English IIMore Common Usage Errors
1). A and An: The article a is used before consonant sounds. The article an is used before vowel sounds. When using a and an before words beginning with h, o, or u, check to make sure you have chosen the correct article. Sometimes these three letters have consonant sounds; at other times, they have vowel sounds.
Consonant sounds: a history book (h-sound)
a one-time opportunity (w-sound)
a unanimous decision (y-sound)
Vowel sounds: an honor society (no h-sound)
an only child (o-sound)
an ugly wound (u-sound)
2). Accept and Except: The spellings of these words are often confused. Accept, a verb, means “to receive.” Except, a preposition, means “other than” or “leaving out.”
Verb:We accept your offer to mediate the dispute.
Preposition: All the singers attended except the tenor.
3). Adapt and Adopt: The meanings of these words are often confused. Adapt means “to change.” Adopt means “to take as one’s own.”
John Lanchberyadapts and arranges the music of others.
In the play he adopted an Irish accent.
4). Advice and Advise: Advice, a noun, means “an opinion.” Advise, a verb, means “to give an opinion to.”
NOUN: I will accept your advice.
VERB: His doctor advised him to lose weight.
5). Allot, A Lot, and Alot: Allot, a verb, means “to divide in parts” or “to give out in shares.” “A lot” is an informal expression meaning “a great many.” It should never be spelled as one word.
VERB:Each of us has been allotted ten dollars to spend at the fair.
INCORRECT: We visited alot of state parks last summer.
CORRECT:We visited a lot of state parks last summer.
6). All Ready and Already: All ready, two separate words used as an adjective, is an expression meaning “ready.” Already, an adverb, means “even now” or “by or before this time.”
ADJECTIVE: They have been all ready to leave for an hour.
ADVERB: He has already reached the Death Star.
7). All Together and Altogether: Both adverbs, these words have different meanings. All together, two words, means “together as a single group.” Altogether means “completely” or “in all.”
Let’s sing the school song all together.
We were altogether disappointed with the play.
8). Among and Between: Among always implies three or more. Between is usually used with two things only.
Among my five friends, I prefer Cameron.
The argument is betweenHailey and Humaira.
9). A While and Awhile: A while is an article and a noun. The expression is usually used after the preposition for. Awhile, an adverb, in itself means “for a while.”
NOUN: Come talk with me for a while.
VERB: Let’s sit awhile and talk.
10). Because: This word should not be used after the reason. Use one or the other.
NONSTANDARD:The reason for his happiness is because he was accepted at Julliard.
CORRECT: He is happy because he was accepted at Julliard.
The reason for his happiness is that he was accepted at Julliard.