If you’re looking for all the details you need to know about access vs excess, then you’re in the right place. Keep on reading to find out when and how to use these words. Then, you’ll have an opportunity to put into practice what you’ve learned. Improve your grammar and vocabulary today!

excess access
Access vs Excess: Listening/Pronunciation Tip
Focus on the first vowel sound. Listen for the sharp “a” like in “apple,” and “e” in “eggs.”
Access: Meaning, Usage, and Examples
access: A noun or verb that means to approach, connect, or reach something.
- Why can’t I access this website?
- You can access that part of the ship by getting permission from the captain.
- Many people in my country have no access to medicines.
- Do I need a key to access the storage room?
Not correct:
Are you able to excess this back room? Do you have the key?
Excess: Meaning, Usages, and Examples
excess: A noun or adjective that means extra, surplus, or beyond what is necessary.
Tip: excess = extra or exceeding (all start with short “e” sound).
- Excess consumption of animal products can lead to heart disease (adjective).
- We have so much excess stock. Let’s price it at 50% off.
- What do you do with the excess food from your events?
- If you have any excess paint, please let me know. I want to paint my bathroom.
Not correct:
There’s so much access fabric here. Let’s cut some of it off.
Excess vs Access: Practice
- My room has easy _____ to the shared bathroom.
- Sell everything, even at a loss. I don’t want any _____ stock around when we get the new shipment in.
- _____ is restricted unless you have a pass.
- I like to remove the _____ fat from my meat before cooking it.
- Cut off the _____ material before you start sewing it. It’ll make it easier.
- My son has a trust fund but he can’t _____ it until he’s 25.
Access and Excess: Answers
- access
- excess
- access
- excess
- excess
- access
Extra Practice for Excess Access
Identify the reading strategy you used to find the fill-in-the-blank answers. Look at the nouns before and after the blank.
Is the blank word a person, place, or thing . . . or an action? access = noun or verb
Is the blank a person, place, or thing or a describing word? excess = noun or adjective
More Confusing English Words
Check out more confusing pairs of words in English:
Want to Find Out More?
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bolen, Jackie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 319 Pages - 03/14/2022 (Publication Date)
You can find hundreds of confusing English words and word pairs in this book: Most Confusing Words in English Explained. Pick up a copy and ace your next TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS exam! Find out everything you need to know about it right here:
Access Excess: Join the Conversation
Do you have any tips or tricks for knowing when to use these words? Leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Last update on 2022-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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