Common Grammar and Usage Mistakes

Below is a list of grammar and usage mistakes that are common on the Internet and elsewhere.
Please remember that in English, as in just about every language, the distinction between what's
actually incorrect and what's a matter of style is often very subtle. You can justify bending or
breaking almost any language "mistake" if doing so makes your writing more comprehensible or
(especially in poetry) more beautiful.
Redundancies | "And etc." | ATM Machine | Comma Splice | Dangling Participles | Ending
sentence with preposition | Hopefully | "I" vs. "Me" | PIN Number | Pronoun Agreement | Split
Infinitives

Redundancy
Redundancy means repetition. Hee hee! But seriously folks... beware of saying the same thing
more than once. In some cases, it can be useful: for example, to emphasize your point ("That
chocolate was good. I mean really, really good.") or for dramatic rhetorical effect. However,
there are some instances where redundancy is just plain wrong.
And etc.
Etc. is short for the Latin et cetera which means literally "and so forth." Therefore, when
you say "and etc." you're really saying "and and so forth." This is clearly redundant. Just
say "etc" (or preferably "et cetera"). (It may help you to remember that "etc" was once
abbreviated &c.)
ATM Machine
The letters ATM stand for "Automated Teller Machine." Therefore, when you say "ATM
Machine" you're really saying "Automated Teller Machine Machine." This is obviously
redundant. Just say "I'm going to the ATM."
PIN Number
PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. Therefore you're saying "Personal
Identification Number Number." Again, redundant. Just say "I need my PIN."
HIV Virus
Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Are you sensing a trend?
SAT Test
Scholastic Achievement Test. You get the picture.

Comma Splice
A comma splice is the incorrect use of a comma to connect two independent clauses. (Recall that
an independent clause is a phrase that is grammatically and conceptually complete: that is, it can
stand on its own as a sentence.) To correct the comma splice, you can:
• replace the comma with a period, forming two sentences
• replace the comma with a semicolon
• join the two clauses with a conjunction such as "and," "because," "but," etc.
Example:
I like Xena, she is very INCORRECT
sexy.
I like Xena. She is very CORRECT
sexy.
I like Xena; she is very CORRECT
sexy.
I like Xena, because she CORRECT
is very sexy.

Dangling Participles
A participle is a verb-form that ends in -ing. It is called "dangling" when it doesn't agree with its
subject.
While walking down the road, a tree caught Xena's attention.
The subject of the sentence is "a tree," but it is not the tree that is doing the walking, therefore
the participle "walking" is dangling. To correct the sentence, write:
While walking down the road, Xena noticed a tree
or
A tree caught Xena's attention as she walked down the road.
Remember that not all words that end in -ing are participles (e.g. thing) and some participles are
gerunds depending on context. (A gerund is a participle that is functioning as a noun, e.g. "My
favorite activity is sleeping.")

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

Contrary to popular belief, there is no agreement on this one among English professionals. In
general, especially if your audience is strict about rules, don't end a sentence with a preposition.
Prepositions are little words that indicate position and such: with, at, by, from, etc. In general a
preposition should come before ("pre"-position) the noun it modifies. So you should change
That's the warrior I must talk to
to
That's the warrior to whom I must talk.
However, if too many "to whom"s and "of which"s are making your writing unnecessarily
clumsy, go ahead and end with the preposition, especially in informal writing. Remember the
famous example (credited to Winston Churchill) that goes: "This is the kind of thing up with
which I will not put!"

Hopefully
Technically, this word is an adverb meaning "in a hopeful way." Therefore, "Gabrielle looked
hopefully at Xena" is correct while "Hopefully we'll make it to Athens before nightfall" is
incorrect. However, like so many other words, this one has evolved to take on a different
meaning than its original.

I vs. Me
One of my (and my Evil Twin Katherine's) pet peeves.
Xena and me are going to INCORRECT
Athens.
This horse belongs to Xena INCORRECT
and I.
"I" is a pronoun that must be the subject, never the object, of a verb. "Me" is a pronoun that must
be the object, never the subject. (The same is true for he/him, she/her, we/us, etc.)
As a simple test, try removing Xena from the sentence. You wouldn't say "Me is going to
Athens." You'd say "I am going," so say "Xena and I are going." You wouldn't say "This horse
belongs to I," you'd say "This horse belongs to me," so say "This horse belongs to Xena and me."
Contrary to the belief of Katherine's friend John, "Xena and I" is not always correct.

Pronoun Agreement
When using indefinite pronouns (e.g. someone, anyone, nobody etc.), the antecedent verb should
be singular.
Does everyone know where INCORRECT
their hat is?
Does everyone know where Correct, but sexist
his hat is?
Does everyone know where Technically correct only if "everyone"
her hat is? is a group of women
This one is problematic for many people today because the correct version is considered sexist.
As you probably know, in the English language the masculine is usually used for general cases:
for example, "The reader will notice as he proceeds through the book that..." or "When I pass
someone on the street, I try to smile at him." In much of modern English scholarly literature,
attempts are made to bypass this problem, for example by alternating the masculine and
feminine. (Ex: there's a weekly column about baby care in my local paper. The author uses "he"
and "she" in alternating paragraphs. So one paragraph might say "If your baby cries, he might be
hungry" and the next will say "When teaching your baby to talk, make sure she listens carefully"
or whatever.) This is sometimes clumsy and awkward. For myself, I usually try to avoid the
indefinite pronoun. In the example above, I'd probably try to substitute "Everyone, make sure
you know where your hat is."
Split Infinitives
An infinitive is the form of a verb that begins with "to." (This problem does not exist in any other
language of which I'm aware, since infinitives are single words in every language but English.)
Splitting an infinitive means placing another word or words between the "to" and the infinitive.
This is considered bad by purists, but, like the sentence-ending preposition, it's mostly a matter
of style.
Xena seems to always win a TECHNICALLY
fight. INCORRECT
Xena always seems to win a CORRECT
fight.
Some semi-purists say it is okay if only one adverb separates the "to" from the infinitive:
To boldly go where no one has gone before.
As with the sentence-ending preposition, though, don't worry too much about this. Especially if
the split infinitive makes your sentence clearer or more graceful, go ahead and use it.

Common Errors in English Usage

Go to list of errors.

What is an error in English?

The concept of language errors is a fuzzy one. I’ll leave to linguists the
technical definitions. Here we’re concerned only with deviations from
the standard use of English as judged by sophisticated users such as
professional writers, editors, teachers, and literate executives and
personnel officers. The aim of this site is to help you avoid low grades,
lost employment opportunities, lost business, and titters of amusement
at the way you write or speak.

But isn’t one person’s mistake another’s standard usage?

Often enough, but if your standard usage causes other people to
consider you stupid or ignorant, you may want to consider changing it.
You have the right to express yourself in any manner you please, but if
you wish to communicate effectively, you should use nonstandard
English only when you intend to, rather than fall into it because you
don’t know any better.

