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    Faulty Expressions

    Email me

    There are a million words in the English Language with millions of expressions made

    from these words. It is an absurd quirk of human existence that the most common usage

    of English repeated by almost everyone are the few expressions that are faulty and, evenfewer, expressions that are profane.

    easons the English Language Is difficult to Learn!

    "# The bandage was wound around the wound.

    $# The farm was used to produce produce.

    %# The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

    'e must polish the (olish furniture.)# *e could lead if he would get the lead out.

    +# The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.# -ince there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

    # / bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

    0# 'hen shot at, the dove dove into the bushes."1# I did not ob2ect to the ob2ect.

    ""# The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

    "$# There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

    "%# They were too close to the door to close it." The buck does funny things when the does are present.

    ")# / seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line."+# To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow."# The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

    "# /fter a number of in2ections my 2aw got number.

    "0# 3pon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.$1# I had to sub2ect the sub2ect to a series of tests.

    $"# *ow can I intimate this to my most intimate friend4Never do the following.

    1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.

    2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

    3. And dont start a sentence with a conjunction.

    !. "t is wrong to ever split an infinitive. #. Avoid cliches li$e the plague. %&he're old hat(

    ). Also* alwa's avoid anno'ing alliteration.

    +. ,e -ore or less specific.

    . Parenthetical re-ar$s %however relevant( are %usuall'( unnecessar'.

    /. Also too* never* ever use repetitive redundancies.

    10. No sentence frag-ents.

    11. ontractions arent necessar' and shouldnt be used.

    12. oreign words and phrases are not apropos.

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    13. o not be redundant4 do not use -ore words than necessar'4 its

    highl' superfluous.

    1!. 5ne should N6V67 generali8e.

    1#. o-parisons are as bad as cliches.

    1). ont use no double negatives.

    1+. 6schew a-persands 9 abbreviations* etc.

    1. 5ne:word sentences; 6li-inate.

    1/. Analogies in writing are li$e feathers on a sna$e.

    20. &he passive voice is to be ignored.

    21. 6li-inate co--as* that are* not necessar'. Parenthetical words

    however should be enclosed in co--as.

    22. Never use a big word when a di-inutive one would suffice.

    23. >>

    2!. ?se words correctl'* irregardless of how others use the-.

    2#. ?nderstate-ent is alwa's the absolute best wa' to put forth earth

    sha$ing ideas.

    2). ?se the apostrophe in its proper place and o-it it when its not

    needed.

    2+. 6li-inate @uotations. As 7alph aldo 6-erson said* B" hate

    @uotations. &ell -e what 'ou $now.B

    2. "f 'ouve heard it once* 'ouve heard it a thousand ti-esC 7esisth'perbole4 not one writer in a -illion can use it correctl'.

    2/. Puns are for children* not groan readers.

    30. Do around the barn at high noon to avoid collo@uialis-s.

    31. 6ven " a -i=ed -etaphor sings* it should be derailed.

    32. ho needs rhetorical @uestions;

    33. 6=aggeration is a billion ti-es worse than understate-ent.

    And finall'...

    3!. Proofread carefull' to see if 'ou out an' words

    OXY MORONISMS

    This one should never be used (especially by Meteorologists)"Once Again"

    Things may happen once or things may happen again but not both because one

    contradicts the other.This faulty expression is a contraction from an 5ld English expression 6Once and Again6

    which may be correct but is no longer used in its proper form or figure of speech. It is an

    /mericani7ation of the 5ld English to ignorantly replace the correct usage.

    The correct usage would be!The rain has returned once more - not - It's raining once again.

    8eterologist 9and other people on and not on television# often use multiple prepositions

    in a row and often oxy moronic combinations of them for instance in the followingexample things can be off or on not both! The Front will move on off tothe East.:ot

    only is this wrong it is twice errant9three prepositions in a row#. It should correctlyread! The Front moved to the East9of our city# or Eastward.

    ;o not use or say the common oxy moron used by 2ournalists! The money turned up

    missing.Things either turn up, or more properly, they appear or become. Things may bemissing, but they may not turn up missing, they may only be missing. Things may appear,

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    not turn up, and things may be missing, but not at the same time. -o if the first part of the

    phrase were to be corrected it would read! The money appeared to be missing. This is

    still a problem so the correct usage would be! The money may be missing.

    'hen a recent "$,111 page document was delivered, the (entagon and :ational :ews,

    8edia, and (ress was quoted as saying that the document was 6...filled with gaps andomissions.6 -ince it is not possible to fill anything with gaps and omissions are things

    that are left out or consciously not included the official statement should have gone

    something like this< The document did not include admissions which constitute gaps

    and omissions.

