FAQs about commonly confused words

Is it labelled or labeled in Australia?

Labelled and labeled are both correct spellings of the past tense of the verb “label.” The preferred spelling depends on the type of English.

In Australia, they generally follow British English conventions, which means they prefer labelled (double “l”).

This difference in spelling is also true for other words, such as modelling or modeling and travelling or traveling.

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Is it labeled or labelled in Canada

Labelled and labeled are both correct spellings of the past tense of the verb “label.” The preferred spelling depends on the type of English.

In this instance, Canada follows the British English convention, so the word is spelled labelled (double “l”).

This difference in spelling is also true for other words, such as modelling or modeling and travelling or traveling.

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Is it for awhile or a while?

Awhile and a while are often confused, but they don’t mean the same thing.

For a while is the correct phrase.

• The adverb awhile already carries the meaning “for,” so for awhile is never correct.
• The noun phrase a while means “a period of time,” so “for a while” means “for a period of time.”

Awhile and for a while are synonyms.

Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to automatically fix your mistakes for free.

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Is it once in a while or once in awhile?

Awhile and a while are often confused, but they don’t mean the same thing.

Once in a while is the correct expression. The noun phrase a while means “a period of time.”

Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to automatically fix your mistakes for free.

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Is it it’s been awhile or a while?

Awhile and a while are often confused, but they don’t mean the same thing.

It’s been a while is the correct expression. The noun phrase a while means “a period of time.”

Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to automatically fix your mistakes for free.

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Is it used to be or use to be?

Use to and used to are frequently confused. In this case, “used to be” is correct because you’re describing a state in the past.

• I used to be insecure.
• There used to be a supermarket here.
• Teddy used to be a writer.

The QuillBot grammar check tool can help ensure you’re using “use to” and “used to” correctly.

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Is it use to have or used to have?

Use to and used to are frequently confused. In this case, “used to have” is correct because you’re describing a state in the past. 

• I used to have a nice career before I retired.
• They used to have a farm, but now they live in an apartment. 

Lola used to have two children, but she recently gave birth to another set of twins.

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Is it use to do or used to do?

• I used to do my friend’s hair before going out.
• They used to do a lot of fun activities in the summer.
• Rick used to do some odd jobs on the side, but now he has a full-time job.

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Is it everything is alright or all right?

Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “everything is alright” or “everything is all right.” The latter is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.

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Is it doing all right or alright?

Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “doing all right” or “doing alright.” The former is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.

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