continually went on trips to the Great Wall.)
continuous: without interruption (e.g., The flow of water is continuous.)
9. criterion/criteria
criterion: singular form (e.g., one criterion)
criteria: plural form (e.g., some criteria)
10. ensure/insure
ensure: “to make sure or certain”
insure: “to guarantee with insurance against risk or loss of life”
*However, in American English, “insure” can be used for both of these meanings.
参考答案: 1) G 2) D 3)F 4) A 5) C 6) B 7) H 8) E
（本文转自科学网）
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