1. accept, except.

Accept is a verb : except is a preposition

They accepted my invitation.

Everyone attended the meeting except the secretary.


2. advice, advise. Advice is a noun; advise is a verb.

His advice was useful.

I was advised to purchase a more economical car.


3.

affect, effect. Affect is a verb; it means " to influence." Effect may be a verb or a noun. The
verb effect means " to cause to happen "; the noun effect means " the result."

Pollution affects everyone.
Your tears do not affect me.
Your tears have no effect upon me.
Doctors have effected a cure for polio.
The effect of drugs is well known.


4.
almost, most. Most is used to form the superlative; it is used to modify nouns. Almost is an
adverb.



Most people are honest.


He is the most unusual person I have ever met.


Almost everyone has a desire to succeed.


Almost all of the food was eaten.


5.
already, all ready. Already means " before the time specified. " All ready means "
completely prepared."



The movie had already begun by the time we arrived.



The members were all ready to hear the report.


6.

altogether, all together. Altogether means " thoroughly." All together means " in a group."



The thought of a third world war is altogether frightening.



The children were all together on the bus.


7.
amount, number. Use amount to refer to thing sin bulk or mass; number refers to the
countable.


rong !
I was ama"ed by the amount of people present.

#ight !
I was ama"ed by the number of people present.

#ight !
The amount of money needed was soon collect.


.

and !hich, !hich

rong ! I found a lost dog and which needs a good home.
#ight ! I found a lost dog which needs a good home.

rong ! $y father is a good man and whom we all love deeply.
#ight ! $y father is a good man whom we all love deeply and whom we admire.


",

any!heres, any!here Anywheres is very informal


rong !
e can talk anywheres.


#ight !
e can talk anywhere.


1#. around

rong ! He arrived around ten o%clock.

#ight ! He arrived about ten o%clock.
1.

to, too, t!o



It isn%t urgent to write a report.


The actress was too nervous to go on stage.


There were two cars involved in the accident.


Too many cooks spoil the broth.


2.

type of. Do not omit " of."

rong !
That type movie depresses me.
#ight !
That type of movie depresses me.


3.

used to, supposed to. Do not omit the -d.

rong ! He is suppose to be here by si&.
#ight ! He is supposed to be here by si&.


4.

!ait on means " to serve." Do not confuse ith wait for.

rong
!
'he waited on me for half an hour.
#ight
!
'he waited for me for half an hour.

#ight
!
The clerk waited on several customers during the morning.


5.

!ant is not folloed by a clause.


rong !
'he wants that I help her.

#ight !
'he wants me to help her.


6.
ere is used in contrary-to-truth conditional clauses. Do not use as in these clauses.

rong ! If I was taller( I could play basketball.
#ight ! If I were taller( I could play basketball.

#ight ! I was a basketball player when I was in college.


7.

!hen refers to " time." Do not use when to introduce a noun clause.

rong ! When I miss my bus causes me to be late.

#ight ! When I miss my bus( I am late.


. !here refers to " place." Do not use here meaning that.

rong ! I read in the newspaper where the President is going to veto the proposed law.

#ight ! I read in the newspaper that the President is going to veto the proposed law.


".

!hile refers to " time." Do not use while meaning but or and.

rong ! $y brother is a pilot while my sister is a teacher..
#ight ! $y brother is a pilot( and my sister is a teacher.

rong ! While my family is not rich( we have many advantages.
#ight ! $y family is not rich( but we have many advantages.

#ight ! While you were out( someone called and left a message.


1#.

!ho$s, !hose. %ho$s means !ho is. %hose is a possessive.

rong ! 'he is a woman who%s advice is easy to follow.
#ight ! 'he is a woman whose advice is easy to follow.

#ight ! Do you know who%s giving the party )
1. as. !void using as instead of because, for, since, that, or whether.

rong ! As he was ill( he stayed home.
#ight ! Because he was ill( he stayed home.
! Since he was ill( he stayed home.
! He stayed home( for he was ill.

rong ! I feel as I should go.
#ight ! I feel that I should go.


