ITS VS IT’S

ITS-of or belonging to it
The baby will scream as soon as its mother walks out of the room.

IT’S-contraction for it is
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

LOSE VS LOOSE

LOSE -verb, to misplace or not win
The Chiefs will lose to the 49ers next year! lol

LOOSE–noun, to not be tight; verb (rarely used)–to release

Jose's pants are too loose, they are going to fall down.

PRINCIPAL VS PRINCIPLE

PRINCIPAL-adjective, most important; noun, a person who has authority

The principal (adj) ingredient in chocolate chip cookies is chocolate chips.
The principal (noun) of the school does the announcements each morning.

PRINCIPLE-a general or fundamental truth
The study was based on the principle of gravity.

THAN VS THEN

THAN – use with comparisons
I would rather go out to eat than eat at the dining hall.

THEN – at that time, or next
I studied for my exam for seven hours, and then I went to bed.

THEIR, THERE AND THEY’RE

THEIR-possessive form of they
Their house is at the end of the block.

THERE-indicates location (Key: think of “here and there“)
There goes my chance of winning the lottery!

THEY’RE-contraction for “they are”
They’re in Himachal for the summer–again!

THROUGH, THREW, THOROUGH AND THOUGH
THROUGH-by means of; finished; into or out of
He went through the front doors undetected.

THREW-past tense of throw.
She THREW away the pictures of her ex-boyfriend.

THOROUGH– careful or complete
The officers did a thorough investigation.

THOUGH-however; nevertheless
He’s really a sweetheart though he looks mean on the outside.

THRU-abbreviated slang for through; not appropriate in standard writing
We will go through the drive-thru at McDonald's.