    =illed with holes or gaps or omissions

    =ound :othing(ositively no Talking

    :on>stop flight

    -tatic ?rash

    These should never be spoen and especially never written

    &). /ct naturally&&. =ound missing

    &%. esident alien

    &$. /dvanced @/-I?&". Aenuine imitation

    &1. /irline =ood

    %0. Aood grief

    %. -ame difference%. /lmost exactly

    %+. Aovernment organi7ation

    %). -anitary landfill%&. /lone together

    %%. Legally drunk

    %$. -ilent scream%". Living dead

    %1. -mall crowd

    $0. @usiness ethics

    $. -oft rock$. @utt *ead

    $+. 8ilitary Intelligence

    $). -oftware documentation$&. :ew classic

    $%. -weet sorrow

    $$. ?hildproof 98arine (roof#$". 6:ow, then ...6

    $1. -ynthetic natural gas

    "0. (assive aggression

    ". Taped live

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    ". ?learly misunderstood

    "+. (eace force

    "). Extinct Life"&. Temporary tax increase

    "%. ?omputer 2ock

    "$. (lastic glasses"". Terribly pleased

    "1. ?omputer security

    0. (olitical science. Tight slacks

    . ;efinite maybe

    +. (retty ugly

    ). Twelve>ounce pound cake&. ;iet ice cream

    %. 'orking vacation

    $. Exact estimate

    ". 8icrosoft 'orks

    E!T#$ %'''%#TE$ %E*+#TE$ %&,M'-ETE$ E#&T$ #&

    +'EF-++ ,M/%T%& F 0 %& '1#E

    0ords that end in 2ward2do not end in BsB > backward, forward, upward, downward,inward, outward, the extra BsB is a leftover expression from 5ld English which died "$11

    years ago.

    ;o not say B% am curious anyways . . .B There is no BsB on the end of anyway. This is acommon -outherni7ation.

    nly chicens are done9stick in a fork# not people. *e is finished > not > he is done. %t

    is finished, not > it is done. This is how it is accomplished9not done#.

    5nly steel is hard, efforts are difficult. 1e had a difficult (not hard) time learning.

    ;o not be a23ot -ot2person. ;o you say 20e got lots a great stuff for you.24 =irst the

    word BgotB does not belong in a sentence used as it is here, -ay 20e have2not 20e got2. It

    is a common error not to use have and say got. La7y mouth red necks even drop thecontraction 0e2veand say B'e got.B -econd the word 2lot2means a piece or a section. -ay

    20e have much for you.2or 20e have many things for you.2;o not say 24ou got the

    report52, say 2o you have the report52o not be a 3ot -ot person.

    That famous2adio hac2 motto 6 4ou got *uestions$ 0e got #nswers 6 was

    obviously created by a hide tanner with a second grade education, raised in south =ort'orth. To stress the point of correctness, the 8otto should read >2%f you have 7uestions$

    we have the answers.2

    ;o not forget to exclude yourself when speaking about being the best. 2&o one does it

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    for less.2 This mean that you do it for less than yourself4 -ay 2&o one else does it forless.2

    0e will begin the boarding process.The words Bthe processB are extra words and

    therefore superfluous. 0e will begin boarding.

    'assengers may begin to pre6board.:5C Dou either board the plane or not. 'assengers

    may begin to board.

    'assengers may de6train.If you are getting out of your car do you de>car4 :oC

    'assengers may disembar.

    'assengers may get on the 'lane.:5C'assengers can only get in the 'lane$ it is too

    windy riding on the 'lane.

    This will be a non6stop flight.:5C The flight must eventually stop, hopefully on a

    runway at an airport.

    emain seated until the 'lane comes to a complete top.Is this apposed to anincomplete -top4 :5C Dou either are stopped or not. 4ou may leave your seat only after

    the 'lane stops.

    8eterologist often say B-et2s tae a loo at the visible satellite image. B Is this in

    contradistinction to the invisible satellite image4 The word BvisibleB is superfluous. -et2stae a loo at the satellite image. or -et2s tae a loo at the visible6light satellite

    image.

    'ositively no moing. 'ositively no Taling 'ositively no tanding. This is a

    common mistake made in the -outhern 3-. I have actually seen this faulty expressionused on signs in Louisiana -tate Aovernment @uildings. It is an errant usage of the word

    (ositively. It should say B#bsolutely no moing2 or better yet 2&o moing.2

    % am trying to 7uit.:5C Dou either quit or not. Dou may -top and -tart, but uit is final

    2ust like death, ;eath is final.

    The man is attempting to 8ump off the bridge.:5C The phrase Battemping toB is errantand superfluous. Dou either 2ump or you donBt, attempting is not real. The man is daringto 8ump. I have actually heard a (olice dispatcher say this to 5fficers responding to

    someone attempting suicide.

