Because English is such a complex language, it is fraught with traps that we all frequently fall into. With this list I hope to clear up at least a few of the confusing words we use every day. This is a list of some of the more common errors people make with English.
1. Practice / Practise
In US English, practice is used as either a verb (doing word), or noun (naming word). Hence, a doctor has a practice, and a person practices the violin. In UK english, practice is a noun, and practise is a verb. A doctor has a practice, but his daughter practises the piano.
2. Bought / Brought
Bought relates to buying something. Brought relates to bringing something. For example, I bought a bottle of wine which had been brought over from France. The easy way to remember which is which is that bring start with ‘br’ and brought also does. Buy and bought start with ‘b’ only. This is one of those difficult ones that a spelling checker won’t catch.
3. Your / You’re
Your means “belonging to you”. You’re means “you are”. The simplest way to work out the correct one to use is to read out your sentence. For example, if you say “you’re jeans look nice” expand the apostrophe. The expanded sentence would read “you are jeans look nice” – obviously nonsensical. Remember, in English, the apostrophe often denotes an abbreviation.
4. Its / It’s
As in the case above, the apostrophe denotes an abbreviation: it’s = it is. Its means “belongs to it”. The confusion arises here because we also use an apostrophe in English to denote possession – except in this case; if you want to say “the cat’s bag” you say “its bag” not “it’s bag”. “It’s” always means “it is” or “it has”. “It’s a hot day.” “it’s been fun seeing you.”
5. Two / To / Too
With a ‘w’ it means the number 2. With one ‘o’ it refers to direction: ‘to France’. With two ‘o’s it means “also” or refers to quantity – for example: “There is too much money”. A good way to remember this one is that too has two ‘o’s – ie, it has more ‘o’s than ‘to’ – therefore it refers to quantity.
6. Desert / Dessert
This is a confusing one because in English an ‘s’ on its own is frequently pronounced like a ‘z’ and two ‘s’s are usually pronounced as a n ‘s’ (for example: prise, prissy). In this case, desert follow the rule – it means a large stretch of sand. However, dessert is pronounced “dez-urt” with the emphasis on the second syllable – ie, something we eat as part of our meal. To make matters worse, when a person leaves the army without permission, it is spelt desert. So, let’s sum up:
desert (pronounced dez’-it): dry land
desert (pronounced dez-urt’): abandon
dessert (pronounced dez-urt’): yum yum! – remember, two ‘s’s because you want second helpings!
Oh – one more thing – another very common mistake is using the word dessert (two ‘s’s) to mean pudding – pudding is a sweet course, often consisting of some kind of cake or icecream. Dessert is fruit or cheese – normally taken after the pudding course.
7. Dryer / Drier
If your clothes are wet, put them in a clothes dryer. That will make them drier. A hair dryer also makes hair drier.
8. Chose / Choose
This is actually quite an easy one to remember – in English we generally pronounce ‘oo’ as it is written – such as “moo”. The same rule applies here: choose is pronounced as it is written (with a ‘z’ sound for the ‘s’) – and chose is said like “nose”. Therefore, if you had to choose to visit Timbuktu, chances are you chose to fly there. Chose is the past tense, choose is the present tense.
9. Lose / Loose
This one is confusing. In this case, contrary to normal rules of English, the single ‘s’ in loose is pronounced like an ‘s’ – as in wearing trousers that are too loose. Lose on the other hand, relates to loss – for example: “I hope we don’t lose this game”. A good way to remember this is that in the word “lose” you have lost the second ‘o’ from loose. If you can’t remember a rule that simple, you are a loser!
10. Literally
This one is not only often used in error, it is incredibly annoying when it is used in the wrong way. Literally means “it really happened” – therefore, unless you live on a parallel universe with different rules of physics, you can not say “he literally flew out the door”. Saying someone “flew out the door” is speaking figuratively – you could say “he figuratively flew out the door” but figuratively is generally implied when you describe something impossible. Literally can only be used in the case of facts – for example: he literally exploded after swallowing the grenade. If he did, indeed, swallow the grenade and explode – that last sentence is perfectly correct. It would not be correct to say “she annoyed him and he literally exploded” unless she is Wonder Woman and her anger can cause people to blow up.
