Ms. Crandell
English 9
Use This, Not That!
Common Usage Errors to Learn and Avoid
affect vs. effect When you affect a situation, you have an effect on it.
Examples: The strange color did not affect my final choice: a slice of pumpkin pie. Roasting the pumpkin for an hour gave it a caramelized effect.
Also, effect can be used as a verb meaning ‘to bring about.’
Example: Only the president can effect such a dramatic change.
Use “a lot” instead of “alot”Just think: you don’t write alittle, do you?
Example: We learn a lot of literary terms in Ms. Crandell’s class.
anyway: Has no ending s. Anyways is nonstandard.
Use “based on” instead of “based off”
Example: Shakespeare based many of his plays on plots that already existed.
capital vs. capitol: Capital refers to a city, while capitol refers to a building where lawmakers meet. Just imagine the ‘o’ is the dome. Capital also refers to wealth or resources
Examples: The capitol has undergone extensive renovations. The residents of the state capital protested the development plans.
emigrate from vs. immigrate to: Emigrate means to leave one country or region to settle in another.
Example: In 1872, my great-great-great-grandpa emigrated from Denmark.
Immigrate means to enter another country and reside there.
Example: My ancestors immigrated to the U.S. to pursue a better life.
Remember: Emigratebegins with the letter E, as does Exit. When you emigrate, you exit a country. Immigrate begins with the letter I, as does In. When you immigrate, you go into a country.
itsvs it’s: The exception to the general rule that one should use an apostrophe to indicate possession is in possessive pronouns. Its, hers, and ours are already possessive.
Example: Its vivid colors make me want to paint that bouquet. It’s simply gorgeous.
Remember: It’s always means “it is” or “it has” and nothing else.
supposed to: Do not omit the d. Suppose to is nonstandard.
thanvs then: Than is a conjunction used in comparisons; then is an adverb denoting time. Examples: That pizza is more than I can eat. Tom laughed, and then we recognized him.
Remember:Thanis used to compare; both words have the letter a in them. Thentells when.
there, their, they're: There is an adverb specifying place.
Example of Adverb: Sylvia is lying there unconscious.
Their is a possessive pronoun. They're is a contraction of they are.
Examples: Fred and Jane finally washed their car. They're later than usual today.
to, too, two: To is a preposition; too is an adverb; two is a number.
Example: Too many of your shots slice to the left, but the last two were right on the mark.
Remember: You use too when you want to include something else. Think of it as adding; therefore, you also need to add an extra o.
toward: There is no s at the end of the word.
used to: Don’t omit the d. Do not write use to.
yourvs you're: Your is a possessive pronoun; you're is a contraction of you are.
Example: You're going to catch a cold if you don't wear your coat.
Remember: Sound out you are in the sentence. If it works in the sentence it can be written as you're. If it sounds awkward, it is probably supposed to be your.
who, which, what: Do not use which to refer to persons. Use who instead. That, though generally used to refer to things, may be used to refer to a group or class of people.
Example: I just saw a man who was wearing a blue costume. I have to go to English next, which is my favorite class.
Web sources:
Purdue Online Writing Lab
Explanation of usage errors
Ms. Crandell
English 9
Punctuation and Grammar Guide
See this link for help with grammar!
Capital Letters:
The first word in a sentence that is a direct quote
Emerson once said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
Proper nouns (the names of specific people, places, organizations, and sometimes things)
Worrill Fabrication Company
Golden Gate Bridge
Supreme Court
Livingston, Missouri
Family relationships (when used as proper names)
I sent a thank-you note to Aunt Abigail but not to my other aunts.
Here is a present I bought for Mom.
Did you buy a present for my mom?
Comma Splice Example: Incorrect: He enjoys walking through the country, he often goes backpacking on his vacations.
Correct: He enjoys walking through the country, and he often goes backpacking on his vacations.
OR
He enjoys walking through the country; he often goes backpacking on his vacations.
Headings on papers: Left-hand side of paper, with name, instructor name, Class name and class period, date, and assignment name. Example:
Jane Doe
Ms. Crandell
English 9 Period 1
14 September 2016
Short Story
Numbers: Write out numbers one through ten and whenever a number begins a sentence. Example: Sixteen percent of the group got enough sleep.
Punctuating age example: We hosted a group of 90-year-olds who were born in the city.
Punctuating dialogue example: Mr. Johnson, who was working in his field that morning, said, "The alien spaceship appeared right before my own two eyes."
If quoting only a fragment of a sentence, don’t use a capital letter to begin the quote.
Although Mr. Johnson has seen odd happenings on the farm, he stated that the spaceship "certainly takes the cake" when it comes to unexplainable activity.
If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not capitalize the second part of the quotation.
"I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I sure wish I had."
Run ons INCORRECT: They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise.
CORRECT: They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in disguise.
Time of day example: 8:00 A.M. (or) a.m. (or) eight o'clock in the morning