MORE COMMON USAGE ERRORS (CONTINUED FROM WORD SMART) - How to Build an Impressive Vocabulary - More Word Smart

More Word Smart: How to Build an Impressive Vocabulary (2012)

Chapter 10. MORE COMMON USAGE ERRORS (CONTINUED FROM WORD SMART)

Our Common Usage Errors chapter in the original Word Smart was so popular, that we’re back with more! Many of these errors involve confusing similar words or using real words incorrectly—in short, they can’t be caught with the spell check on your computer. So it’s a good idea to pay close attention to this list, and consult it frequently next time you’re writing an important document.

A LOT

A lot is always two separate words; alot is never correct.

ACCEPT/EXCEPT

To accept is to receive something with consent. Except means not including.

· We accepted all of the housewarming gifts with pleasure, except the four-foot frog statue from my cousin.

AFFECT/EFFECT

Affect is a verb meaning to cause a change. Effect is generally a noun that means a result or consequence.

· My friend apologized for her grumpiness during her visit; apparently, the rain negatively affected her mood.

· Because I’m from Seattle, rain has no negative effect on my mood.

ALLUSION/ILLUSION

An allusion is a subtle reference. An illusion is a mirage or false belief.

· Have you been making allusions to my earlier fall down the stairs, or is that just an illusion of mine?

AMBIGUOUS/AMBIVALENT

Ambiguous means unsure or unclear. Ambivalent means feeling opposing things at the same time.

· The note saying that my girlfriend had left was ambiguous; I didn’t know whether she had left for good, so I went to look for her.

· I am feeling ambivalent about my dog; I love him dearly, but I hate him for chewing up the rug while I was at work.

COMPLEMENT/COMPLIMENT

To complement is to complete. To compliment is to praise. Both words have noun forms that are spelled and pronounced the same as the verbs.

· Scott and Judy are getting married because they complement each other so well. They are ideal complements.

· Blanche complimented me on my new puce shoes. I wasn’t sure about them at first, so it was an ideal compliment.

CONTINUAL/CONTINUOUS

Continual means frequently happening. Continuous means without interruption.

· You say that I continuously correct people, but I think you actually mean continually. Continuous means that I would never stop, which of course can’t be true.

COULD OF/WOULD OF/SHOULD OF

These phrases are never correct. The correct phrasings are could have, would have, and should have.

DEFUSE/DIFFUSE

To defuse is to remove the fuse from a bomb. Figuratively, it can mean to avoid a difficult situation. To diffuse is to spread over a wide area.

· My boss’s email said that he wished to diffuse the tension in the department, and sure enough, the tension was spreading at a rapid rate. I’m sure he meant to defuse everyone’s nervousness.

DISINTERESTED/UNINTERESTED

Disinterested means “having no issue of personal gain.” Uninterested means “having no interest.”

· We intended to hire a disinterested mediator to resolve the conflict; however, he turned out to be so uninterested in the proceedings that he fell asleep on the table in front of us.

ELICIT/ILLICIT

Elicit is a verb meaning “to draw out a response.” Illicit means “illegal or unsanctioned.”

· The journalist is a master of eliciting the details of her interviewees’ affairs, no matter how clandestine and illicit.

EMIGRATE/IMMIGRATE

To emigrate is to leave a country for good. To immigrate is to settle in a new country.

· I emigrated from Germany and immigrated to Australia.

EMINENT/IMMANENT/IMMINENT

Eminent means “important.” Immanent means “inherent.” Imminent means “about to happen.”

· Kurt became an eminent scholar in his field partly because of his immanent passion for the topic. Once he received his first fan letter, he knew fortune beyond his wildest dreams was imminent.

GOOD/WELL

Good is an adjective. Well is an adverb. Because of a modern emphasis on wellness, it is generally accepted to say, “I am well,” but otherwise, do not confuse the two.

· Ashka is a good dancer. She tangos extremely well.

IT’S/ITS

It’s is a contraction that stands for “it is.” Its is a possessive pronoun. To make sure you’re using the correct one, ask yourself whether it is would make sense in the sentence you’re writing. If it wouldn’t, avoid the apostrophe and use its.

· It’s unfortunate that the toy won’t even run for half an hour with its own batteries; we need to buy some more powerful ones.

MORAL/MORALE

Moral means “concerned with right and wrong.” Morale means “spirit or enthusiasm.”

· The fact that George made it to the top of the sales team damaged the morale of his co-workers; they were dispirited to see someone succeed who had such a skewed moral sense.

NAUSEATED/NAUSEOUS

Although this one is sometimes disputed, many grammar experts say that the correct meaning of nauseated is “inclined to throw up.” Meanwhile, according to the experts, nauseous describes something that makes you want to throw up.

· The pregnant swamp monster complained that she was nauseous, and I was inclined to agree with her; just looking at her made me nauseated.

PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPLE

A principal is an important person in an organization. A principle is a fundamental truth.

· The principal dancers all rose to the top because of their dedication to the principle of hard work.

RESPECTABLY/RESPECTFULLY/RESPECTIVELY

Respectably means “worthy of respect.” Respectfully means “showing respect.” Respectively means “in the order given.”

· Respectably and respectfully mean worthy of respect and showing respect, respectively.

SIMPLE/SIMPLISTIC

Simple means “uncomplicated”; it generally does not have a negative connotation unless a person is being called simple. Simplistic means “so uncomplicated that the author didn’t really understand the issue.”

· The new budget is simple to implement and it meets the needs of the entire organization well.

· The new budget is so simplistic that there are many areas of the organization that will not have their needs addressed.

THAN/THEN

Than is used to show a comparison. Then is used to indicate a certain time or an effect.

· If she thinks I’m uglier than a gorilla, then I guess we won’t be going to the prom together.

THEIR/THERE/THEY’RE

Their is a plural, possessive pronoun. There generally indicates a place or a certain point. They’re is a contraction that stands for they are.

· I didn’t get an invitation to their party.

· It’s being held at the pavilion, and I don’t usually go there.

· Besides, they’re not the nicest people to hang around.

TO/TOO/TWO

To is a preposition indicating motion in a certain direction. Too means “also.” Two is a number.

· I am going to the party anyway.

· Do you want to come too?

· Maybe I’ll even bring two other friends.

WEATHER/WETHER/WHETHER

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. A wether is a castrated ram, so its use in business and academic writing is limited (and luckily, most spell checkers will correct you on this one). Whether is a conjunction that shows a choice, and it is not necessary to follow it up with or not.

· The weather is a little cloudy, so I am undecided whether we should go to the beach.

WHERE AT

This is redundant and often causes writers and speakers to end sentences with prepositions. Just drop the at, and instead of saying, “Where’s the food at?” say, “Where’s the food?”

YOU’RE/YOUR

You’re is a contraction that stands for “you are.” Your is a possessive pronoun.

· You’re most welcome to accompany me.

· I find your company more tolerable than that of anyone else I know.