---
title: You might sound smarter if ... Lesson five
description: <p>Because even I stumble on my words rather frequently, I have a cheat sheet on my desktop that reminds me how to sound smarter! Here are some of my common blunders. Are they yours too?</p>
---

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# [You might sound smarter if ... Lesson five](https://www.fishhook.us/articles/you-might-sound-smarter-if-lesson-five)

 Written by [Lindsay Dudeck](https://www.fishhook.us/articles/author/lindsay-dudeck) | July 30, 2014

Because even I stumble on my words rather frequently, I have a cheat sheet on my desktop that reminds me how to sound smarter! Here are some of my common blunders. Are they yours too?

**Affect vs. Effect**

Affect = use in the act of changing (verb). *That message affected my decision.*

Effect = use in the change itself (noun). *That message had a great effect on me.*

**Alot vs. A lot vs. Allot**

Alot = not a word

A lot = correct, but you can always find a better alternative (many, a great deal)

Allot = to set aside a certain amount

**Cannot vs. Can not **

Cannot = the more acceptable version of the two

**Fewer vs. Less**

Fewer = use with "count nouns"/something you can count.* This lane is for 10 items or fewer.*

Less = use with "mass nouns"/things you can't count individually. *If I had less clutter on the floor, my carpet would be cleaner.*

**Pique vs. Peak vs. Peek**

Pique = to instigate. *That story piqued my interest in volunteering.*

Peak = sharp point. *We hiked to the peak of the mountain.*

Peek = a quick glance. *He allowed some of his friends to peek at his next poem.*

**Than vs. Then**

Than = use for comparison. *Ben is taller than Shawn.*

Then = use for element of time. *We sang and then prayed.*

**That vs. Who**

That = use this when describing an object. *My phone is the one that doesn’t have the broken screen.*

Who = use this when describing a person. *My sister is the one who has a broken phone screen.*

**There vs. Their vs. They're**

There = a place.* It must be fun to vacation there.*

Their = indicates possession. *My friends loved their vacation.*

They're = contraction of “they are.” *They're so glad you visited.*

**To vs. Too vs. Two**

To = use as an infinitive when preceding a verb AND as a preposition preceding a noun. *I'm going to Germany. He's going to drive.*

Too = use as a synonym for “also” AND meaning excessively when it precedes an adverb or adjective. *She's too slow. We want to go to Germany too.*

Two = it's a number.* I have two sisters.*

**Your vs. You're**

Your = possessive. *How's your day going?*

You're = contraction for "you are." *You're having a great day.*

*You might sound smarter if you read Lessons *[*One*](https://fishhook.us/articles/you-might-sound-smarter-if-lesson-one/)*, *[*Two*](https://fishhook.us/articles/you-might-sound-smarter-if-lesson-two/)*, *[*Three*](https://fishhook.us/articles/you-might-sound-smarter-if--lesson-three/)*, and *[*Four*](https://fishhook.us/articles/you-might-sound-smarter-if--lesson-four/)*.*

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