Y05W09VC Word Roots — mis- (wrongly)

The prefix mis- comes from Old English and carries the core meaning of 'wrongly' or 'badly'. It attaches to verbs and nouns to show that an action has been done incorrectly or that something is faulty. Words built with mis- are used in everyday and academic writing to describe errors and misunderstandings. This module explores six academic words and three further examples that share this prefix.

Word Families

These three words all use mis-. As you read, notice how the meaning 'wrongly' helps explain each word.

mistake

/mɪˈsteɪk/

mis‑take

noun

A mistake is something done wrongly or incorrectly, often without intending to.

Example: She noticed a mistake in her calculations and corrected it before submitting her work.

Synonyms: error, fault, slip

Collocations: make a mistake, correct a mistake, a common mistake

misplace

/mɪˈspleɪs/

mis‑place

verb | [misplace – misplaced – misplaced]

To misplace something is to put it in the wrong location so that you cannot find it.

Example: He misplaced his science notes and had to rewrite his observations from memory.

Synonyms: lose, mislay, put in the wrong place

Collocations: misplace your keys, misplace your work, easily misplaced

misunderstand

/ˈmɪsʌndəˈstænd/

mis‑un‑der‑stand

verb | [misunderstand – misunderstood – misunderstood]

To misunderstand something is to interpret it incorrectly or to get the wrong idea about what was meant.

Example: She misunderstood the instructions and answered the wrong set of questions.

Synonyms: misread, misinterpret, get the wrong idea

Collocations: misunderstand the question, easy to misunderstand, misunderstand each other

Academic Vocab

technique

/tɛkˈniːk/

tech‑nique

noun

A technique is a particular way of doing something, especially one that requires skill or practice.

Word Breakdown: -ique (suffix from French meaning ‘relating to a skill or art’)

Word family: technical (adj.), technically (adv.)

Example: She practised the technique of using short sentences to create tension in her writing.

Synonyms: method, approach, skill

Collocations: a writing technique, use a technique, develop a technique

language

/ˈlæŋwɪdʒ/

lan‑guage

noun

Language is the system of words and structures that people use to communicate, including spoken, written, and visual forms.

Example: The author used vivid language to help the reader picture the scene clearly.

Synonyms: words, expression, phrasing

Collocations: use language, formal language, figurative language

effect

/ɪˈfɛkt/

ef‑fect

noun

An effect is the result or impact that something has on someone or something else.

Word family: effective (adj.), effectively (adv.)

Example: The effect of the storm on the town was significant, with many streets flooded overnight.

Synonyms: result, impact, outcome

Collocations: the effect of, have an effect, a positive effect

tone

/təʊn/

tone

noun

Tone is the feeling or attitude that a writer creates through their choice of words.

Example: The formal tone of the report made it clear that the author was addressing a serious issue.

Synonyms: mood, feeling, attitude

Collocations: the tone of, formal tone, set the tone

mood

/muːd/

mood

noun

The mood of a text is the atmosphere or emotional feeling it creates for the reader.

Example: The dark, rainy setting helped create a mysterious mood throughout the story.

Synonyms: atmosphere, feeling, tone

Collocations: create a mood, the overall mood, a mysterious mood

as a result

/æz ə rɪˈzʌlt/

as a re‑sult

phrase

‘As a result’ is used to introduce the consequence or outcome of what was just described.

Example: The temperature dropped overnight; as a result, the roads were icy in the morning.

Synonyms: therefore, consequently, so

Collocations: as a result, this shows; as a result of; as a result, the

Confusing Words

we're vs were vs where

These three words sound very similar and are often confused when writing.

  • we're — We're' is a contraction of 'we are', so it can always be replaced with those two words — for example, We're studying the effects of weather on the environment this week.
  • were — Were' is the past tense of 'are', used for actions that have already happened — for example, They were surprised by the results of the experiment.
  • where — Where' is used to talk about a place or location — for example, Where did you find the textbook?

Memory rule: A useful trick: try replacing the word with 'we are'. If that fits, use 'we’re'. If the sentence is about the past, use 'were'. If it asks or tells about a place, use 'where'.