    %n order to accomplish this...:5C B%n orderB is superfluous, you 2ust accomplish. Toaccomplish this...

    o as to accomplish this...:5C Bo asB is superfluous, you mearly accomplish. Toaccomplish this...

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    This program was 're6ecorded.:5C The program was recorded. This is why you

    record something. ;oes pre>recorded mean you recorded it before you recorded it4 :5C

    This program was recorded.

    nce and for all.:5C This is an incomplete phrase. nce and for all time.

    %t is lie you2ve never seen.:5C This is an incomplete phrase. If you never see

    something that means never in the past, never in the present and never in the future.

    :ever is never. %t is lie you2ve never seen before.

    3-#4 F F#+-T4 E!'E%&

    accept$

    except

    These verbs should not be confused.

    The committee decided to acceptthe gift of ten thousand dollars.

    'e except9i.e., 6exclude6# those persons under twelve years of age.

    ad.

    Informal abbreviation for advertisement.

    affect$

    effect

    /s verbs, affectmeans 6to influence6 and effect means 6to cause.6 The noun effectmeans

    6result.6*is speech is sure to affectthe vote.

    It will have a great effect.

    /s governor, he will effectcertain changes in local practices.

    aggravate

    This verb means 6to make heavier or more severe.6The draught from the open door will aggravatethe patientBs condition.

    ;o not use aggravateto mean 6annoy6 or 6irritate,6 as in 6The child aggravates me.6

    agree to$

    agree with

    8y brother agreed tohis employerBs proposal.

    96gave assent to6#

    I agreed withher that the hour was a poor one

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    96was in accord with6#

    ain2t

    Incorrect for 6am not,6 6are not,6 and the like. ;o not use it.

    all right$

    alright

    5bserve that the dictionaries do not recogni7e alrightas an acceptable word.All right

    9two words# form a colloquial phrase equivalent to 6?orrect6 or 6Fery well.6

    all the farther

    The correct idiom is as far as!

    This is as far asI am willing to go.

    9:ot! This is all the fartherI am willing to go.#-imilarly for all the 7uicerand all the faster.

    allusion$

    illusion

    These nouns must not be confused. /n allusionis an indirect reference< an illusionis 6an

    unreal or misleading image.6 9Webster's Collegiate.# *is poem is full of allusions to his

    boyhood friends.

    Illusion, delusion, and hallucinationare closely allied words.

    allusive$

    elusive

    Allusiveis the ad2ective form of allusion< elusive, derived from the word elude, means

    6evasive or baffling.6The poetBs style is allusive.

    The elusivecriminal outwits the police.

    alone$

    only

    ;o not confuse these words!I made the trip to camp alone96unaccompanied6#.

    5f the group of us, onlyI had the right change for the telephone 96I and no other6#.

    already$

    all ready

    The adverb alreadymeans 6prior to some specified time.6

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    'e were surprised to find the boy already there when we arrived.

    All ready9two words# form a phrase meaning 6completely prepared.6

    They were all ready, apparently, for the work to begin.

    alternative

    ?areful writers and speakers preserve the literal meaning! 6a choice between two things

    or courses.6

    *e was tempted by the second alternative.Informally, alternativeis often used when more than two possibilities are concerned.

    altogether$

    all together

    Altogetheris an adverb meaning 6wholly6 or 6thoroughly6 and must not be confused with

    the phrase all together 9two words# meaning 6simultaneously6 or 6all at once.6

    The customers were altogetherdissatisfied.They were all togetherin the waiting>room by nine oBclock.

    among$

    between

    Amongrefers to more than two< betweenrefers to two!

    etweenyou and me, I think this is one of the finest novels produced this year.

    Let us divide the toys amongthe eight children.

    Informally, betweenmay refer to more than two!'e divided it betweenGim, *enry, and =rank.

    and etc.

    5mit the and.!tc. is an abbreviation for et cetera96and the rest6#.

    anent

    Anentis a pompous word for concerning.

    I spoke to him concerning9not anent# his unusual views.

    angry about$

    with$

    at

    'e are angry aboutoccasions or situations< we are angry withpeople< we are angry atthings or animals!

    =ather was angry aboutthe increased taxes.

    *e was angry with8r. 'illiams for supporting the new mayor.

    *e showed his dissatisfaction by becoming angry atthe car for stalling.

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    any

    This word is sometimes misused in the sense of at allor of any other!

    -he says she has not slept at all9not any# for three nights.

    :ew Dork is larger than any other9not any# city in this country.I like :ew Dork better than any European city. 9Anyis correctly used for two classes are

    involved.#

    any place

    -ee place.

    apt$

    liable$

    liely

    "iableand aptare sometimes improperly used for li#ely. -omething is 6apt6 if it is

    6suited for, appropriate to6 something else, or a person is 6apt6 if he has a tendency to dosomething or is ready to learn."iablemeans 6answerable for6 and often suggests an

    undesirable possibility."i#elymeans 6probably.6

    They are not aptstudents.*e is liableto arrest.