Bonus: I could care less
I have to add this one as a bonus because it is one I especially hate. When you say “I could care less” you are saying “I care a little so I could care less”. Most people when using this horrific sentence mean to say “I couldn’t care less” which means “I care so little I could not care less”.
Bonus 2: Ironic
Isn’t it ironic? Actually, no, most of the time it is not. Irony, in its true form, is when you state something to a person who does not understand what you truly mean, but another person does. Essentially, it makes the hearer the brunt of the joke without their being aware of it. This is called dramatic or tragic irony because it originated on the stage where the audience knew what was happening but the victim on stage did not. The most sustained example of dramatic irony is undoubtedly Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, in which Oedipus searches to find the murderer of the former king of Thebes, only to discover that it is himself, a fact the audience has known all along.
Another form of irony is Socratic irony, in which the person pretends to be ignorant of a subject in order to truly show the ignorance of the person with whom he is arguing.
Unfortunately, poor Alanis Morissette had no clue when she said “it’s a free ride when you’ve already paid” or “it’s like rain on your wedding day”. This is not irony – it is misfortune or coincidence.
To sum it up, basically Irony is a figure of speech in which what is stated is not what is meant. Sarcasm can be a type of Irony.
You know the difference between Alanis Morissette and language proscriptivists? You never see the latter creating poetry, lyrics or enduring literature. Only tiresome essays about how everybody is stupid for ending sentences with prepositions. If Dickens had been a proscriptivist "A Tale of Two Cities" would have began: "Throughout that era there were some very good times interspersed with several bad ones."
Thank you, bout time someone made this post.
Notable omissions: “Ironic” (on par with “Literally”), i.e. vs. e.g., “They” as a singular pronoun, affect/effect, and misuse of quotation marks to add emphasis (particularly irksome in advertising copy).
Singular they is correct…
nice list, especially the “I could care less” bonus statement…I thought I was the only one noticing people say that and how stupid it sounded. Literally.
Lie/Lay – This one drives me crazy.
Lie means to recline. “I’m going to lie down.”
Lay means to place something down. “Please lay the blanket on the bed.”
Daniel: I knew someone would mention that one
I have added it as Bonus 2.
kindmaryjane: thanks for adding that one – too true! Now explain to the user the difference between laid and lain
blazak: I like how you slipped the literally in there
If i pick up and throw a person out the door…they literally do fly out the door because they briefly become airborn. So saying “he literally flew out the door” can be correct… at least in that sense.
re: he literally flew out the door.hmm he’d have to have wings to fly out (of) the door…you could throw someone out of the door..but it doesnt mean they flew..
re re: to literately fly out the door..you take a door and try and fly it like a kite..
or you fly out of the doorway ,using your wings, once the door is open first..
“Utilise” (US: Utilize)
I hate that word. It has spawned a whole school of neologisms in -ise, too.
It’s really just pompous management-speak. Those who argue it means “to make use of” in some kind of special way should stop reading instruction booklets and pick-up a decent book instead.
Don’t hesitate to interface with me on this one, folks.
Nauseous vs Nauseated. Same as poisonous vs poisoned. Most people do NOT want to be considered nauseous.
Thanks for adding “Ironic”, jfrater (although, to give Alannis her due, the title of the song was quite wonderfully ironic).
Che, what’s wrong with “Utilise”? I mean, it makes you look like a *****er because there’s almost no occasion on which “use” couldn’t be utilised with equal effect, but it’s still a perfectly legitimate (the urge to say “cromulent” was almost irresistible) word.
I’d have to add the one that I hate most: “would (should/could/..) of” instead of “would have”. I read that more often every day.
BTW, I’m German.
They are hearing it wrong and then writing it wrong – should’ve, would’ve, could’ve… somehow ‘ve being mixed up with of…
BTW, I’m English.
Me vs. Myself…? Still don’t know that one.
As in, “If you have questions, please talk to Amy or myself.” o.O How does that one work?