Why don’t you cover all important points of grammar?

Other sites do this; mine is dedicated to errors in usage. This is not a
site dealing with grammar in general.

I’m learning English as a second language. Will this site help me

improve my English?
Very likely, though it’s really aimed at the most common errors of
native speakers. The errors others make in English differ according to
the characteristics of their first languages. Speakers of other languages
tend to make some specific errors that are uncommon among native
speakers, so you may also want to consult sites dealing specifically
with English as a second language (see
http://www.cln.org/subjects/esl_cur.html and
http://esl.about.com/education/adulted/esl/). There is also a Help Desk
for ESL students at Washington State University at
http://www.wsu.edu/~gordonl/ESL/. An outstanding book you may
want to order is Ann Raimes’ Keys for Writers.

Aren’t some of these points awfully picky?

This is a relative matter. One person’s gaffe is another’s peccadillo.
Some common complaints about usage strike me as too persnickety,
but I’m just discussing mistakes in English that happen to bother me.
Feel free to create your own page listing your own pet peeves, but I
welcome suggestions for additions to these pages. First, read the
Commonly Made Suggestions page, and if you still want to write me,
please do so, after reading the instructions on that page.

What gives you the right to say what an error in English is?
I could take the easy way out and say I’m a professor of English and do
this sort of thing for a living. True, but my Ph.D. is in comparative
literature, not composition or linguistics, and I teach courses in the
history of ideas rather than language as such. But I admire good writing
and try to encourage it in my students.
I found a word you criticized in the dictionary!
You will find certain words or phrases criticized here listed in
dictionaries. Note carefully labels like dial. (dialectical), nonstandard,
and obsolete before assuming that the dictionary is endorsing them.
The primary job of a dictionary is to track how people actually use
language. Dictionaries differ among themselves on how much guidance
to usage they provide; but the goal of a usage guide like this is
substantially different: to protect you against patterns which are
regarded by substantial numbers of well-educated people as
nonstandard.

Why do you discuss mainly American usage?

Because I’m an American, my readers are mostly American, and
American English is quickly becoming an international standard. I
often take note of American deviations from standard British practice.
However, the job is complicated by the fact that Canadians,
Australians, and many others often follow patterns somewhere between
the two. If the standard usage where you are differs from what is
described here, tell me about it, and if I think it’s important to do so,
I’ll note that fact. Meanwhile, just assume that this site is primarily
about American English. If you feel tempted to argue with me, click
here first.

If you write mainly about American English, why do you so often cite
the Oxford English Dictionary?
First of all, I do not write exclusively about American English. I
address UK usage in many entries on this site. Second, the OED strives
to cover both UK and US usage, and often notes words or expressions
as having either originated in or being used mainly in the US. It is by
no means an exclusively British dictionary. Third, the OED is the
recognized authority among linguists for etymology. It’s not always the
last word in explanations of word origins and history, but it is the first
source to turn to. That’s the main purpose for which I use the OED.
Fourth, because the OED tends to be more conservative than some
popular American dictionaries, when it accepts a controversial usage,
that’s worth noting. If even the OED regards a usage as accepted in
modern English, then one should hesitate to argue that such usage is an
error. But because the OED is so conservative, and doesn’t always note
when a formerly obsolete word is revived or changes in usage, it’s not a
perfect guide to contemporary usage. It is particularly weak in noting
changes in spoken rather than written English.

Does it oppress immigrants and subjugated minorities to insist on the

use of standard English?
Language standards can certainly be used for oppressive purposes, but
most speakers and writers of all races and classes want to use language
in a way that will impress others. The fact is that the world is full of
teachers, employers, and other authorities who may penalize you for
your nonstandard use of the English language. Feel free to denounce
these people if you wish; but if you need their good opinion to get
ahead, you'd be wise to learn standard English. Note that I often
suggest differing usages as appropriate depending on the setting:
spoken vs. written, informal vs. formal; slang is often highly
appropriate. In fact, most of the errors discussed on this site are
common in the writing of privileged middle-class Americans, and some
are characteristic of people with advanced degrees and considerable
intellectual attainments. However you come down on this issue, note
that the great advantage of an open Web-based educational site like this
is that it's voluntary: take what you want and leave the rest. It’s
interesting that I have received hundreds of messages from non-native
speakers thanking me for these pages and none from such people
complaining that my pages discriminate against them.

But you made a mistake yourself!

We all do, from time to time. If you think you’ve found an error in my
own writing, first read the “Commonly Made Suggestions” page, then
follow the instructions on that page if you still think I need correcting.
I’ve changed many aspects of these pages in response to such mail;
even if I disagree with you, I try to do so politely. If you write me,
please don’t call me “Brian.” My given name is Paul.

Go to list of errors.

Read about the book based on this site.

Paul Brians
Emeritus Professor of English
Washington State University
Pullman

Paul Brians’ home page containing links to many other useful

resources.
Some of the material in this site was inspired by the handy
little booklet Correcting Common Errors in Writing, by Nancy
P. McKee and George P. Kennedy, published by Kendall/Hunt
Publishing. Write to them for further information about
obtaining copies.

This resource is copyrighted by Paul Brians. Permission is

granted to reprint or photocopy small numbers of it in its
entirety or in part for all local nonprofit, educational purposes
provided that the author is cited and the URL of this page is
included. As a courtesy, please notify the author if you copy
or link to this material. Because the content changes
frequently, and I need to maintain control over the site,
requests to create Web mirrors of the site are declined.

Over 13 million visitors since 1997.

In its first three years this site was visited more than a million times.
Because of various technical and design problems which caused it to
lag far behind the actual traffic, the counter has since been removed
from this page. After the first million hits, a link to a more sophisticated
counter was installed on the next page, where most visitors go directly.
Click on the “Site Meter” icon at the bottom of that page and add 1
million to get a fair idea of how many people have dropped in. Note
that this counter measures discrete visits, not just “hits.”

If you search for the word “English” in Google, which gives a measure
of popularity by ranking its results in order of the number of links other
people have created to them, my site is always on the first page of hits.
(Not even counting a huge number of links because many people still
use the old, many years out-of-date address
www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/ instead of the correct current
address at www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/.) Thanks, folks!

