Commoon Mistake
Commoon Mistake
Commoon Mistake
advice vs advise Advice is a noun, which means an opinion that someone offers you about what you should do
or how you should act in a particular situation.
Advise is a verb, which means to give information and suggest types of action.
! Often in English the noun form ends in ...ice and the verb form ends in ...ise.
affect vs effect Affect and effect are two words that are commonly confused.
Hint: If it's something you're going to do, use "affect." If it's something you've already done,
use "effect."
Note: effect is followed by the preposition on and preceded by an article (an, the)
a lot / alot / allot A lot, meaning a large amount or number of people or things, can be used to modify a noun.
For example:-
For example:-
Alot does not exist! There is no such word in the English language. If you write it this way -
imagine me shouting at you - "No Such Word!"
Allot is a verb, which means to give (especially a share of something) for a particular purpose:-
Already is an adverb that means before the present time or earlier than the time expected.
For example: "I asked him to come to the cinema but he'd already seen the film."
Or
"Are you buying Christmas cards already? It's only September!"
For example: She wrote less and less often, and eventually she stopped altogether.
! To be in the altogether is an old-fashioned term for being naked!
For example: They made me feel like I was a part of the family.
Been is used to describe completed visits. So if you have been to England twice, you have
travelled there and back twice. If you have gone to England, you have not yet returned.
bored vs boring bored is an adjective that describes when someone feels tired and unhappy because something
is not interesting or because they have nothing to do.
For example: The lesson was so boring that she fell asleep.
! Note Most verbs which express emotions, such as to bore , may use either the present or the
past participle as an adjective, but the meaning of the participles is often different.
borrow vs lend To lend:
For example: "My mother lent me some money, and I must pay her back soon."
To borrow:
For example: "I borrowed some money off my mother, and I must pay her back soon."
by vs until Both until and by indicate “any time before, but not later than.”
Until tells us how long a situation continues. If something happens until a particular time, you
stop doing it at that time.
For example:
For example:
If something happens by a particular time, it happens at or before that time. It is often used to
indicate a deadline.
For example:
For example:
check (v) To check means to examine. To make certain that something or someone is correct, safe or
vs suitable by examining it or them quickly.
control (v)
For example: "You should always check your oil, water and tyres before taking your car on a long trip."
To control means to order, limit, instruct or rule something, or someone's actions or behaviour.
For example: "If you can't control your dog, put it on a lead!"
What you shouldn't do is use the verb control in association with people and the work they do.
For example: "I check my students' homework, but I can't control what they do!"
!Note
In Business English there is often a lot of confusion because of the term control in accounting.
In most organizations the controller is the top managerial and financial accountant. The
controller supervises the accounting department and assists management in interpreting and
utilizing managerial accounting information.
complement vs Complement is a verb, which means to make something seem better or more attractive when
compliment combined.
For example: "The colours blue and green complement each other perfectly."
Compliment is a noun, which means a remark that expresses approval, admiration or respect.
data vs datum This isn't so much a common mistake as a common cause for arguments (as is often the case
with words of Latin origin).
The dictionaries treat data as a group noun, meaning information, especially facts or numbers,
collected for examination and consideration and used to help decision-making, or meaning
information in an electronic form that can be stored and processed by a computer.
Then they go on to confuse matters by giving the following kind of example:-
So, which is it, was or were? Strictly speaking 'datum' is the singular form of and 'data' is the
the plural form.
If you're writing for an academic audience, particularly in the sciences, "data" takes a plural
verb.
For example:-
But most people treat 'data' as a singular noun, especially when talking about computers etc.
For example:-
For example: To work for the royal family you have to be very discreet.
Discrete is an adjective.
It means something is distinct and separate or has a clear independent shape or form.
For example: She painted using strong colours, discrete shapes, and rhythmic patterns.
don't have to vs Don't have to = Do not have to We have to use don't have to to say that there is no obligation
mustn't or necessity to do something.
For example: "You don't have to do the exercises at the end of this page."
Mustn't = must not is a modal verb used to show that something is not allowed. When you use
mustn't you are telling people not to do things. It has the same force as don’t, as in: Don't do
that!
either vs too Either is used with a negative verb when you are agreeing with something someone doesn't do
or like etc.
Too is used with an affirmative verb when you are agreeing with something someone does or
likes etc.
every day vs Every day - here every is a determiner and day is a noun.
everyday
When you say every day you mean each day without exception.
For example: You have been late for school every day this week.
Everyday is an adjective.
For example: My culture pages offer an insight into the everyday life of Britain.
excited vs excited is an adjective that describes when someone feels happy and enthusiastic about
exciting something.
For example: The football match was so exciting that she couldn't wait to tell everyone about it.
fewer vs less Everyone gets this wrong - including native speakers. The general rule is to use fewer for
things you can count (individually), and less for things you can only measure
For example:
There were fewer days below freezing last winter. (Days can be counted.)
I drink less coffee than she does. (Coffee cannot be counted individually it has to be measured).
! Note - "Less" has to do with how much. "Fewer" has to do with how many.
for vs since The prepositions for and since are often used with time expressions.