    It will very li#elyrain tomorrow.

    around

    ;o not confuse aroundwith about!

    (hilip went about9not around# with older men.

    as

    ;o not use aswhen thator whetheris required!

    They didnBt know whether9not as# they could be there.

    ;o not use asinstead offoror because!

    'e were uneasy, for 9not as# it was our first visit.ecause9not as# we were uneasy, we said nothing to the man,

    In negative comparisons use the correlativesso. . . asrather than as. . . as!

    *e is not so young as he was.=or prepositional misuse see li#e.

    at about

    ;o not substitute at aboutfor about!

    The party will begin about9not at about# four.

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    awful$

    awfully

    These words are overworked!

    *is disappointment was intense9not awful#.

    'e had an exceedingly9not awfully# en2oyable round of golf.

    balance

    ;o not confuse balanceand expressions such as 6the rest6 or 6the others.6

    Twenty students were present

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    *e thought they had no right9not business# to interfere.

    bust$

    busted

    Incorrect equivalents of burst.

    but$

    but what$

    but that

    utoften has negative force!

    They had no doubt that9not but that# he could make it.

    calculate

    / colloquialism in the sense 6to think6 or 6to expect6 to 6to plan6!I thin#9not calculate# that it should be ready by =riday.

    can$

    may

    Canimplies ability to do something< mayimplies permission granted or possibility!

    *e maydo it if all goes well< I know that he cando it.

    cannot help but

    This expression should be followed by the participle!

    I cannot helpfeeling9not but feel# sorry for them.Can but feelis somewhat formal!

    I can but feelunhappy about it.

    center about$

    center around

    (refer the expressions center onor center upon.

    certainly

    ;o not overwork certainlyas an intensive!

    *e looked most unhappy. 9:ot 6*e certainly looked unhappy.6#

    claim

    Claimmeans 6demand as oneBs own or as a right.6 ;o not use it as a loose synonym for

    say, assert, or maintain!

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    *e maintains9not claims# that he was at home all evening.

    combine

    Combineis a verb, not a noun. 8ost dictionaries label as colloquial the noun combine

    meaning 6combination of persons or organi7ations.6

    common$

    mutual

    %utualmeans 6reciprocal.6 Commonmeans 6belonging to many or to all.6

    company

    Companyis an informal or colloquial expression for visitorsorguests.

    compare to$compare with

    Compareto suggests that two things may be comparable< comparewith suggests a

    detailed comparison in which resemblances or lack of resemblances are pointed out.

    The author compareslife to a 2ourney. Compare/lbertBs story of what happened withEstherBs.

    complected

    ;o not use complectedto mean complexioned!

    / dar#-complexioned9not dar#-complected# woman left the house.

    considerable

    This ad2ective must not be used as an adverb!-he was considerably9not considerable# upset at the news.

    ;o not use considerableto mean 6much6!

    %uch9not considerable# time was spent making plans.

    contrary

    Contrarymeans 6opposite.6I was of the contrary opinion.

    ;o not use it to mean 6obstinate6 or 6perverse.6

    Tommy is a vexatious9not contrary# boy.

    could of

    This is incorrect for could have. -imilar expressions, also to be avoided, are would of,

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    might of, had of!

    *e could have9not could of# been here on time if he had9not had of# started earlier.

    couple

    ;o not use couplefor more than two, or for some indefinite number!&ome9notA couple# of my friends are in the army.

    ?5E?T! 'e know a married couplein -carsdale.

    data$

    phenomena$

    strata

    These words are plurals of datum,phenomenon, andstratum!

    IA*T! *is datafor the paper are correct.

    IA*T! Thestratain this cliff are being investigated by geologists.

    date

    This is a colloquialism used to mean appointment, casual meeting, or engagement.

    I have an appointment9not a date# with the dentist at ten.

    deal

    This noun is a slang word for business or political transaction or bargain.ew dealis a

    figurative use borrowed from card>playing. -uch well>known expressions as 6a gooddeal6 or 6a great deal6 are sometimes acceptable!

    IA*T! 8ary talks a great deal.

    I:/;FI-/@LE! -he is a good deallike her mother.

    die with

    If we are stating the cause of death, we must use die of, die by, die from, or die through!

    Games died of9not died with# pneumonia.

    differ with$

    differ from

    not different than

    Than is not a prepositionTo express unlikeness, use differ from< to express disagreement, use differ with!

    /merican English differs fromthe @ritish English.

    'e differ with them on several points.

    different than

    The correct idiom is different from!

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    8iddletown was different from9not different than# other small villages in a number of

    ways.

    doesn2t$

    don2t

    The contracted form of does notis doesn't!