2.

at. "mit the " at "

rong ! here is he living at now )

#ight ! here is he living now )




3.

at about. "mit the " at ".

rong He arrived at about noon.

#ight He arrive about noon.


4.

because. Do not begin a noun clause ith because.


rong !
Because he was late annoyed the teacher
#ight ! His lateness annoyed the teacher.
#ight ! The fact that he was late annoyed the teacher.


rong !
Because I overate was why I became ill.

#ight !
Because I overate( I became ill.


5.

beside, besides. Besides means " in addition to." Beside means " ne#t to. "



He sat beside the pretty girl.



He owes a bicycle besides a car.


6.

bet!een, among. Among alays implies more than to; between implies only to.


rong !
There is little difference between the members of the class.

#ight !
There is little difference among the members of the class.

#ight !
There is little difference between the two nationalities.


7.

but, hardly, scarcely. Do not use these ords ith another negative.

rong ! I couldn't hardly see him.
#ight ! I could hardly see him.

rong ! He didn't have but one dollar.
#ight ! He had but one dollar..


.

different from & not different than '



The result was much different from what I e&pected.


". e(ually as good is not correct. Use either equally good or as good as.

rong ! The movie is equally as good as the play.
#ight ! The movie and the play are equally good.
#ight ! The movie is as good as the play.


1#.
expect and suppose $ or think % have different meanings.

rong !
I expect that she will be here.
#ight !
I suppose * or thin + that she will be here.
#ight !
I expect to be late.
#ight !
They expect us to help them.
1.
reason ..... because is not correct. &ay reason ..... that


rong !
The reason I came late was because I overslept..

#ight !
The reason I came late was that I overslept.


rong !
The reason that he makes poor grades is because of his poor study habits.

#ight !
The reason that * or why + he makes poor grades is his poor study habits.


2.

says, said. aid is the past tense.

rong !
,ohn ran into the room and says( - There is a stranger outside.-

#ight ! ,ohn ran into the room and said( - There is a stranger outside.-


3.

seldom ever, seldom or ever are incorrect. Use seldom if ever or hardly ever.

rong ! He seldom ever plays tennis.

#ight ! He seldom if ever * or hardly ever + plays tennis.


4.

sit, set. it does not take an ob'ect; set takes an ob'ect. The principal parts of the verb sit
are : sit $ present %, sat $ past %, sat $ past participle%, and sitting $ present participle %. The
principal parts of the verb set are: set $ present %, set $ past %, set $ past participle%, and setting
$ present participle %.


The old man is sitting under the tree. * present participle +

'he set the chair beside the window. * past tense +

He sat down to rest. * past tense +
They set a date for the meeting. * past tense +
Sit here. * present tense +
The guests are sitting at the table. * present participle +


5.

so that. o that refers to " purpose." Do not omit " that."


rong !
He came here so he could study English.


#ight !
He came here so that he could study English.


6.
such. Do not use such to mean " very." (n a result clause; such should be folloed by that.

rong ! .ew York is such a crowded city.
#ight ! .ew York is a very crowded city.

#ight ! .ew York is such a crowded city that I wouldn%t like to live there.


7.

superior is folloed by the preposition to $ not than %.

rong ! $y toothpaste is superior than the other brands on the market.

#ight ! $y toothpaste is superior to the other brands on the market.


. sure and try are not folloed by and.

rong ! /e sure and study for the test.
#ight ! /e sure to study for the test.

rong ! Try and get some rest.
#ight ! Try to get some rest.


".

that. Do not omit that in noun clause.

rong ! $y ob0ective to smoking is it is dangerous to health.
#ight ! $y ob0ective to smoking is that it is dangerous to health.

rong ! He assured me he understood my problem and he would try to help me.
#ight ! He assured me that he understood my problem and that he would try to help me.