Recommended as an “Incredibly Useful Site” in Yahoo Internet Life

Magazine, July, 1997, pp. 82-83 and cited as a Yahoo “Site of the
Week” and recommended by Netsurfer Digest March 5, 1999. It has
also been recommended in the pages of The Weekend Australian, The
Bangkok Post, the Los Angeles Times (a David Colker column widely
reprinted around the US), the Seattle Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer,
the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Ziff-Davis’ Inside the Internet,
 newsletter The Web magazine, and March 15, 1999, the
Florence, Alabama Times Daily, and many other periodicals.

http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/

Wikipedia:Common grammatical errors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Listed here are common grammatical errors in English that are usually picked up over the
Internet. Note: You may find though that evolution of a language may somehow negate this.
See Wikipedia:Manual of Style.
[edit] Common sentence structure mistakes
• Periods and commas should always go inside quotation marks. For example:
"Write like this," she said. Question marks and exclamation points can go
inside or outside the quotation marks, depending on whether they are part of
the material being quoted. See Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Quotation marks.
Please note that this is the American method, British English places all
following punctuation after the quotation marks. See the Wikipedia page on
British and American English usage for more information.
• Use square brackets within parentheses when you must use parentheses
again (e.g., "She spoke ironically [meaning jokingly]").
• Use a semicolon in the place of a period when joining two sentences that
share a central idea. For example, "Many people think that semicolons should
be used the same way as commas; they should not be."
• Use either an em dash (—) or en dash (–) instead of "-" or "--". This depends,
however, on the typesetting system available.
• Apostrophes should be used only for contractions ("It's OK to use one here")
or possessive form ("Bob's use of apostrophes is correct"), with few
exceptions. It is incorrect to use an apostrophe to indicate a plural ("Error's
like this are annoying").
• Do not use constructions such as "as good or better than," because "as good
than" makes no sense by itself. If you must use this phrasing, it should be "as
good as or better than," because then each part stands on its own. A more
graceful phrasing is "at least as good as."
• Misplacement of the adverb "only". The adverb "only" should immediately
precede that word or phrase that it is intended to modify. For example, in the
January 27, 2010, State of the Union address, US President Barack Obama
said "Instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding
the status quo, we only invest in reform"[1]. What he meant to say was
"Instead of rewarding failure, we reward only success. Instead of funding the
 status quo, we invest only in reform". However, this misuse is so common,
particularly in American English, that many speakers will not realize that
moving the adverb actually changes the meaning of the sentence.
• Misuse of adjectives rather than adverbs. An adjective modifies a noun while
an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. A common mistake is
misapplying the words "good" (adjective) and "well" (adverb). Someone may
be good, but they feel well. Similarly, someone may be quick, but they ran
quickly.

[edit] Common misspellings

Error → Correction.
(Ordered by commonness.)
• "alot" → "a lot". This error is so commonly made in internet forums that the
blog Hyperbole and a Half wrote an extensive and satiric post on the topic.
• "can not" → "cannot"
• "it's"1 versus "its"
• "who's"1 versus "whose"
• "lets" (3rd person present simple active form of the verb "to let" as in: "Bill
lets his son use his credit card") versus "let's" (contraction for "let us" as in:
"Let's go to the store.")
• "everyday" is only an adjective meaning common, ordinary, quotidian. But
"every day" (two words) is the adverb (or to be precise, the adverbial
phrase) meaning "daily." This mistake is found depressingly often in
commercials and signs inside stores.
• "todo" → "to do"
• "upto" → "up to"
• "ofcourse" → "of course"
• "allright" or "alright"2 → "all right"
• "allways" or "all ways"3 → "always"
• "they're" versus "their"
• "theirselves" → "themselves"
• "affect" versus "effect"
• "buisness" → "business"
• "pronounciation" → "pronunciation"
• "arguement" → "argument"
• "definately", "definetely", … → "definitely"
• "ressource" → "resource"
See Wikipedia:List_of_common_misspellings for countless others.
1
"It" and "who" are pronouns, not nouns. Therefore when they are used as possessives, they are
not written like contractions "it's" ("it is") and "who's" ("who is").
2
"Alright" is a nonstandard spelling that has become heavily used due to its analogy with similar
contractions such as "always" and "almighty". Wikipedia prefers standard writing.
3
"All ways" is only written "always" if you are not referring to "all possibilities." (E.g., "She is
better than he in all ways" is correct, as is "She is always better than he.")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Common_grammatical_errors

Wikipedia:Common grammatical errors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Listed here are common grammatical errors in English that are usually picked up over the
Internet. Note: You may find though that evolution of a language may somehow negate this.
See Wikipedia:Manual of Style.
[edit] Common sentence structure mistakes
• Periods and commas should always go inside quotation marks. For example:
"Write like this," she said. Question marks and exclamation points can go
inside or outside the quotation marks, depending on whether they are part of
the material being quoted. See Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Quotation marks.
Please note that this is the American method, British English places all
following punctuation after the quotation marks. See the Wikipedia page on
British and American English usage for more information.
• Use square brackets within parentheses when you must use parentheses
again (e.g., "She spoke ironically [meaning jokingly]").
• Use a semicolon in the place of a period when joining two sentences that
share a central idea. For example, "Many people think that semicolons should
be used the same way as commas; they should not be."
• Use either an em dash (—) or en dash (–) instead of "-" or "--". This depends,
however, on the typesetting system available.
• Apostrophes should be used only for contractions ("It's OK to use one here")
or possessive form ("Bob's use of apostrophes is correct"), with few
exceptions. It is incorrect to use an apostrophe to indicate a plural ("Error's
like this are annoying").
• Do not use constructions such as "as good or better than," because "as good
than" makes no sense by itself. If you must use this phrasing, it should be "as
good as or better than," because then each part stands on its own. A more
graceful phrasing is "at least as good as."
• Misplacement of the adverb "only". The adverb "only" should immediately
precede that word or phrase that it is intended to modify. For example, in the
January 27, 2010, State of the Union address, US President Barack Obama
said "Instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding
the status quo, we only invest in reform"[1]. What he meant to say was
"Instead of rewarding failure, we reward only success. Instead of funding the
status quo, we invest only in reform". However, this misuse is so common,
particularly in American English, that many speakers will not realize that
moving the adverb actually changes the meaning of the sentence.
 • Misuse of adjectives rather than adverbs. An adjective modifies a noun while
an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. A common mistake is
misapplying the words "good" (adjective) and "well" (adverb). Someone may
be good, but they feel well. Similarly, someone may be quick, but they ran
quickly.

[edit] Common misspellings

Error → Correction.
(Ordered by commonness.)
• "alot" → "a lot". This error is so commonly made in internet forums that the
blog Hyperbole and a Half wrote an extensive and satiric post on the topic.
• "can not" → "cannot"
• "it's"1 versus "its"
• "who's"1 versus "whose"
• "lets" (3rd person present simple active form of the verb "to let" as in: "Bill
lets his son use his credit card") versus "let's" (contraction for "let us" as in:
"Let's go to the store.")
• "everyday" is only an adjective meaning common, ordinary, quotidian. But
"every day" (two words) is the adverb (or to be precise, the adverbial
phrase) meaning "daily." This mistake is found depressingly often in
commercials and signs inside stores.
• "todo" → "to do"
• "upto" → "up to"
• "ofcourse" → "of course"
• "allright" or "alright"2 → "all right"
• "allways" or "all ways"3 → "always"
• "they're" versus "their"
• "theirselves" → "themselves"
• "affect" versus "effect"
• "buisness" → "business"
• "pronounciation" → "pronunciation"
• "arguement" → "argument"
• "definately", "definetely", … → "definitely"
• "ressource" → "resource"
See Wikipedia:List_of_common_misspellings for countless others.
1
"It" and "who" are pronouns, not nouns. Therefore when they are used as possessives, they are
not written like contractions "it's" ("it is") and "who's" ("who is").
2
"Alright" is a nonstandard spelling that has become heavily used due to its analogy with similar
contractions such as "always" and "almighty". Wikipedia prefers standard writing.
3
"All ways" is only written "always" if you are not referring to "all possibilities." (E.g., "She is
better than he in all ways" is correct, as is "She is always better than he.")