    *e doesn't9not don't# like golf.

    doubt

    3ncertainty is expressed by doubt whether. . . or!

    I doubt whethershe will be on time ornot.-trong negative probability is expressed by doubt that!

    I doubtvery much thatshe will come.

    dove

    The past participle of the verb diveis dived!8y young brother dived9not dove# from the highest diving>board.

    due to$

    owing to$

    caused by

    These expressions must follow some form of the verb to be. =or a preposition which hasthe meaning of these expressions, use either because ofor on account of.

    ecause of9not(ue to# conditions beyond our control we must interrupt the broadcast.

    each other$

    one another

    !ach otherimplies two persons< one anotherimplies more than two!

    8y brother and sister get along with each otherfairly well.

    8y two brothers and my cousin are always quarreling with one another.

    emigrate$

    immigrate

    These words, and the corresponding nouns emigrantand immigrantmust be carefully

    distinguished. )o emigrate means 6to go out from6< to immigratemeans 6to go into.6

    etc.

    This is an abbreviation of the Latin et cetera. ;o not use a needless and, as in the faulty

    expression and etc. 9-ee also#

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    e7ually as good

    Improper for e$ually good!

    The speeches were e$ually good9not e$ually as good#

    except

    ;o not use exceptas a con2unction to mean 6unless.6I wonBt go unless9not except# you will, too.

    expect

    ;o not use expectas a synonym forsuspectorsuppose!

    Isuppose9not expect# he will have a good story to tell us.

    !xpectmeans 6to look forward to6 or 6to hope.6

    I expectto see you tomorrow at the store.

    extra

    ;o not use extraas a synonym for unusuallyor extremely!

    -he is looking extremely9not extra# well today.

    farther$

    further

    =arther is a matter of distance or a more remote point or a more advanced point.

    =urther is a matter of degree or being more distant in degree or being additional or greater

    in extent.*e hit the ballfarther9not further# than ever.

    Dour money will go further 9not farther# at our bank.

    fellow

    ;o not misuse this word. Except in special usages, say one, man,person, boy, or

    sweetheart!-adie has a newsweetheart9notfellow#.

    I told 8r. 'alters about a man9notfellow# I met last summer.

    fewer$

    less

    *ewerrefers especially to number< lessis used

    with words expressing degree or quantity!

    There have beenfewer9not less# street accidents this year.

    'e have lesscoal now than we had last year at this

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    time.

    fix

    *ixis not to be used instead of the nounspredicamentand condition!

    *e found himself in a dangerouspredicament9notfix#.The verbto fixmeans 6to fasten or attach securely.6 ;o not use it instead of repair, mend,

    or arrange!

    Goe will repair9notfix# the clock. IBll arrange 9not fix# things for you.

    former$

    latter

    3seformerand latterin reference to two per sons or things< as a general rule, usefirst

    and lastfor more than two.

    The latterhalf of his talk was amusing.

    Thefirstto arrive was 'illiam. Aeorge came in five minutes later, and @ill was the lastto get there.

    funny

    *unnymeans 6comical.6 ;o not use it as a loose synonym for $ueer, odd,strange,

    remar#able, or unusual!

    *earing about automobile accidents always has an odd9notfunny# effect on me.

    good$

    well

    ;o not use the ad2ectivegoodwhen the adverb wellis required!-am speaks =rench very well9notgood#.

    Wellcan also be an ad2ective!

    8other is well, thank you.

    got$

    gotten

    The principal parts ofgetareget,got,got. +ottenis no longer acceptable as a past

    participle, although the expression ill-gottenis still heard.

    *ave theygot9notgotten# around to doing it yet4/merican usage regards 6have got6 as colloquial!,aveyou any news for me4

    9:5T!,aveyougotany news for me4#

    guess

    The verbguessmeans 6to con2ecture.6 ;o not use it to mean 6think6 or 6suppose.6

    I thin#9notguess# it will run all right now.

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    had of

    -ee could of.

    hanged$hung

    ,angedmeans 6put to death by hanging.6The murderer was hanged9not hung# last week.

    ,ungis the proper past participle in other situations!

    *e had hunghis hat on the third hook upon entering.

    have got to

    ;o not use have got toto mean 6must.6

    I must9not have got to# hurry if I am to catch the train.

    healthful$

    healthy

    ;istinguish between these words!

    The boy is healthy.

    'alking is a healthfulpastime.

    human$

    humans

    ,umanis an ad2ective. ;o not use it as a noun!

    *e said that human beings9not humans# are often unreasonable.

    if$

    whether

    ?areful writers and speakers use whetherrather than ifafter verbs of doubting, seeing,knowing, and the like!

    ?5E?T! -he was not sure whetherher mother would approve or not.

    /L-5 ?5E?T! -he was not sure whetherher mother would approve.

    immediately

    ;o not use immediatelyas a con2unction. 3se as soon as!

