How to Avoid Grammatical Errors - Misused Words
Ten Common Examples of Misusing, Misunderstanding or Mixing Up Words
Nov 20, 2008
Words are misused everywhere. Hearing words repeatedly used at the wrong time and in the wrong place makes it seems as if that usage is correct. It’s easy to become confused; but once your attention is drawn to the correct definitions of words, it will be difficult to misuse them in future.
Have you ever stood in the Ten Items or Less line at a checkout, counted the items in the baskets of the people ahead of you and noticed that they have 11 or 12 items?
The next time that happens, draw their attention to the sign and ask, “Do you see that sign that says Ten Items or Less?” and then inform them, “It’s grammatically incorrect, you know, it should say Ten Items or Fewer.” Even if they don’t all move to another checkout, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve done your bit for the promotion of good English!
1) Less or Fewer?
- Less refers to the diminution in size of a single item (or a noun which is singular although it is made up of many smaller parts like, sand, or hair)
- Fewer refers to the diminution in number of several items
- Right: There is less chance of success
- Right: There are fewer opportunities for success
2) Between or Among?
- Between specifically refers to the relation of one thing or group, to another thing or group. It might be in, to, through or across space, time, people or objects.
- Among means of a number of, or amidst, or in the midst of
- Wrong: The four girls had one lipstick between them
- Right: Father and son, shared the sandwich between them
- Right: The sandwiches were distributed among forty students.
- You choose between two options, but
- You choose from several options, or
- You choose from among several options
3) Presently
- Presently means in the near future or soon
- Presently does not mean now
- If you want to say now, use at present or currently
4) Momentarily
- Momentarily means for a moment, or moment by moment
- Momentarily does not mean in a moment or soon
- If you want to say soon, use presently
5) While
- While means during or at the same time as
- While shouldn’t be used to mean and, but or although
- Right: While I cooked dinner, my husband opened the wine.
- Wrong: While I enjoy running, I prefer swimming.
6) Alright
- Alright isn’t a word. It should be expressed as all right
- Alright is a contraction and amalgamation of the two words and would be acceptable in dialogue in plays or fiction. In the same way that any phonetic representation of direct speech would be acceptable.
7) Disinterested or Uninterested?
- Disinterested means impartial, not having any favourite, not having any personal investment of feelings or money in something.
- Uninterested means not interested, not caring about something.
8) Decimated
- Decimate is a word that originated from the Roman army’s punishment for mutinous legions, where they killed every tenth person.
- To decimate means to reduce by one tenth.
- It should not be used to mean wiped out or destroyed.
9) Compared To or Compared With?
Both involve setting things side by side and making a comparison.
- Compared to can mean to be likened to and should be used when demonstrating that things are similar to one another.
- Compared with should be used when examining comparisons and contrasts, or similarities and differences.
- The young American composer was compared to Mozart
- The fingerprints lifted from the crime scene will be compared with the samples on file. ?
10) Reason, Why, and Because
The reason why you shouldn’t use all those words in one sentence is because tautology really annoys people.
- Tautology is the needless repetition of the same sense in different words.
So just remember...
- The reason you should not use all those words in one sentence is that tautology really annoys people.
- Tautology really annoys people which is why you should not use all these words in one sentence
- You should not use all these words in one sentence is because tautology really annoys people.
Choosing one of the words, and using one version will suffice!
Making the effort to pick up a few simple tips on spelling and grammar can make all the difference to your writing.
Click here for more information about Freelance Writing
 |