Categories: Wikipedia copy editing

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Common_grammatical_errors
Five Grammatical Errors that
Make You Look Dumb
One thing blogging and good copywriting share is a conversational style, and that means it’s fine
to fracture the occasional rule of proper grammar in order to communicate effectively. Both
bloggers and copywriters routinely end sentences with prepositions, dangle a modifier in a purely
technical sense, or make liberal use of the ellipsis when an EM dash is the correct choice—all in
order to write in the way people actually speak.
But there are other mistakes that can detract from your credibility. While we all hope what we
have to say is more important than some silly grammatical error, the truth is some people will not
subscribe or link to your blog if you make dumb mistakes when you write, and buying from you
will be out of the question.
Here are five mistakes to avoid when blogging and writing web copy.
1. Your vs. You’re
This one drives me insane, and it’s become extremely common among bloggers. All it takes to
avoid this error is to take a second and think about what you’re trying to say.
“Your” is a possessive pronoun, as in “your car” or “your blog.” “You’re” is a contraction for
“you are,” as in “you’re screwing up your writing by using your when you really mean you are.”
2. It’s vs. Its
This is another common mistake. It’s also easily avoided by thinking through what you’re trying
to say.
“It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” “Its” is a possessive pronoun, as in “this blog has lost
its mojo.” Here’s an easy rule of thumb—repeat your sentence out loud using “it is” instead. If
that sounds goofy, “its” is likely the correct choice.
3. There vs. Their
This one seems to trip up everyone occasionally, often as a pure typo. Make sure to watch for it
when you proofread.
“There” is used many ways, including as a reference to a place (“let’s go there”) or as a pronoun
(“there is no hope”). “Their” is a plural possessive pronoun, as in “their bags” or “their
opinions.” Always do the “that’s ours!” test—are you talking about more than one person and
something that they possess? If so, “their” will get you there.
4. Affect vs. Effect
To this day I have to pause and mentally sort this one out in order to get it right. As with any of
the other common mistakes people make when writing, it’s taking that moment to get it right that
makes the difference.
“Affect” is a verb, as in “Your ability to communicate clearly will affect your income
immensely.” “Effect” is a noun, as in “The effect of a parent’s low income on a child’s future is
well documented.” By thinking in terms of “the effect,” you can usually sort out which is which,
because you can’t stick a “the” in front of a verb. While some people do use “effect” as a verb
(“a strategy to effect a settlement”), they are usually lawyers, and you should therefore ignore
them if you want to write like a human.
5. The Dangling Participle
The dangling participle may be the most egregious of the most common writing mistakes. Not
only will this error damage the flow of your writing, it can also make it impossible for someone
to understand what you’re trying to say.
Check out these two examples from Tom Sant’s book Persuasive Business Proposals:
After rotting in the cellar for weeks, my brother brought up some oranges.
Uhh… keep your decomposing brother away from me!
Featuring plug-in circuit boards, we can strongly endorse this server’s flexibility and growth
potential.
Hmmm… robotic copy written by people embedded with circuit boards. Makes sense.
The problem with both of the above is that the participial phrase that begins the sentence is not
intended to modify what follows next in the sentence. However, readers mentally expect it to
work that way, so your opening phrase should always modify what immediately follows. If it
doesn’t, you’ve left the participle dangling, as well as your readers.
P.S. You may find it amusing to know that I, like David Ogilvy, have never learned the formal
rules of grammar. I learned to write by reading obsessively at an early age, but when it came
time to learn the “rules,” I tuned out. If you show me an incorrect sentence, I can fix it, but if I
need to know the technical reason why it was wrong in the first place, I go ask my wife.
http://www.copyblogger.com/5-common-mistakes-that-make-you-look-dumb/

Common Mistakes and Tricky Choices

Sometimes we need to make word choices. Sometimes we misuse words or phrases in standard
English. This section includes many of the most common problems.

In the actual Grammar Slammer Windows program and with many browsers, you may click on a
letter on this grid to find the term or word you are looking for. If this does not work with your
browser, you may scroll down the alphabetical list to find the word you need or click on the text
letter below.
A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J-K|L|M|N-O|P|Q-R|S|T|U-V|W-Z|