    IBll let you know as soon as9not immediate# l hear from him.

    in$

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    into

    -ome constructions require one rather than the other of these words!*e backed the car into9not in# the garage.

    *e then walked into9not in# the house.

    *e usually gets inlate.*e leaves his overcoat inthe vestibule.

    in bac of

    (refer bac# of, behind, or at the bac# of!

    The tennis court is behind9not in bac# of# the house.

    individual$

    party

    ;o not use these words as loose synonyms for man,person, woman, and the like!*e is a strangeperson9not individual#.

    artysuggests a group!They held the train for a man9notparty# of fifty.

    artyalso has a legal meaning, as in 6party of the first part.6

    3se individualto point a contrast to a group!I like the students as individuals, but I dislike them as a group.

    inferior than

    The correct expression is inferior to!

    *is training has been inferior to9not than# his brotherBs.

    ingenious$

    ingenuous

    Ingeniousmeans 6clever, talented, skillful.6

    Ingenuousmeans 6frank, open, naHve.6

    8ost inventors are ingenious9not ingenuous# persons.

    inside of

    In expressions of time, use withininstead of inside of!?an you meet me within9not inside of# an hour4

    is when$

    is where

    Whenand whereintroduce adverbial clauses. ;o not use them to introduce predicate

    nominatives!

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    / ga7etteer is a list of geographical items.

    9:5T! / ga7etteer is whereyou find geographical items.#

    hyme is the correspondence of two final sounds.9:5T! hyme is whentwo sounds correspond#

    its$it2s

    Itsis the possessive of it.It'sis a contraction of it is!'hen he saw my tie, he said, 6It'san unusual one, but I like itscolor.6

    8ust

    /void usingustas an intensive!

    I think your idea is a splendid one.

    9:5T! I think your idea isustsplendid.#

    ind$

    sort

    /indandsortare singular nouns!

    @etty prefers this9not these# kind of silk stockings.*er father ob2ects to this sortof idea.

    9:5T! *er father ob2ects to these sortof ideas.#

    ind of a$

    sort of a

    /s ad2ective phrases, #ind ofandsort ofare followed by nouns!This is thesort of9notsort of a# day I like.

    'hat #ind of9not #ind of a# person do you think I am4

    3se rather,somewhat, and the like in adverbial functions!I wassomewhat9not #ind of# disappointed.

    last$

    latest

    "astis used in several ways< latestis used to mean 6most recent6 in order of time!

    The latest96most recent6# news we have had about him was in last monthBs letter from/ri7ona.

    *e was lastseen getting off the train.

    The lastletter he ever wrote was dated in /pril.

    lay$

    lie

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    "ayis transitive and means 6to put down.6"ieis intransitive and means 6to recline.6 The

    principal parts of layare lay, laid, laid. The principal parts of lieare lie, lay, lain.

    I shall laythe blanket on the floor and then I shall lieon it.I have lainon it many times before.

    The first time I laidit on the floor was the day we moved in.

    I layon it for two hours that time.

    lead$

    led

    "edis the past tense and past participle of the verb to lead!

    'e must leadthe child by the hand.

    I ledhim by the hand last week.I have led9not lead# him by the hand many times.

    leave$

    let

    These words are often confused!"et9not"eave# her have her own way.

    'e shall leaveher to her own devices.

    @efore you leave, let me give you a road>map.

    led

    -ee lead.

    lie$

    as$

    as if

    "i#eis a preposition!Gimmy looks li#e9not as# me.

    Asand as ifare con2unctions!

    It looks as if9not li#e# we are going to have trouble.

    I wish I could play golf li#emy father.I wish I could play the game asmy father plays it.

    loan

    ;o not use loanas a verb!

    "end9not"oan# me your fountain pen for a moment, will you4The bank will lend9not loan# you the money.

    'hy donBt you apply for a loan4

    locate

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    ;o not use locateto mean 6settle in a place6 or 6find.6

    They intend tosettle9not locate# in 5hio.I canBt seem tofind9not locate# my galoshes.

    lose$loose

    These words are often incorrectly used for each other!IBm afraid they will lose9not loose# their way.

    "oose9not"ose# the dog.

    Turn the dog loose9not lose#.

    lot$

    lots of

    These are colloquialisms for manyor much!%uch9notA lot# of his trouble arises from his home life.

    -he told us that many9not lots of# people ob2ected to the newspaper report.

    mad

    %admeans 6insane.6 /void using it to mean 6angry.6

    The poor man was clearly madwhen he committed the murder.

    -he has been angry with9not mad at# me for days.

    mean

    %eanas an ad2ective suggests poor circumstances or something common, vulgar, orignoble. ;o not use it in formal writing to mean 6irritable, selfish, or malicious.6 That

    was an un#ind9not mean# thing to do.

    might of

    -ee could of.

    mighty

    / colloquialism for veryor exceedingly. (roperly, mightymeans 6of great si7e or bulk orpower.6

    The smith a mightyman was he.

