COMMON MISTAKES

Decent vs Descent
Decent-Conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior.
Descent-the origin or background of a person in terms of family or nationality.

EXAMPLES

• Joey did a decent job on his presentation.
• Joey is of African descent.

Council vs. Counsel
Council-An advisory or legislative body of people formally constituted meeting regularly.
Counsel-advice, especially that given formally.

EXAMPLES

• Student council meets every week
• The therapist counseled Joey

Compliment vs. Complement
Compliment-a polite expression of praise or admiration.
Complement-a thing that completes or brings to perfection.

EXAMPLES

• Joey complimented Suzie on her performance.
• The chocolate chips complemented the vanilla ice cream well.

Site, Cite, & Sight
Site-an area of ground on which a town building or monument is constructed
Cite-quote as evidence or justification of an argument or statement.
Sight-the faculty or power of seeing.

EXAMPLES

• The construction site was blocked off.
• Joey cited his sources for his term paper.
• The mountain top was a beautiful sight.

Peek, Peak, & Pique
Peek-to look quickly
Peak-to reach the highest point of a specified value.
Pique-a feeling of irritation or resentment relating to ones pride.

EXAMPLES

• Joey peeked at Suzie during class.
• Joey peaked last season in soccer.
• Joey felt a pique.