• Go to Grammar Slammer Contents

• Click here for directions
A
A/An
Absolute Modifiers
Accept/Except
Accuse/Allege
Across/Acrossed/Cross
Adapt/Adopt
Administer/Administrate
Aggravate/Irritate
Ain't
A hold/Ahold
A lot/Allot/Alot
Already/All Ready
Alright/All Right
Alternate(ly)/Alternative(ly)
Altogether/All Together
Always/All Ways
American Grammar vs. British Grammar
Among/Between
Amount/Number
Ante-/Anti-
Anxious/Eager
Anymore
Anyone/Any One
Anyway/Any Way
Anyways
Anywheres
Apart/A part
As/Like
As To
Assume/Presume
At after Where
A Ways
Awhile/A While
B
Bad/Badly
Because after Reason
Being As or Being That
Beside/Besides
Between/Among
Blatant/Flagrant
Blond/Blonde
Bring/Take
British Grammar vs. American Grammar
Burst/Bust/Busted
C
Can/May
Can't Help But
Clipped Words
Compose/Comprise
Continual/Continuous
Convince/Persuade
Could Have/Could Of
Credible/Credulous/Creditable
Cross/Across/Acrossed
Cult/Occult
D
Decisive/Incisive
Definite/Definitive
Different From/Different Than
Diffuse/Defuse
Disinterested/Uninterested
Done as Verb
Doesn't/Don't
Due To
Due To the Fact That
E
Economic/Economical
Emigrate/Immigrate
Enthused/Enthusiastic
Envious/Jealous/Suspicious
Equivocal/Equivocable
Especial(ly)/Special(ly)
Everyone/Every One
Everywheres
Exalt/Exult
Except/Accept
F
Farther/Further
Fewer/Less
Flagrant/Blatant
For Free
Fortunate/Fortuitous
G
Gone/Went
Good/Well
H
Hanged/Hung
Have or Had plus Ought
Have after Could, Would, Should, or Will
Healthful/Healthy
Height or Heighth
Hers/Her's
Historic/Historical
Hopefully
Hypo-/Hyper-
Hypocritical/Hypercritical
I
I Hope/Hopefully
Immigrate/Emigrate
Imply/Infer
In after Want
Incisive/Decisive
Incredible/Incredulous
Indeterminate/Indeterminable
Irregardless/Regardless
Irritate/Aggravate
Its/It's
J
Jealous/Envious/Suspicious
Jiggle/Joggle/Juggle
Judicious/Judicial/Juridical
Just, Use of
K
Kind Of, Use of
L
Lay/Lie
Leave/Let
Lend/Loan
Less/Fewer
Less/Littler (More Little)
Like/As
Lie/Lay
Literal(ly)
Littlest/Least
Loath/Loathe
Luxuriant/Luxurious
M
Macro-/Micro-
Magnificent/Munificent
Manic/Maniac
May/Can
Maybe/May Be
Morale/Moral
N
Nowheres
Number/Amount
O
Occult/Cult
Of, Use of
Of after Would, Could, Should, or Will
Official/Officious
Orient/Orientate
Only, Use of
Ought with Have or Had
P
Parameter/Perimeter
Perimeter/Parameter
Persecute/Prosecute/Prosecution
Perspective/Prospective
Persuade/Convince
"Prepositions Ending Sentences"
Prescribe/Proscribe/Prescription
Presume/Assume
Proscribe/Prescribe/Prescription
Prosecute/Persecute/Prosecution
Prospective/Perspective
Q
Quash/Squash
Quote/Quotation/Quotation Mark
R
Raise/Rise
Real/Really
Reason with Because
Regardless/Irregardless
Renown/Reknown
S
Says/Said
Seen/Saw
Sensual/Sensuous
Set/Sit
Should Have/Should Of
Single/Singular
Solid/Stolid
Somewheres
Sort Of
Special(ly)/Especial(ly)
"Split Infinitives"
Squash/Quash
Strategy/Tactics
Supposed to/Suppose to
Sure/Surely
Suspicious/Jealous/Envious
T
Tactics/Strategy
Take/Bring
Tenet/Tenant
Than/Then
That/Where
That There and This Here
That/Which/Who
Them/Those
Then/Than
There/Their/They're
There's/Theirs/Their's
To/Too/Two
Tortuous/Torturous/Tortured
Try And/Try To
Turbid/Turgid
U
Unequivocal/Unequivocable
Uninterested/Disinterested
Unique (and Other Absolute Modifiers)
Used to/Use to
W
Want followed by In, Out, Off, Down, or Up
Warranty/Warrantee/Warrant
Ways after A
Well/Good
Went/Gone
Where Followed by At
Where/That
Who/Which/That
Who/Whom
Who's/Whose
Will Have/Will Of
-Wise (Suffix)
Would Have/Would Of

Complete Contents
Glossary
Grammar Contents

Copyright©1997-2006 English Plus, All rights reserved.

http://englishplus.com/grammar/mistcont.htm

Do You Make These 7 Mistakes

When You Write?

It’s time once again to review those nasty errors that damage our credibility when we write. Not
normally a fun task, but absolutely necessary. I promise to keep you amused to diminish the pain
(or at least I’ll give it a shot).
As with the last time we explored grammatical errors, I feel compelled to mention that
copywriting and blogging should be conversational and engaging, and breaking formal
grammatical and spelling conventions can often be a good thing. Every time I see a comment
complaining about something like, oh, I don’t know… the improper use of an ellipsis or one-
sentence paragraphs, I shake my head with sadness.
They just don’t get it.
Outside of specific professional or academic contexts, writing with a personal style that makes it
easier on the reader is more important than pleasing Strunk and White. That said, I also believe
you have to know the rules in order to break them. Plus, there are some errors that you’ll never
convince anyone that you did intentionally in the name of style (outside of a joke), and even then
some people will still assume you’re dumb.
So, let’s take a look at some more of those types of glaring errors that you never want to make.
Thanks to reader suggestions and the aforementioned Messrs. Strunk and White, here are seven
more common mistakes that can diminish the shine and credibility of your writing.
1. Loose vs. Lose
This one drives a lot of people crazy, including me. In fact, it’s so prevalent among bloggers that
I once feared I was missing something, and somehow “loose” was a proper substitute for “lose”
in some other English-speaking countries. Here’s a hint: it’s not.
If your pants are too loose, you might lose your pants.
2. Me, Myself, and I
One of the most common causes of grammatical pain is the choice between “me” and “I.” Too
often people use “I” when they should use “me,” because since “I” sounds stilted and proper, it
must be right, right? Nope.
The easy way to get this one right is to simply remove the other person from the sentence and
then do what sounds correct. You would never say “Give I a call,” so you also wouldn’t say
“Give Chris and I a call.” Don’t be afraid of me.
And whatever you do, don’t punt and say “myself” because you’re not sure whether “me” or “I”
is the correct choice. “Myself” is only proper in two contexts, both of which are demonstrated
below.
Many consider Chris a punk, but I myself tolerate him. Which brings me to ask myself, why?
3. Different than vs. Different from
This one slips under the radar a lot, and I’ll bet I’ve screwed it up countless times. It boils down
to the fact that things are logically different from one another, and using the word “than” after
different is a grammatical blunder.
This vase is different from the one I have, but I think mine is better than this one.
4. Improper Use of the Apostrophe
Basically, you use an apostrophe in two cases:
• For contractions (don’t for do not)
• To show possession (Frank’s blog means the blog belongs to Frank)
If still in doubt, leave the apostrophe out. It causes more reader confusion to insert an apostrophe
where it doesn’t belong than it does to omit one. Plus, you can always plead the typo defense if
you leave an apostrophe out, but you look unavoidably dumb when you stick one where it
doesn’t belong.
5. Parallelism
Back when I talked about bullet points, one of the tips involved keeping each bullet item in
parallel by beginning with the same part of speech. For example, each item might similarly begin
with a verb like so:
• deliver…
• prompt…
• cause…
• drive…
When writing a list of items in paragraph form, this is even more crucial, and failing to stay in
parallel can result in confusion for readers and scorn from English majors. Check out this non-
parallel list in a sentence:
Over the weekend, Kevin bought a new MacBook Pro online, two software programs, and
arranged for free shipping.
Do you see the problem? If not, break the list into bullet points and it becomes clear:
Over the weekend, Kevin:
• Bought a new MacBook Pro online
• Two software programs
• Arranged for free shipping
Stick the word “ordered” in front of “two software programs” and you’re in parallel. Your
readers will subconsciously thank you, and the Grammar Nazis won’t slam you.
6. i.e. vs. e.g.
Ah, Latin… you’ve just gotta love it. As antiquated as they might seem, these two little Latin
abbreviations are pretty handy in modern writing, but only if you use them correctly.
The Latin phrase id est means “that is,” so i.e. is a way of saying “in other words.” It’s designed
to make something clearer by providing a definition or saying it in a more common way.
Copyblogger has jumped the shark, i.e., gone downhill in quality, because Brian has broken most
of his New Year’s resolutions.
The Latin phrase exempli gratia means “for example”, so e.g. is used before giving specific
examples that support your assertion.
Copyblogger has jumped the shark because Brian has broken most of his New Year’s
resolutions, e.g., promising not to say “Web 2.0,” “linkbait,” or “jumped the shark” on the blog
in 2007.
7. Could of, Would of, Should of
Please don’t do this:
I should of gone to the baseball game, and I could of, if Billy would of done his job.
This is correct:
I should have gone to the baseball game, and could have, if Billy had done his job.
Why do people make this mistake?
They could’ve, should’ve, would’ve been correct, except that the ending of those contractions is
slurred when spoken. This creates something similar to a homophone, i.e., a word that is
pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning, e.g., of, which results in the
common grammatical mistake of substituting of for have.
Ain’t this been fun?
For more tips on avoiding grammatical mistakes, check out Five Grammatical Errors That Make
You Look Dumb.
http://www.copyblogger.com/grammar-writing-mistakes/

