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100 Common Usage Problems

The document provides a list of 50 common usage problems in English. Each item describes a grammar rule or distinction between similar words. For example, it explains the difference between "accept" and "except," "affect" and "effect," and "allot" versus "a lot." The document aims to help improve writing by clarifying correct usage.

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Red Gonzales
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647 views

100 Common Usage Problems

The document provides a list of 50 common usage problems in English. Each item describes a grammar rule or distinction between similar words. For example, it explains the difference between "accept" and "except," "affect" and "effect," and "allot" versus "a lot." The document aims to help improve writing by clarifying correct usage.

Uploaded by

Red Gonzales
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Hidden

Mistake

COMMON USAGE
PROBLEMS

(1) a, an
A- article used before consonant
sounds
AN- article used before vowel
sounds
H,O, and U may have either a
vowel sound or a consonant
sound.

(2) accept, except


ACCEPT- verb
- to receive
EXCEPT- preposition
- leaving out

(3) accuse, allege


ACCUSE-to blame
ALLEGE- to claim
something that has not
been
proved

(4) adapt, adopt

ADAPT- to
change
ADOPT- to take
ones
own.

as

(5) advice, advise

ADVICE- a noun
- an opinion
ADVISE- a verb
- to give an
to

opinion

(6) affect, effect

AFFECT-a verb
- to influence
EFFECT- a noun
- result

(7) aggravate
- To make worse
-Avoid using this word to
mean TO ANNOY

(8) aint
- Contraction of AM NOT
- Not considered
acceptable standard
English

(9) allot, a lot,

alot

- ALLOT-v. to
-divide in
parts
- A LOT-informal
expression
- a great many
- ALOT- should never
be used

(10) All ready,


already
- ALL READY
- adjective

- ready
- ALREADY
- adverb
- by or
before
this time

(11) All right,


alright
ALRIGHT is a non
standard spelling.
Use ALL RIGHT in your
writing.

(12) All together,


altogether

ALL TOGETHER
- All at once
ALTOGETHER
- completely, in

all

(13) A.M., P.M.


A.M.- hours before
noon
P.M.- hours after
noon
Do not use in the morning
or in th afternoon with
them

(14) among,

between

AMONG
- always implies three or more
BETWEEN
- generally used with just two
things

(15) amount,

number

AMOUNT- use with


quantities that cant be
counted
NUMBER-use with things
that can be counted.

(16) anxious
-means WORRIED, UNEASY,
FEARFUL
-Do not use it as a
substitute for EAGER.

(17) anyone, any one,


everyone, every one
ANYONE- any person
ANY ONE-any single
EVERYONE-every
EVERY ONE-every
person

person
person
single

(18) Anyway, anywhere,


everywhere, nowhere,
somewhere

- These adverbs should


never end in S.

(19) as
- Do not use this
conjunction to mean
because or since

(20) As to
AS TO is awkward.
Replace it with ABOUT.

(21) at
-Do not use AT after
WHERE. Simply eliminate
AT.

(22) at about
- Avoid using AT with
ABOUT
- Eliminate AT or ABOUT.

(23) awful,
awfully
AWFUL
- extremely bad
- inspiring fear
AWFULLY- very

(24) awhile,
a while
AWHILE-adverb
- for a while
A WHILE
- article+noun
-used after for

(25) beat, win


BEAT
- to overcome an opponent
WIN
- to achieve
victory in

(26) because
- Do not use BECAUSE
after THE REASON.

(27) Being as,


that

being

-Avoid using these


expressions.
-Use SINCE or BECAUSE

(28) beside,
besides
BESIDE
-at the side of
BESIDES
-in addition to

(29) blond,
blonde
BLOND
-refers to male
BLONDE
- refers to female

(30) bring,

take

BRING
-to carry from a distant place to
a nearer one
TAKE
-to carry from a near place to a
distant place

(31) bunch
- A number of things of
the same kind
- Avoid using this word
to mean GROUP.

(32) burst,
busted

bust,

BURST
-present, past, past particle
BUST & BUSTED
-nonstandard forms

(33) But what

-Do not use BUT


WHAT.
-Use THAT

(34)can, may
CAN
-to have ability to
MAY
-to have permission to

(35) cant help

but

-nonstandard expression
-use CANT HELP+gerund

(36) clipped
Phone- telephone
Gym- gymnasium
Photo-photograph

words

(37) condemn,
condone
CONDEMN
-strong disapproval
CONDONE
-to pardon or overlook

(38)continual,
continuous
CONTINUAL
- Occurring again and
again in
succession
CONTINUOUS
-occurring without interruption

(39)Different from,
different than
DIFFERENT FROM is
preferred.

(40) doesnt, dont


Do not use DONT with
third person singular
subjects.
Use DOESNT instead.

(41)done
-past participle of DO
-it should always follow a
helping verb.

(42) dove
-past tense of DIVE but is
considered UNACCEPTABLE.
-Use DIVED instead.

(43) Due to
-means caused by
-should be used only when
this can logically be
substituted.

(44) Due to the


that

fact

-Replace this with SINCE or


BECAUSE

(45) Each other, one


another
-usually interchangeable
EACH OTHER
-reference to only two
ONE ANOTHER
-reference to more than two

(46)emigrate,
immigrate
EMIGRATE
-to leave a country for a new
residency
IMMIGRATE
-to enter a country to establish a
residency

(47)enthused,
enthusiastic

ENTHUSIASTIC must be
used.

(48)farther,

further

FARTHER
-refers to distance
FURTHER
-means additional or to a
greater degree or extent

(49)fewer, less
FEWER
-with things that can be counted
LESS
-with quantities that cant be
counted

(50)former,

latter

FORMER
-refers to the first of two
previously mentioned items
LATTER
-refers to the second of the two

Right
or
Wrong

He is an
history
teacher.

The school will


except applications
until tomorrow.

Ana adapted a
stray dog.

Pessimism
aggravates
problems.

He may hurt me, but


I will love you
anyway.

Correct Me, Im
Wrong

The Rise from


Mistake

Procedure:
Think of the biggest mistake
youve ever done in your life.
Write a story of it and
narrate the ways you did to
make your mistake right

Procedure:
Use at least 10 words that
are discussed in our
lesson and use them
appropriately.

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