Here are some memory tricks to remember some of the commonly confused words according to Grammar Girl.
Affect vs. effect: The RAVEN Trick
I remember how to use affect and effect by thinking of a big black raven. A raven? Yes, a raven! Because raven has the letters A-V-E-N in it, and those also stand for:
Remember Affect: Verb Effect: Noun
Fix that image of a raven in your mind, and you’ll always remember the most common way to use these words. I actually remember the sentence The craven raven flew down the avenue, because craven, raven, and avenue all have the A-V-E-N sequence, and in my mind, the evil raven is flying down the avenue of a German town with those timbered white Bavarian-style houses. I don’t know why. I have a wild imagination. Find yours, and really imagine that affect-verb-effect-noun raven so you’ll always remember it.
Compliment vs. complement
It can be difficult to remember the two spellings and meanings of the words we pronounce as "compliment." They’re homophones—one is spelled with an i and the other is spelled with an e, and even though they sound the same, they mean different things.
Compliment
A compliment, with an i, is a kind or flattering remark. If a friend says he likes your new shoes, he’s giving you a compliment. He’s complimenting you.
Complement
A complement, with an e, is a full crew or a set, and when something complements something else, it means they go well together. You might talk about a picture frame that complements a photo or the crew complement needed to operate a ship.
A Trick to Remember the Difference
To remember the difference between the spellings of these words, be a nice person and tell yourself
I like to give compliments.
Put the emphasis on the I when you say or think it. The I can remind you that the type of flattering compliment is spelled with an i.
Desert vs. dessert
This last one is a trick someone taught me in grad school that has come in handy many times. A desert is a barren landscape with little water. A dessert is a tasty treat I typically can’t get enough of.
The easy memory trick here is: Desserts is stressed spelled backward. And what do you want when you’re stressed? More dessert please!
Affect vs. effect: The RAVEN Trick
I remember how to use affect and effect by thinking of a big black raven. A raven? Yes, a raven! Because raven has the letters A-V-E-N in it, and those also stand for:
Remember Affect: Verb Effect: Noun
Fix that image of a raven in your mind, and you’ll always remember the most common way to use these words. I actually remember the sentence The craven raven flew down the avenue, because craven, raven, and avenue all have the A-V-E-N sequence, and in my mind, the evil raven is flying down the avenue of a German town with those timbered white Bavarian-style houses. I don’t know why. I have a wild imagination. Find yours, and really imagine that affect-verb-effect-noun raven so you’ll always remember it.
Compliment vs. complement
It can be difficult to remember the two spellings and meanings of the words we pronounce as "compliment." They’re homophones—one is spelled with an i and the other is spelled with an e, and even though they sound the same, they mean different things.
Compliment
A compliment, with an i, is a kind or flattering remark. If a friend says he likes your new shoes, he’s giving you a compliment. He’s complimenting you.
Complement
A complement, with an e, is a full crew or a set, and when something complements something else, it means they go well together. You might talk about a picture frame that complements a photo or the crew complement needed to operate a ship.
A Trick to Remember the Difference
To remember the difference between the spellings of these words, be a nice person and tell yourself
I like to give compliments.
Put the emphasis on the I when you say or think it. The I can remind you that the type of flattering compliment is spelled with an i.
Desert vs. dessert
This last one is a trick someone taught me in grad school that has come in handy many times. A desert is a barren landscape with little water. A dessert is a tasty treat I typically can’t get enough of.
The easy memory trick here is: Desserts is stressed spelled backward. And what do you want when you’re stressed? More dessert please!