10 Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them

Error #2: Past Tense Error
Regular past tense verbs end in –ed (smiled, developed), while irregular past tense verbs change
form (freeze/froze, catch/caught). Be especially careful not to omit the –ed ending on a regular
verb.

Past tense error: During the lecture, she ask many questions.
Correct: During the lecture, she asked many questions.

Past tense error: When he propose, Carla say no.

Correct: When he proposed, Carla said no.

For more instruction and practice on past tense verbs, see Chapter 9 Past Tense, Grassroots,
pages 111-121.

Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them

Error #6: Pronoun Error

The most common pronoun errors are pronoun/antecedent agreement errors and case errors.
Pronouns must agree in number with the noun (the antecedent) to which they refer. If that noun
is singular, the pronoun must be singular; if that noun is plural, the pronoun must be plural.

Pronoun error: Everybody needs to bring their own canteen.

Correct: Everybody needs to bring his or her own canteen.

Pronoun case refers to the different forms of pronouns, which depend upon their parts of speech
in a sentence.

Pronoun error: There is a strong bond between he and I.

Correct: There is a strong bond between him and me.

Pronoun error: Her and me will be taking turns driving.

Correct: She and I will be taking turns driving.

Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them

Error #7: Apostrophe Error

Use apostrophes to show possession: add 's after a singular noun or plural noun not ending in –s ;
add ' after a plural noun ending in –s. Do not use an apostrophe after a possessive pronoun (my,
mine, our, ours, his, hers, its, their, theirs).

Apostrophe error: His parent's cabin is in Utah. (two parents)

Correct: His parents' cabin is in Utah.

Apostrophe error: The company is moving it's headquarters.

 Correct: The company is moving its headquarters.

For more instruction and practice on apostrophes, see Chapter 28, Apostrophes, Grassroots,
pages 313-318.

Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them

Error #8: Comma Error

Watch out for these most common comma errors.

1. Missing commas in a series of items

Comma error: I ordered a salad hamburger and French fries.
Correct: I ordered a salad, hamburger, and French fries.
2.
3. A missing comma after an introductory dependent clause
Comma error: Because he is ill he will not golf today.
Correct: Because he is ill, he will not golf today.
4.
5. A missing comma between two independent clauses joined by a coordinating
conjunction
Stars and planets fascinate her so she wants to be an
Comma error: astronomer.
Correct: Stars and planets fascinate her, so she wants to be an
astronomer.
6.
7. Missing commas in nonrestrictive clauses
Comma error: My car which is a Volkswagen gets good gas mileage.
Correct: My car, which is a Volkswagen, gets good gas mileage.

For more instruction and practice on commas, see Chapter 27, Commas, Grassroots, pages 302-
312.
Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them
Error #9: Illogical Verb Tense Shift

A verb tense shifts occurs when the writer switches from present to past or from past to present
without a good reason.

Tense shift: We drove to the lake, and Joe dives right in.
Correct: We drove to the lake, and Joe dove right in.
Correct: We drive to the lake, and Joe dives right in.
For more instruction and practice on consistent verb tense, see Chapter 23, Consistent Tense,
Grassroots, pages 274-278.

Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them

Error #10: Misplaced or Confusing Modifier

To avoid confusion, modifiers must be placed next to the word they modify and must clearly
refer to a word in the sentence.

Misplaced
At five years old, my father taught me to ski.
modifier:
When I was five years old, my father taught me to ski.
Correct:

Confusing Strip mining the hillsides, many acres were left bare.
modifier: Strip mining the hillsides, the coal company left many acres
Correct: bare.

For more instruction and practice on misplaced or confusing modifiers, see Chapter 18, -ING
Modifiers, Grassroots, pages 205-208.
Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them
Error #5: Sentence Fragment

A sentence fragment lacks a subject, a verb, or both. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Sentence fragment: The dance troupe that visited our campus.

Correct: The dance troupe that visited our campus was inspiring.

Sentence fragment: Studying all night long.

Correct: We stayed up studying all night long.

Sentence fragment: Because he is allergic to peanuts.

Correct: Because he is allergic to peanuts, he cannot eat that sandwich.

For more instruction and practice on avoiding sentence fragments, see Chapter 7, Avoiding
Sentence Fragments, Grassroots, pages 74-87.
Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them
Error #4: Run-on Sentence or Comma Splice

A run-on sentence incorrectly runs together two independent clauses without a conjunction or
punctuation. A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with a comma but no
conjunction.

Run-on sentence: Poetry isn't dead it's alive and well.

Correct: Poetry isn't dead; it's alive and well.
Correct: Poetry isn't dead; on the contrary, it's alive and well.
 Comma splice: My friend Bob is a genius, he's especially good at math.
Correct: My friend Bob is a genius. He's especially good at math.
Correct: My friend Bob is a genius; he's especially good at math.
Correct: My friend Bob is a genius, and he's especially good at math.
Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them
Error #3: Past Participle Error

The past participle form of a verb combines with helping verbs like has or have; it can also be
used as an adjective. The past participles of regular verbs end in –ed, just like the past tense
(smiled/has smiled, developed/has developed). The past participles of irregular verbs-like the
past tense-often change form (froze/has frozen, ran/has run).

Past participle error: Ivan is a qualify paramedic.

Correct: Ivan is a qualified paramedic.

Past participle error: The dogs have drank all their water.
Correct: The dogs have drunk all their water.

10 Most Common Grammar Errors—and How to Avoid Them

Error #1: Lack of Subject/Verb Agreement

In the present tense, subjects and verbs must agree in number. That is, a singular subject
requires a singular form of the verb, and a plural subject requires a plural form of the verb.

Agreement error: The instructions is confusing.

Correct: The instructions are confusing.

Agreement error: One of these orchids bloom at night.