For example:
For example:
good vs well Good is an adjective. We use good when we want to give more information about a noun.
For example:
She didn't speak very good English. Her English isn't very good.
Well is usually used as an adverb. We use well when we want to give more information about
a verb.
For example:
Note! The exception to this can be when you talk about someone's health:
For example:-
For example:-
Note! Younger people might reply to the question "How are you?" with "I'm good." This is
what I call MTV English.
heroin vs Heroin is a noun; it is a powerful illegal drug, obtained from morphine and is extremely
heroine addictive.
For example: "He was arrested for supplying heroin, a class A drug."
Heroine is a female person who is admired for having done something very brave or having
achieved something great. The male equivalent is hero.
For example: “Mark just phoned to say he'd left his coat behind. Do you know if this is his?"
"How do you If I had a Euro for every time someone got this one wrong - I'd be a rich bunny!
do?"
vs How do you do?
"How are you?"
This is not a question. It is another, very formal way of saying "Hello." It is also very British.
The correct response is; "Pleased to meet you." or "How do you do." or just "Hello."
This is a question.
For example;-
There are other times when people make mistakes with these two pronouns. I/me is difficult
when it is coupled with another pronoun or with a noun. This is when you have to think about
the subject/object in a sentence
For example;-
"It was I who did the homework," or "It was me who did the homework."
"I did the homework." so "It was I who did the homework," is correct.
!If you don't understand why the above sentence is correct, simplify the sentence again.
Deal with the two people separately.
interested vs Interested is a past participle. When used as an adjective it says how someone feels.
interesting
For example: "I was very interested in the lesson."
Interesting is a present participle. When used as an adjective it describes the people or things
that cause the feelings.
lay vs lie Lay is an irregular transitive verb (lay / laid/ laid - laying). It needs a direct object. It means to
put something or someone down (often in a horizontal position).
Lie is an irregular intransitive verb (lie / lay / lain - lying). It does not take a direct object. It
means to rest in a horizontal position1 or to be located somewhere2.
For example: "If you are tired lie here and have a rest."1
"Nottingham lies in the Midlands."2
! Lie also means to say something that isn't true but it takes the following form (lie / lied / lied
- lying).
For example:-
If you lay something down your weapons it means you stop fighting.
If you lay wine down it means you are storing it for drinking in the future.
For example:-I laid down this bottle in 1998; it should be perfect for drinking now.
Lie down means to move into a position in which your body is flat, usually in order to sleep or
rest.
For example: "If you are tired lie down and have a rest."
look after vs To look after; means to take care of or be in charge of something or someone.
look for
For example: "I often ask my mother to look after the children."
For example: "I am looking for my keys. Have you seen them?"
look at vs watch In this context look is usually followed by the preposition at.
When you look at someone or something you are interested in the appearance.
For example:
Watch is a verb.
When you watch someone or something you are interested in what happens.
For example:
! If I say to you "Look at him!" I mean for you to check out his appearance. But, if I say to you
"Watch him!" I mean it as a warning.
For example:-
Overlook is a verb.
When you overlook someone or something you fail to notice or consider it or them:
nor vs nor (conjunction) nor is always used in the negative, usually before the second or last of a set of
or negative possibilities, after 'neither'.
For example:-
My is a possessive adjective.
For example:-
"I'm going to me and Margaret's room." or "I'm going to my and Margaret's room."
"I'm going to my room." So, "I'm going to my and Margaret's room," is correct.
A real point of confusion arises when considering the use of "my" or "me" as the "subject" of a
gerund.
But which is correct? Well they both are - sort of, but the use of the possessive, "my telling jokes
in class” serves to isolate the telling of jokes as the object of my teacher's anger. It's hopefully
not "me" at whom she/he has become upset, but the telling of jokes. In the sentence, "me telling
jokes in class", it might seem as though the teacher doesn't like me personally. The rule is that the
subject of a gerund is supposed to be in the possessive case.
Remember though that this is a purist’s view. Both are now becoming acceptable through
common usage. However, you can avoid any confusion by writing the sentence in a different
way:-
most vs the Most without an article is usually used as an adjective, which means almost all.
most
For example:-
The most is usually used to form the superlative of many adjectives and adverbs.
For example:-
For example: Your personal belongings are the things that belong to you.
It can relate to the private parts of someone's life, including their relationships and feelings.
For example: If you have personal problems, it means you have problems that are private and sensitive to
you. Perhaps problems in a relationship.
It can also mean something that is designed for or used by one person.
!If you are rude about or offensive towards someone it could be said that you are being
personal.
Personnel is a noun.
!Many businesses have renamed their Personnel Department to 'The Human Resources
Department' or HRD for short.
Practise is a verb
! Often in English the noun form ends in ...ice and the verb form ends in ...ise.
For example: The teacher sent the unruly student to see the principal.
Principal as a noun can also mean the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
For example: She lives off the interest and tries to keep the principal intact.