    This is a very fine9not mighty fine# book.

    most$

    almost

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    ;o not confuse these words!

    'hich of you boys has the mostmoney4

    8y mother is almost9not most# always willing to chat with him.-he sees him almost9not most# every week.

    nice

    (roperly, nicemeans 6discriminating, fastidious, subtle, or precise.6 /void using it to

    mean 6pleasant, agreeable, or delightful.6There is a nicedistinction between the two words.

    *e has a nicetaste in wines.

    The dinner was an enoyable9not nice# one.

    Desterday was apleasant9not nice# day.

    no place

    -eeplace.

    out

    5ut is often added unnecessarily!

    ;o you think he will lose9not lose out#4

    out loud

    The correct expression is aloud!The teacher read the letter aloud9not out loud#.

    outside of

    ;o not use this expression to mean 6except for.6

    !xcept for9not Outside of# the clothes on my back, I have lost everything.

    over

    ;o not use overto mean 6more than.6I havenBt read it for more than9not over# ten years.

    over with

    3se over.

    The play was over9not over with# at ten>thirty.

    per cent$

    percentage

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    3seper centonly after numerals.ercentagemay be used to mean 6proportion.6

    -ixtyper centof the money went for expenses.

    The auditors thought this a largerpercentagethan necessary.

    piece

    ;o not usepieceto mean 6a short distance.6

    place

    ;o not useplaceto mean 6where6!

    Anywhere9not any place#

    owhere9not no place#&omewhere9notsome place#

    plenty

    ;o not use the nounplentyas an adverb!

    The seat is $uite wide enough9notplenty wide enough# for three persons.

    poorly

    (refer not wellor in poor health.

    postal

    ostalis an ad2ective, as inpostal card.

    ost cardis an acceptable form.

    *ow many words can you put on apost card9notpostal#4

    prefer

    The correct form isprefer to, notprefer than!

    'e preferfishing to9not than# hunting.

    principal$

    principle

    These words are often confused.rincipalis correctly used as a noun or ad2ective tomean 6chief6 or 6chief teacher or official.6 8rs. 'illiams is theprincipalof the girlsB

    school.

    rincipleis a noun meaning 6a fundamental truth or primary law.6 It is theprinciple9notprincipal# of the thing.

    prospect

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    /void the slang use ofprospectto mean 6prospective buyer6 or 6one likely to do

    something.6

    *e has a list of li#ely contributors9notprospects#.

    proven

    The past participle ofproveisproved. (referprovedtoprovenin all constructions.

    *e is a man ofproved9notproven# ability.

    -he hasproved9notproven# a great help to him.

    put in$

    over$

    across

    ut into mean 6devote, make, or spend6 is colloquial.ut overandput across are slang.

    ;o you think he willspend9notput in# more than three hours on the 2ob4

    7uite

    (roperly, this adverb means 6completely6 or 6entirely.6

    I have $uitefinished.

    ?olloquially, it is used to mean 6rather6 or 6very6 or 6to a great extent.6*is home is $uite near9very near# to his office.

    0uite a few, $uite a whileare colloquialisms.

    raise$

    rear

    (refer rearto raiseif the meaning intended is 6to educate or take care of children.B

    raise$

    rise

    1aiseis transitive< riseis intransitive.

    1aiseyour right hand.

    'hen your name is called, please rise.

    rarely ever

    -eeseldom ever.

    real

    really

    ;o not use realas an intensive, for emphasis!

    'e had a very9not realor really# en2oyable trip.

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    reason is because

    The correct form is 6the reason is that.6

    recon

    1ec#onis dialectal forsuppose, thin#,guess!

    I thin#9not rec#on# IBll be able to do it.

    refer bac$

    repeat again

    The words bac#and againare unnecessary!

    I want you to refer9not refer bac## to page two.

    'ill you please repeatthat4

    9:ot! 'ill you please repeatthat again4#

    regard$

    respect

    The acceptable idioms are in regard to, with regard to, as regards, and with respect to.

    reminisce

    / verb of doubtful standing used to mean 6indulge in reminiscences.6

    right

    The expressions right away, right off, right smart, and right alongare colloquialisms.

    run

    Informal or colloquial for the verbs manage, control, conduct, or amount to!

    *e managed9not ran# the business for his father.

    same$

    said$

    such

    @usiness or legal 2argon for it, this, that, one, and the like!

    *e found the watch and returned it9notsame# to the owner.

    same as

    This is a colloquialism used to mean 62ust as6 or 6in the same way as.6

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    *e feelsust as9not thesame as# I do about the new tax.

    seldom ever$

    seldom or ever

    The correct expressions areseldom,seldom if ever,seldom or never, hardly ever.Theyseldom9notseldom ever# go to the theater.