Correct: One of these orchids blooms a night.
http://college.cengage.com/devenglish/fawcett/evergreen/7e/students/grammar_err
ors.html

Common Mistakes of English Grammar, Mechanics, and Punctuation

Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, Illinois State University
The following illustrate some common mistakes made in papers written by college
students. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all of the mistakes that could be
made with respect to grammar, mechanics, and punctuation. Rather, this is a list of
some of the more common mistakes that occur.
Avoid using sexist wording, such as "he" or "his" when you are trying to
refer to both boys and girls or to both women and men.

Wrong: When the subject reported being finished, the experimenter asked him to complete a
second questionnaire.
Right: When the subject reported being finished, the experimenter administered a second
questionnaire.

Do not combine singular and plural forms of words in the same sentence.

Wrong: Each subject rated their own mood on the questionnaire.

Right: Each subject rated his or her own mood on the questionnaire.
Right: All subjects rated their own moods on the questionnaire.

Wrong: A variety of issues were presented at the meeting.

Right: A variety of issues was presented at the meeting.

Use commas when appropriate. Sometimes a comma should be omitted,

whereas other times including a comma may help to improve your writing.

Use a comma when separating main clauses:

Wrong: We are here on this planet once and we might as well get a feel for the place.
Right: We are here on this planet once, and we might as well get a feel for the place.

Set off parenthetical material within commas.

Wrong: Sometimes people gossip as Barbara Walters has observed because they want to be
interesting.
Right: Sometimes people gossip, as Barbara Walters has observed, because they want to be
interesting.

Avoid unnecessary commas.

Wrong: The facts were selected, and organized with care.
Right: The facts were selected and organized with care.

Wrong: The Air Force debunked UFO sightings, but, millions of Americans didn't listen.
Right: The Air Force debunked UFO sightings, but millions of Americans didn't listen.

Do not write fragmented sentences. Every sentence needs a subject and a

predicate.

Wrong: And for days tried to change my mind. (no subject)

Right: For days he/she/it tried to change my mind.

Do not confuse "its" and "it's." "Its" is the possessive form of "it," whereas
"it's" is a contraction for "it is."

Wrong: Its time for a change.

Right: It's time for a change.

Wrong: What is it's purpose?

Right: What is its purpose?

Do not confuse "effect" and "affect." "Effect" is typically a noun, meaning

some consequence or result. "Affect" is typically a verb, meaning to bring
about an effect. (But note that "affect" also can be a noun meaning
emotional expression, and "effect" can be used as a verb to mean to cause
something to come into being.)

Wrong: The experimental manipulation caused an interesting affect.

Right: The experimental manipulation caused an interesting effect.

Wrong: The intervention did not effect the behavior of the therapy group.
Right: The intervention did not affect the behavior of the therapy group.

Use apostrophes in the appropriate place to indicate possession. A word

ending in "s" has an apostrophe at the end of the word; otherwise, place
an apostrophe followed by "s" to indicate possession.

Wrong: The student's faculty advisor was very committed to their learning.
Right: The students' faculty advisor was very committed to their learning. (if more than one
student)
Right: The student's faculty advisor was very committed to her learning. (if only one female
student)

Do not use an apostrophe to indicate a plural form of a word. Only use it to indicate
possession.
Wrong: The student's all have busy schedules.
Right: The students all have busy schedules.

Use a hyphen when using two words to act as one adjective (unless the
first word ends in -ly).

Wrong: The college student sample was smarter than the high school sample.
Right: The college-student sample was smarter than the high-school sample.

Wrong: A completely-new product was put on the market today.

Right: A completely new product was put on the market today.
http://my.ilstu.edu/~jhkahn/writing.html

Homophones and Homonyms

Homophones are words that sound like another when spoken but have different meanings and
use, different spelling and origin.

Homonyms are words that are spelled like another but of a different meaning.
(e.g., bank= a place where you keep money,
bank= the edge of a river.

Words from the first group are the most common misused words in the English language when
writing.

Most of the mistakes I see in writing on websites and blogs are words that are used quite
often in the English language. Most of them fall into the homophones category. I see a lot of
blogs that contain these common mistakes. Needless to say after a while I quit reading the
blogs. So this is a reminder to all bloggers READ what you post and look for these common
mistakes. I'm sure your readers will be very thankful.

A little language humor

Word for the week :Phantomnation
Learn a new word every week to expand your vocabulary.

erotem: noun; The symbol used in writing known as a question mark...?

Phantomnation: "rare" noun; a perfect example of a ghost word--a word that exists only in a
dictionary and has never actually been used.

neologism: noun ; coining of new words, new word or meaning

enormity: noun;heinousness, evilness, wickedness, monstrous, great size

abscond: verb; to run away and hide, depart hurriedly, avoid arrest.

samizdat: noun; clandestine publication of banned literature

anomaly: noun; something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified; deviation from
the normal or common order, or form, or rule; a person who is unusual

obfuscate: verb; To make something obscure or hard to understand. ( Like the tax codes)

quintessence: noun; purest and most perfect form, manifestation, type, or embodiment
Lipogram: noun; A piece of writing that avoids one or more letters of the alphabet. From Greek
lipo- (lacking) + gram (something written).]

triskaidekaphobia: noun; Fear of the number 13.

anomalous: adjective; irregular, deviant, abnormal

diatribe: noun; a bitter verbal attack or speech

ennui: noun; mental weariness, boredom

aficionado: noun; devotee of a sport or pastime

Saturday, April 30, 2011

How to get more readers to your blog
No one likes to read a blog or website that contains words they have never seen or understand.
So it would be best to keep them plain and simple. Just because you know these "big" words
doesn't mean everyone does. It's a true fact that the easy to read blogs have the most readers.

Here are some tips for keeping your writing user-friendly:

# Keep Sentences Short.

# Use words your readers are likely to understand.
# Use only as many words as you really need.
# Prefer the active voice.
# Write as if you were talking to one person.
# Use the clearest, liveliest verb to express your thoughts.
# Use Vertical Lists to make complex material understandable.
# Try to avoid sexist usage.
# Put accurate punctuation at the heart of your writing.
# Avoid being enslaved by seven writing myths. It's okay to start a sentence with And or But
# Plan Before You Write.
# Organize your material in a simple way.
# Consider different ways of setting out your information.
# Use clear layout to present your plain words. Show some white space between paragraphs.
# Remember to keep it simple so everyone can read and understand what you write.
You might like:
• Beside and Besides (this site)
• Good or Well (this site)
• Jobs That Pay You to Travel (eHow)
• Who said ain't isn't a word? (this site)
(Selected for you by our sponsor )
Posted by Shirley at 10:22 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
In to or into
Just recently while reading a blog I came across this sentence.
I turned my paper into my professor and knew as soon as he looked at it that I had made a
mistake.......did you catch that?
So what do you think is wrong here?