Sorry, but most of the above should be easily distinguished by anyone older than ten. I live in Austria and most of my friends have no trouble utilizing any of the supposedly common errors above. Lent/Borrowed, now that’s a problem. Lie/Lay/Lied, tough one indeed.
Kelsi: that one is easy – myself is reflexive – it only refers to things you do to yourself (think of it like a reflection) – I bathe myself, I hate myself. In all other cases it is me or I. I is subjective and me is objective – for example: I am happy (I am the subject of that sentence) – or she hits me (she is the subject, me is the object).
In your example, the subject is the person to whom you are speaking (whom is objective incidentally, and who is subjective), Amy and you are the objects – therefore you must say If you have questions, please talk to Amy or me.
batesman: learning English as a second language gives you an advantage – you are learning grammar rules that are no longer taught in most schools.
Lent/borrowed is simple: lend – give to someone else; borrow – take to yourself. A good way to remember is: borrow = bring to me (both start with ‘b’).
Lie – present tense or imperative: I lie down (I am doing it right now) or, lie down! (I command you to do it now).
Lay – you do this to yourself – he lay down to sleep.
Lain – to yourself when another verb is already being used: When I am lain in earth (am – to be – is the extra verb)
Laid – to something else when another verb is already being used – he had laid the table
“Morissette herself does in fact acknowledge that ‘Ironic’ is not filled with ironies and this in itself is what makes it ironic.”
She knows its not irony which makes the song ironic, which is the funny part about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironic_%28song%29
tjgrs: I think that is cop out!
Another bonus: For an outrageous lie, “That was a bald face lie.” as opposed to “That was a bold face lie.”
Shouldn’t it be ‘bold faced lie’?
ferd: excellent addition!
Another common mistake is using the correct ‘there’ or ‘their’ or ‘they’re’… there meaning a location, hey look over there… their meaning possession, it’s their computer… and they’re is a conjuction of they are, they’re getting naked.
Adam: that is definitely a great addition – you see that all the time.
argh..makes me wish my printer weren’t broken. i’d love to print this off as reference.
Cyn: You can always come back
MrDowst: I think you are referring to when people use the abbreviated version of would have which would be would’ve not would of. Or when they say should’ve it probably sounds like should of. But if you are reading it on paper like that it’s definitely wrong =)
When I read would’ve – I always say it with a schwa – should-schwa-v – so it sounds really awful when someone says should-of – it is too many stresses in one word!
with lifelong spelling diffaculties and pronuceating specific formations with the mouth musculse and lyrnex (I geuss) , I am always at arms with the agrivated lot that continually feel as if it is thier purpose in life to constantly correct me, as if I were a child or something. I am what I am…fo real. coloquealisms.
#4 is wrong. The assertion that ” it’s ” does not denote a possessive is correct. However, the part which asserts “It’s” always means “it is” is *INCORRECT!*.
” It’s ” can also mean “it has”. Most people use this every day, as in, ” It’s been fun ” or ” It’s been too long “.
jfrater..oh i know. but the initial post would make a handy reference guide. of course..i’m learning from the comments too. i have been out of school too long and become too lazy and spoiled w/ internet speak. so my writing skills have seriously degraded from lack of proper use. this has been a good reminder.
uh..you ever consider an ebook? list compilation w/ comments all in one place? the lists are terrific in and of themselves but the comments are what make this place so special. just a thought.
How about ‘idol’ and ‘idle’? I often see this on forums, where people refer to their favorite rock stars as ‘idles’..
Lol itll make me sound like an immature little teenage video gamer, but i hate when people say snipered, as in he got snipered. Another thing thats ALWAYS bugged me was when people were suppoed to say “the” pronounced thee, as in before a vowel, but only said the the normal way. And, not saying a(n) in the right context. I’m sorta picky in that sense
Normally I could care less about engrish, but its would be ironic if you’re practice all the words above bought them into class two literally loose your memory in front of everyone!!!111
We get a glimpse into your pedantic and neurotic side here jfrater! How about a list of unusual words? ‘Defenestration’ is one of my favourites…
Also a list of irritating SMS abbreivations (“c u l8r”) or irritating geek talk (“I pwned him”, “haha!rofl!!!1″ etc)
Pronunciation errors drive me bonkers. Its pronounced favorite not fravorite, height not heigth, and across not acrost. Sheesh.
