Using Words Correctly 2

Watch out for these easily confused words:

• accept, except: The verb accept means "to receive"; except means "other than."

  Matt accepted an offer to mow his neighbor's lawn each Saturday except when it rains.

• amount, number: The noun number is used for persons or things you can actually count. The noun amount is used for things you cannot count but can measure.

  Matt puts a good amount of effort into mowing precise rows, but a number of rows are interrupted by trees.

• beside, besides: Beside means "by the side of." Besides means "in addition to."