Principle is a noun which means a basic idea, standard of behaviour or rule that explains or
controls how something happens or works:
For example: The country works on the principle that all citizens have equal rights.
raise vs rise When used as a verb they both have the same general meaning of "to move upwards", the main
difference is that rise is an intransitive verb (it does not take an object), while raise is a
transitive verb (it requires an object):
As you can see from these examples, (nobody is pushing up the sun!), whereas (Mary moved
her hand upwards/The government make laws to increase taxes).
For example:-
The sun rises in the east.
The chairman always rises to the occasion.
I will rise tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. to walk the dog.
Rise is an irregular verb: rise / rose / risen
For example:-
Lynne raised her hand.
The government is going to raise taxes.
They can't raise the Titanic.
Raise is a regular verb: raise / raised / raised
say / said Said v. is the past simple and past participle of to say.
vs It can be used in direct speech:
tell / told For example: "I am sorry", said the criminal.
It can be used in indirect (reported) speech (followed by that).
For example: "The criminal said that he was sorry.
Said adj. is used before the name of a person or thing you have already mentioned:
For example: "The said party denied the charges"
When told has the meaning of "instruct", it can be followed by an object and an infinitive.
For example: He told me to leave.
to see vs To see means to be aware of what is around you by using your eyes.
to watch
For example: "I can see the smoke from here."
To watch means to look at something for a period of time, especially something that is
changing or moving.
! Note - We watch things that move, such as TV, a film, sport. We look at static things, such as a
photograph, a painting, the stars.
For example: Shortness in children and young adults nearly always results from below-average growth
in childhood.
! Note - Remember that without the noun you need to use "so."
so + patient
Stationery means the items needed for writing, such as paper, pens, pencils and envelopes.
For example: "It is the secretary's job to order the stationery?"
that, which, "Who" (or whom) is a pronoun, and is used as the subject or object of a verb to show which
who person you are referring to, or to add information about a person just mentioned. It is used for
people, not things.
"Which” is a pronoun, and is used as the subject or object of a verb to show what thing or things you are
referring to, or to add information about the thing just mentioned? It is used for things, not people.
"That" is a pronoun, and is used as the subject or object of a verb to show which person or
thing you are referring to, or to add information about a person or thing just mentioned. It can
be used for people and things. It can sometimes be omitted.
Example:
! If you've written "they're," ask yourself whether you can substitute "they are." If not, you've
made a mistake. There" has "here" inside it to remind you it refers to a place, while "their" has
"heir" buried in it to remind you that it has to do with possession.
trainee vs A trainee is a person who is learning and practicing the skills of a particular job.
trainer
For example: "There is a shortage of trainee dentists in the UK."
A trainer is a person who teaches skills for a particular job, activity or sport.
For example: "I like to think of myself as an English trainer, not an English teacher."
to, too or two? To is the most common form. When to is used before a verb it forms part of the infinitive:-
To is also a preposition, often used to indicate direction, which begins a prepositional phrase.
Too is an adjective meaning "extra or more than necessary" - after all it has 2 Os - 1 too many?
Two is a number.
travel, trip Travel (v) is used in general terms as a verb - it usually means to change location. The word
voyage or travel is very rarely used as a noun.
journey?
For example: I have to travel a lot for work.
Trip (n) is often substituted for the word 'holiday' when the travelling distance was short.
For example: I have to travel a lot for work. I am off on another business trip next week.
Trip (v) has a totally different meaning. It means to nearly fall over.
Voyage (n) is usually a long journey by boat. The word voyage is very rarely used as a verb.
For example: The voyage to South Africa took over six weeks.
Journey (n) is used more in British English than American English. It means the 'piece' of travel
between 2 or more points. The word journey is very rarely used as a verb.
used to vs used Used to can be used as an adjective and we use it to talk about things that have become
to do familiar, and are no longer strange or new.
Used to do - If we say something used to happen we are talking about repeated events and
actions in the past, usually things that happened a long time ago and are now finished.
What is used to ask a question when there are an unknown number or infinite possibilities for
an answer. You know that there are many, many ways that exist to address your question, and
you want to find out—from all those possibilities that you might not even know about—the
best way.
For example: "What movie did you go to see?"
Which is used if you are choosing between two items, already defined, in a different sentence,
like this:
For example: "Which shoes should I wear with this dress—my blue ones or my black ones?"
You can use which when you have a very small or limited field to choose from. Certainly use
which, not what, when there are only two choices, or if both speaker and listener can visualize
all the items under consideration:
Often, either which or what can be used for several choices, depending on what is in the
speaker’s mind:
For example:-
Both sentences are fine. The speaker is probably thinking about fewer buses in sentence (a) than
in sentence (b).
who vs whom Who is used as the subject of a verb. Basically anytime "I", "she" or "he" 'feels' right, who can be
used.
For example:-
In questions who is used when asking which person or people did something, or when asking
what someone's name is. In fact in informal writing and speech who is used most of the time.
For example:-
For example:-
"To whom do you wish to speak?" (This sounds very old-fashioned and stilted.)
! If in doubt, try the “he or him” test:-
For example:
"He took out a photo of his son, whom he adores." - "He adores he" should 'feel"'wrong. So it must be
"He adores him."
If you're still not sure, go with who, 99.9% of the time you'll be right.