Vocabulary - Commonly Confused Words

Let’s look at some commonly confused words. And down to brass tacks:

Access
The ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance
Excess
The fact of exceeding something else in amount or degree.
Going beyond what is regarded as customary or proper.
Accession
The act of coming into the possession of a right, title, office, etc.: accession to the throne.
An increase by something added: an accession of territory.

Artist
A person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
Artiste (ahr-teest)
An artist, esp. an actor, singer, dancer, or other public performer.
Artisan
A person skilled in an applied art; a craftsperson. E.g. a carpenter.

Allusion
A passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication
Illusion
Something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.

Affect
To act on; produce a change in.
Effect
Something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence
To produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen:

Altar
An elevated place like a platform, at which religious rites are performed.
Alter
To make different in some way.