1#.

their, there, they$re.

They're over there beside the cabinet.
I am not interested in their motives.
There was nothing left to do.
There are several reasons for his actions.
They're coming later this afternoon.
1. its, it$s. !t"s is a contraction of it is. !ts is a possessive pronoun.



!t's essential that we leave on time.


!ts habits have been studied in detail.


2.

)ind, sort are singular ords hich may be modified by that or this.


rong !
I like these ind of students.

#ight !
I like this ind of student.

#ight !
These inds of machines are very useful.

rong ! Those sort of people amuse me.

#ight !
That sort of person amuses me.


3.

)ind of a, sort of a. "mit "a."

rong : hat sort of a wife is she )

#ight : hat sort of wife is she )


4.

)ind of, sort of are sometimes confused ith the ord " somehat."


rong !
The record was ind of e&pensive.

#ight ! The record was somewhat e&pensive.


5.
later, latter. #atter refers to the last name of to. Do not use latter if more than to are
named. #ater is the compartive of late.


rong !
,ohn( $ary( and 'usan entered the room. The latter was carrying a typewriter.


#ight !
,ohn( $ary( and 'usan entered the room. The last named was carrying a typewriter.


#ight !
There are a typewriter and a pencil sharpener on the desk. The latter needs to be repaired.


6.

lay, lie. The verb lay has an ob'ect; the verb lie does ot have an ob'ect. The principal parts of
the verb lay are: lay $ present%, laid $ past %, laid $ past participle%, and laying $ present
participle %. The principal parts of the verb lie are: lie $ present %, lay $ past %, lain $ past
participle %, and lying $ present participle %.


rong !
I always lay down after I eat dinner.

#ight !
I always lie down after I eat dinner. * present tense +


rong !
He laid down because he had a headache.

#ight !
He lay down because he had a headache. * past tense +


rong !
The books are laying on the table.

#ight !
The books are lying on the table * present paticiple +


#ight !
The teacher laid her books on her desk. * past tense +

#ight !
The boys have lain under the tree for several hours. * past participle +


#ight !
'he has laid her head on the pillow. * past participle +

#ight !
Her head lies on the pillow. * present tense +


7.
leave, let are sometimes confused.

rong ! 'he will not leave me smoke inside the classroom.
#ight ! 'he will not let me smoke inside the classroom.
#ight ! "eave * or let + me alone.


.

lend, loan. #end is a verb; loan is a noun.

rong ! ould you loan me your pencil.
#ight ! ould you lend me your pencil.
#ight ! He went to the bank to take out a loan.


".

li)e, as, as if. #ike is a preposition; as, as if $ or as though % are con'unctions. As is also a
preposition hen it means " in the capacity of."

rong ! 'he doesn%t study lie she should.
#ight ! 'he doesn%t study as she should.

rong ! 'he acts lie she doesn%t understand.
#ight ! 'he acts as if * or as though + she doesn%t understand.

#ight ! As a member of the organi"ation( I have a right to vote.
#ight ! He eats lie a bird.


1#.
lose, loose. #ose is a verb. #oose means " not tight."

'he will lose weight if she goes on a diet.
1ne of the buttons on my shirt is loose.
. maybe( may be. $aybe means - perhaps.- $ay be is a verb form.


rong !
May be the meeting will be cancelled.

#ight !
Maybe the meeting will be cancelled.

#ight !
The meeting may be cancelled.


2.
myself, himself, yourself are refle#ive pronouns. Do not use them unless they refer back to
the sub'ect.

rong ! .o one attended the meeting besides ourselves.
#ight ! .o one attended the meeting besides us.

rong ! A man lie himself deserves praise.
#ight ! 2 man like him deserves praise.

rong ! 1nly ,ohn and myself witnessed the accident.
#ight ! 1nly ,ohn and ! witnessed the accident.

