Misused Words That Begin with the Letter I

LESSON 2.49
Misused Words That
Begin with the Letter I

Imply vs. Infer

Imply means a writer, speaker, or situation suggests something.

President Prescott’s mention of an opening on the executive board implied that one of us would be receiving an enormous promotion.

Infer means the listener or reader concludes something.

We junior executives inferred that one of us would receive an enormous promotion when President Prescott mentioned that there was an opening on the executive board.

Inherent vs. Inherit

Inherent means that something is an integral part of something else.

The ability to shoot a basketball accurately is inherent to success in the game.

To inherit means to receive something from a relative, usually someone who has died.

Xanda was to inherit her aunt’s hair salon.  

It’s vs. Its

It’s means “it is.”  In formal writing we spell it as two words.

It’s time that we learn to spell this word.
It is time that we learn to spell this word.

Its means “belonging to.”

Individual or Small Group Activity

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Individual or Small Group Activity

Complete the exercises:     Virginia
                                             Maryland
                                             Delaware

Optional Activity