Too many times we do not stop and read what we write. I don't think there is a way to turn a
paper into a professor unless you are doing some kind of magic. There are so many ways to get
"in to" and "into" mixed up and when we do it changes what we wanted to say into something
funny. Just remember that into expresses motion or direction to a point on or within, a change of
state, direction of attention.

The car ran into the tree.

Turn your test paper in to me when you finish.
You might like:
• Read (& Reed) and Read (& Red) (this site)
• to, too, and two (this site)
• Buy, by, and bye (this site)
• Jobs That Pay You to Travel (eHow)
(Selected for you by our sponsor )
Posted by Shirley at 9:09 AM 7 comments Links to this post
Friday, October 9, 2009
Beside and Besides
Take a close look at these words and notice that one has a "s" on the end which changes the
meaning.

Beside: preposition, near, next to, at the side of

I will stand beside you through good times or bad.

She stood beside the fence gate.

Besides: in addition to, apart from, except

It was the most popular book ever written, besides the Bible.
Everyone besides Anna wanted to go swimming.
You might like:
• Is it Illegal to Leave a Previous Job Off My Resume? (eHow)
• Here and Hear (this site)
 • "Would of " , "could of", "should of" ??? (this site)
• heard and herd (this site)
(Selected for you by our sponsor )
Posted by Shirley at 8:47 AM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: beside, besides, common English grammar mistakes, English words
Thursday, October 1, 2009
pore and pour
I recently read in a newspaper that "The police poured over the data of a crime looking for
clues". We all know you can't pour over something, unless you are pouring a liquid over it. What
they meant was pored which means to read or study.

Pore: intransitive verb; : to gaze intently, to read or study attentively —usually used with over,
to reflect or meditate steadily.

She will pore over the book to get ready for the test.

Pour: transitive verb; to cause to flow in a stream, to dispense from a container

to supply or produce freely or copiously
to give full expression to : vent

intransitive verb; to move with a continuous flow , to rain hard, to move or come continuously,
stream
to score easily or freely (as in basketball) —used with in

The waiter will pour drinks for the guest while we serve the food.

Did the rain pour down hard in your area?

You might like:
• Who said ain't isn't a word? (this site)
• Proved vs Proven (this site)
• What Happens When You Water Plants With Soda? (eHow)
• elicit and illicit (this site)
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Posted by Shirley at 10:43 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: flow, pore, pour, Read, verbs
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
elicit and illicit
Elicit and Illicit may sound the same when spoken but they have different spelling and meaning.
Be careful when writing these words.

elicit: verb; to obtain, coax out, draw out, prompt

I could not elicit a response from her.

illicit: adjective; unlawful, forbidden, illegal

He is in jail for smuggling illicit drugs into the country.

You might like:
• There, Their and They're
• Tent and tint
• Please forgive me!
• Then and Than

Posted by Shirley at 7:57 AM 2 comments Links to this post

Labels: adjective illegal, elicit, illicit, prompt, verb
Friday, September 11, 2009
Proved vs Proven
“Proved" or "proven" is another one of those sets of words journalists, writers and speakers mix
up constantly. While the use or should I say the misuse of these two words will not greatly affect
the lives of most people, it's the responsibility of aspiring writers and professional writers,
however, to know the difference.

Understand that both "proved and proven" are noted by some dictionaries as past participles of
"prove."
Professional writers take a more particular view of the use of these words. But you can use
whichever word sounds and works the best for you, Just be sure to use "proven" for the
adjectives.

Example: "She used a proven method."

Know that "proved" is the current choice for the past participle of the verb "prove."
An example: The child has proved his strengths in numbers.

You may notice that journalist use "proven" as an adjective in journalism always.
"Proven" is not used as a past participle in journalism.

Apply the rules for predicate adjective in a linking verb construction as well by using "proven."
Use "proven" as an adjective that modifies another word as in the following example: The child's
ability to add has been proven. "Proven" modifies "ability;" it is not a part of the verb.
Be a careful writer when using "proved" and/or "proven" if you are a journalist where rules
reign. But for most of us, we can use either word as a past participle if it applies. But remember
to use "proven" as the adjective in all cases, just to be on the safe side.
Posted by Shirley at 12:36 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: adjective, journalist, proved, proven, verb, writers
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
13 rules to using Apostrophes
Apostrophes

Rule 1. Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where
the letter(s) has been removed.
Examples: don't, isn't
You're right.
She's a great teacher.

Rule 2. Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show
singular possession.
Examples: one boy's hat
one woman's hat
one actress's hat
one child's hat
Ms. Chang's house
NOTE: Although names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in
possessive form, it is preferred.
Mr. Jones's golf clubs
Texas's weather
Ms. Straus's daughter
Jose Sanchez's artwork
Dr. Hastings's appointment (name is Hastings)
Mrs. Lees's books (name is Lees)

Rule 3. Use the apostrophe where the noun that should follow is implied.
Example: This was his father's, not his, jacket.

Rule 4. To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the
apostrophe.
Examples: two boys' hats
two women's hats
two actresses' hats
two children's hats
the Changs' house
the Joneses' golf clubs
the Strauses' daughter
the Sanchezes' artwork
the Hastingses' appointment
the Leeses' books

Rule 5. Do not use an apostrophe for the plural of a name.

Examples: We visited the Sanchezes in Los Angeles.
The Changs have two cats and a dog.

Rule 6. With a singular compound noun, show possession with 's at the end of the word.
Example: my mother-in-law's hat

Rule 7. If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then
use the apostrophe.
Example: my two brothers-in-law's hats

Rule 8. Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.
Examples: Cesar and Maribel's home is constructed of redwood.
Cesar's and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed
next year.
Indicates separate ownership.
Cesar and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year.
Indicates joint ownership of more than one contract.

Rule 9. Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours,
whose. They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe.

Examples:This book is hers, not yours.

Incorrect: Sincerely your's.

Rule 10. The only time an apostrophe is used for it's is when it is a contraction for it is or it has.
Examples: It's a nice day.
It's your right to refuse the invitation.
It's been great getting to know you.

Rule 11. The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with
apostrophes.

Examples:She consulted with three M.D.s.

BUT
She went to three M.D.s' offices.
The apostrophe is needed here to show plural possessive.
She learned her ABCs.
the 1990s not the 1990's
the '90s or the mid-'70s not the '90's or the mid-'70's

She learned her times tables for 6s and 7s.

Exception: Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers when the meaning would be unclear
otherwise.
Examples: Please dot your i's.
You don't mean is.
Ted couldn't distinguish between her 6's and 0's.
You don't mean Os.

Rule 12. Use the possessive case in front of a gerund (-ing word).
Examples: Alex's skating was a joy to behold.
This does not stop Joan's inspecting of our facilities
next Thursday.

Rule 13. If the gerund has a pronoun in front of it, use the possessive form
of that pronoun.
Examples: I appreciate your inviting me to dinner.
I appreciated his working with me to resolve the conflict.

http://english-grammar-mistakes.blogspot.com/