#ight ! I wrote the composition by myself.

#ight ! They themselves did the research. * or They did the research themselves. +


3.

off of. "mit " of."

He fell off the horse.


4.

out loud is not correct. &ay aloud.


rong !
He sang out loud.


#ight !
He sang aloud.


5.

passed, past. $assed is a verb.


rong !
'he past me the salt.

#ight !
'he passed me the salt.


#ight !
1ne can learn from his past e&periences.

#ight !
He lives in the past.


6.
percentage, percent. Use percent after a number.

rong ! 2 large percent of his salary is spent on food.
#ight ! 2 large percentage of his salary is spent on food.

#ight ! He spends twenty percent of his income for rent.


7.

prefer is not folloed by the preposition than.

rong ! I prefer chocolate ice cream than vanilla.
#ight ! I prefer chocolate ice cream to vanilla.

#ight ! I prefer chocolate ice cream rather than vanilla.


.

principal, principle. $rincipal is a noun or an ad'ective meaning " chief official " or "
main." $rinciple is a noun, meaning " fundamental truth."

He followed basic scientific principles.
He is a man of few principles.

The principal side effect of the drug is drowsiness.
$y principal ob0ection to smoking is its danger to health.


".
(uiet, (uite. %uite means " completely." Do not use quite instead of very, rather, or
somewhat.

rong ! The apartment is quite e&pensive.
#ight ! The apartment is very * rather( somewhat + e&pensive.

#ight ! e must be quiet inside the library.
#ight ! You are quite wrong.


1#.

raise, rise. The verb rise does not have an ob'ect. The verb raise has an ob'ect. The principal
parts of the verb rise are: rise $ present %, rose $ past %, risen $ past participle %, and rising
$ present participle %. The principal pars of the verb raise are: raise $ present %, raised $ past %,
raised $ past participle %, and raising $ present participle %.

He raised his hand before asking the 3uestion. * past tense +
'ome 3uestions were raised about income ta&es. * past participle +
'hould a gentleman rise when a lady enters the room ) * present tense +
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. * present tense +
2fter finishing dinner( he rose from the table. * past tense +
4od has risen from the dead. * past participle +
The sun is rising high in the sky. * present participle +
*postrophes + ,orrect -sage
The rules concerning the use of !postrophes in ritten )nglish are very simple:
*. They are used to denote a missing letter or letters, for e#ample:
o ( can+t instead of ( cannot
o ( don+t instead of ( do not
o it+s instead of it is
,. They are used to denote possession, for e#ample:
o the dog+s bone
o the company+s logo
o -ones+s bakery $but -ones+ bakery if more than one -ones ons bakery%
... note that e drop the apostrophe for the possessive form of it:
the bone is in its mouth
... hoever, if there are to or more dogs, companies or -ones in our e#ample, the apostrophe comes
after the +s+:
o the dogs+ bones
o the companies+ logos
o -ones+ bakery
.. !postrophes are ./0/1 ever used to denote plurals/ 0ommon e#amples of such abuse $all seen in real
life/% are:
o 1anana+s for sale hich of course should read 1ananas for sale
o 2enu+s printed to order hich should read 2enus printed to order
o 2"T+s at this garage hich should read 2"Ts at this garage
o *333+s of bargains here/ hich should read *333s of bargains here/
o 4e 0D+s 'ust in/ hich should read 4e 0Ds 'ust in/
o 1uy your 5mas tree+s here/ hich should read 1uy your 5mas trees here/
4ote: &pecial care must be taken over the use of your and you+re as they sound the same but are used 6uite
differently:
your is possessive as in "this is your pen"
you+re is short for you are as in "you+re coming over to my house"
7eproduced ith the kind permission of -ohn 7ichards chairman of The !postrophe 8rotection &ociety
To read more about The !postrophe 8rotection &ociety and other 9rammar authors please visit our article
"9rammar 0ontributors"