Usage
This page offers help with
several common usage errors. Listed below in alphabetical order are words
that are commonly confused in writing.
a,an
Use a before a consonant sound. Use an before a vowel sound.
EXAMPLE: She bought a loaf of bread.
She
bought an apple.
accept, except
Accept is a verb meaning "to receive willingly." Except is a
preposition meaning "excluding."
EXAMPLE: I hope the company accepts my applicaton.
I brought everything except sun glasses.
advice, advise
Advice is a noun that means "to consel." Advise is a verb that
means "to offer advice."
EXAMPLE: Please take my advice and don't surf in shark infested waters.
The
lawyer advised his client to plead not guilty.
affect, effect
Affect is a verb meaning either "to influence."" Effect
as a verb means "to accomplish or to produce as a result." As
a noun, effect means "result." "Effect" is usually
used as a noun.
EXAMPLE: The poor lighting affected their performance.
The
President effected important changes.
The
new quarter back had an immediate effect on the team.
altogether, all together
Altogether means "entirely or on the whole". All together means
"in a group."
EXAMPLE: The report of the accident is altogether wrong.
The crew pulled on the rope all together.
among, between
Among refers to a group of three or more. Between expresses the joining
or separation
of two people or things.
EXAMPLE: She is among the league leaders in rebounds.
He
has to choose between Larry and Cheryl.
bad, badly
Bad is an adjective. Badly is an adverb.
EXAMPLE: That was a bad pitch.
He
pitched badly.
breath, breathe
Breath is a noun meaning "the air inhaled and exhaled during respiration."
Breathe is a verb meaning "to inhale and exhale."
EXAMPLE: When you have the wind knocked out of you, it is hard
to take a breath.
It's
impossible for people to breathe underwater, without an oxygen tank anyway.
bring, take
Bring means motion toward someone or some place. Take means motion
away from someone or some place.
EXAMPLE: Bring us some food.
Take
this back to the store.
complement, compliment
Complement means "to complete or make whole." Compliment
means "to praise."
EXAMPLE: The new book is the perfect complement to my collection.
Everyone
likes to get a compliment now and then.
emigrate, immigrate
To emigrate is to leave one’s homeland. To immigrate is to enter
a country for the purpose of settling there. An emigrant is one who is
on his way from a former home. An immigrant is one who has arrived in
a new country.
EXAMPLE: The American couple emigrated from the US to England.
Most
of our ancestors immigrated to the US long ago.
etc.
The abbreviation et cetera, meaning “and so forth,” or “and
others.” The abbreviation is avoided in most writing. If it is used,
it
ß must not be preceded by and, because the et means “and.”
Instead of ending a list with etc., begin it with "such as,"
or "for example."
hanged, hung
Criminals are hanged. Things are hung on walls, hooks, or elsewhere.
Example: The mob hanged the horse thief.
The
doctor’s diplomas hung on his office wall.
in, into
In means inside something. Into tells of motion from the outside to
the inside of something.
EXAMPLE: The gopher was caught in the trap.
The
man drove into the snowstorm.
its, it's
Its is a possessive
pronoun. It's is a contraction meaning "it is."
EXAMPLE: The dog chased its tail.
She
hates driving when it's raining.
later, latter
Later refers to time. It is the comparative form of "late."
Latter refers to the second of two named.
EXAMPLE: I didn't expect you home until later.
Metallica
and Led Zepplin are seminal rock bands. But the latter are my favorite
band
of
all time.
lay, lie
Lay is transitive
verb which means "to put or place on a surface." Lie is
an intransitive verb which means "to recline or rest in a flat position."
EXAMPLE: Lay that pie on the table.
You
should lie down and take a nap.
like,as
Like is often used as a preposition. Follow it with a noun. As is
used as a subordinate conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause.
EXAMPLE: He looks like he is tired.
He
does not enjoy the game as I do.
principal, principle
Principal is a noun meaning "the head of a school" or "a
sum of money." Principle is a noun meaning "a basic truth
or standard."
EXAMPLE: The principal gave Joe detention.
I
will not do that; it is against my principles.
than, then
Than is a conjunction. It is used to compare things. Then is an
adverb meaning "at that time in the past" or "next in time."
EXAMPLE: She likes pepperoni pizza more than any other food.
First
you pre-heat the oven; then you put the frozen pizza in.
there, their, they're
There is an adverb meaning "at or in that place." Their
is a possessive pronoun. They're a contraction for "they are."
EXAMPLE: I saw the golf ball land over there.
Their
new house is wonderful.
I
cannot believe that they're going to buy that car.
to, too, two
To is a preposition usually meaning "in a direction toward."
Too is an adverb meaning "also." Two is a number.
EXAMPLE: They went to the movie.
She
wanted to go to the movie too.
I
bought two tickets for the movie.
Parts
of Speech
Sentence
Structure
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