    =rankseldom if ever9notseldom ever# reads a book.

    set$

    sit

    &etis a transitive verb

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    'e went home immediatelyso that9notso# we could hear the news broadcast at six.

    some

    ;o not usesometo mean 6somewhat.6

    The car is runningsomewhat9notsome# better.&omeas an intensive is slang!

    This issomegameC

    some place

    -eeplace.

    species

    &peciesmeans 6a kind6 or 6a class.6 It is both singular and plural!

    The collection contains one rarespecies9notspecie# of hawks and threespeciesof eagles.&peciemeans 6coined money.6

    stop

    ?olloquial of @ritish forstayor visit!*e isstaying9notstopping# with relatives.

    such

    ;o not usesuchas an intensive!

    -he has excellent9notsuch# taste in clothes.

    ;istinguish betweensuch. . . thatandsuch. . . as!=riday wassucha fine day thatI visited the 7oo.

    &uchtalent ashe shows ought to be developed.

    superior than

    The correct idiom issuperior to.

    sure

    ?olloquial and informal equivalent of certainly,surely, indeed, and the like!It certainly9notsure# is a hard problem.

    &ureis slang foryes!

    ?an you manage it4 &ure.

    suspicion

    3sesuspect.

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    Theysuspected9notsuspicioned# that he was lying.

    tae

    ?olloquialisms involving ta#einclude!

    to ta#e infor to deceiveor to attendto ta#e sic#for to become ill

    to ta#e offfor to ridiculeor to parody

    to ta#e onfor to act violentlyto ta#e stoc# infor to rely on

    to ta#e on too much wor#for to attempt too much

    tae and

    -ee try and.

    tend$attend

    )endis followed by a direct ob2ect< attendis followed by to!

    (lease attend tothe matter at once.

    @essie always tends 9not tends to# the children.

    terrible$

    terribly

    ;o not use these words as mere intensives.

    'e are extremely9not terribly# late.

    through

    (refer the wordfinished!*ave youfinishedwith the paper4

    9:ot! /re you throughwith the paper4#

    transpire

    )ranspiremeans 6to become known6 or 6to come to light6 or 6to exhale.6 ;o not use it to

    mean 6happen6 or 6occur.6'hat he did after that has not transpired.

    The accident happened9not transpired# at five minutes to four.

    try and$

    sure and

    These are colloquialisms for try toandsure to!

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    @esure to9notsure and# be there by six.

    IBll try to9not try and# get there promptly.

    uninterested$

    disinterested

    ;o not confuse these words.(isinterestedmeans 6unbiased6 or 6impartial.6 3ninterested

    means 6indifferent6 or 6taking no interest in.6

    The 2udge was disinterested.The spectators were not uninterestedin the outcome.

    uni7ue

    3ni$uemeans 6the one of its kind.6

    *is hobby is, I think, uni$ue.

    ;o not use uni$uecarelessly to mean 6odd6 or 6unusual.6

    up

    This adverb is frequently added in colloquial speech. /void the following in formal

    writing!

    divide up,finish up,fold up,settle up, end up, rest up, listen up. 3pis correct in suchexpressions as wa#e up, hang up, dig up.

    up until

    (refer until!

    I was doing well until9not up until# last year.

    wait on

    ;o not use wait onto mean 6wait for6 or 6await.6'hat are you waiting for4

    9:ot! 'hat are you waiting on4#

    want

    The verb wantcannot take a clause!

    They wantedhim to go to camp.9:ot! They wanted thathe should go to camp.#

    ;o not use wantinto mean 6want to get in.6

    ;o not use want toforshould!Doushould9not want to# be careful crossing streets.

    way$

    ways

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    ;o not use way to mean condition.

    The patient is in a bad condition9not way#.;o not use wayfor away!

    I saw her away9not way# down the street.

    ;o not use waysfor distance!I noticed her when she was a great distance9not ways# off.

    while

    ;o not use whileas a con2unction unless the intended meaning is 6during the time that.6

    IBll get the fire going whileyou peel the potatoes.

    wire

    Wireis colloquial for telegramor telegraph.

    without

    ;o not use withoutto mean unless!

    I canBt finish unless9not without# you help me.

    worst way$

    worst ind$

    worst sort

    These are colloquialisms for very muchor very difficult!

    This is a very difficult9not the worst #ind of a# book.

    would have

    In conditional clauses, use had!If he had9not would have# stayed at home, it would not have happened at all.

    would of

    The correct form is would have!

    They would have9not would of# been able to come had it not been for the storm.

    -ee could of.

    you all$

    ya2ll

    we all

    These are -outhern colloquialisms foryou9plural# and we.