Hopsital full of Skellingtons
i dont care about the rest of them but i hate people who use the word literally when they dont *****ing know what it means. thanks for including it in the list.
Thank you for the lose/loose explanation. I never saw it much until internet forums took off and suddenly everyone is loosing everything. It figuratively drove m insane.
I disagree with the “I could/couldn’t care less” perspective.
If I said to someone “I could care less” it could simply mean that I care very little and as a sarcastic threat I am offering to care an even smaller amount.
Kind of like if I cooked someone dinner and they complained it was too salty I could sarcastically threaten that “I could add more salt.”
The phrase seems to work both ways, in my opinion.
Only if you understand that and 99% of the people saying it wrong have never thought about that or don't understand why they are saying it wrong. I bring it up all the time and no one ever knows what they are specifically saying and why when it comes to that phrase.
People using the word barter when they mean bargain. I hate that!
Matt: rectified.
Thanks for the comments guys – there are lots of useful tips here
What about ?
though – (Despite the fact that)
through – (In one side and out the opposite)
tough – (Able to withstand great strain)
thought – (process of thinking)
center – (the middle)
centre – (part of a city or British variation of center)
color – (American version)
colour – (British version)
I had so much trouble with colour and centre when I was building websites. As a scot I spell them centre and colour normally. It took me an hour to use the American spelling without thinking about it and then another hour to condition myself back to the British versions.
Why do languages have to be so complicated lol
Here’s something I came across about 20 years ago and I have so far not met anyone who could read it without mistakes. Fits wonderfully with the subject:
Dearest creature of creation
http://mipmip.org/tidbits/pronunciation.shtml
Andre – I had no idea that centre was used in American spelling! Interesting.
batesman: I consider my reading abilities to be quite good – but that is a tongue twister!
Not unlike the the word pair “theater/theatre”, Americans use “center/centre” in different contexts — and it usually boils down to affectation. You go catch the latest stupid Adam Sandler flick at a “theater”, but that sophisticated Shakespeare play is performed at a “theatre”. Get the idea?
“The use of words expressing something other then their literal intention.”
My all time linguistic pet peeve is probably the phrase “steep learning curve”.
Think about it.
Draw a graph with time on the horizontal axis and mastery of a skill on the vertical axis.
What does a quickly mastered skill (opening a beer bottle) look like?
What does a hard to acquire skill (playing tournament level chess) look like?
What you say makes sense but I always thought the phrase was referring to the amount of learning required on the Y axis and mastery on the X axis. That means you have to learn a whole lot real fast to be only okay at something but that eventually it tapers off. I always saw it as convex curve.
You got your axes switched. After all time is the dependent variable.
OK how about good/well, or lay/lie.
How are you today? I am well. (not good)
I lied out by the pool. (you did not lay, well unless you had a partner)
You also missed the fact that Alanis’ song is perfect since we know what irony is and she does not.
Actually it woud be “I lay down” If it is past tense. It could be lie down in present tense.
good = adjective
well = adverb
You’re not saying that you are a “good” person today, you’re saying that you are doing or feeling “well”.
This is yet another example of why you shouldn’t get too hung up on language. Can you imagine James Brown singing: “Yeee-ooooow! I feel well! da-da da-da da-da da … “?
Wouldn't "I feel good" be correct, though, as the verb "feel" can be used to describe feeling anything? Saying "I am good" when you mean to say you are well that day is misleading, because "I am good" means "I am a good person", but "I feel good" is a correct description of a happy/positive mood.
Furthermore, if you were describing a positive mood, "I feel good" is, in my opinion, MORE correct than "I feel well" because we use "feeling well" in a medical or health context. ("Are you feeling well?" "No, I don't feel well.") Therefore, "I feel well!" would be in the wrong context for James Brown's song.
In conclusion, maybe we shouldn't get too hung up on grammar, but when it comes to that famous song, maybe it wouldn't be as popular if it wasn't as grammatically correct as it is!
you touched on it in numbers 3 and 4, but my biggest pet peeve is the rampant misuse of apostrophes. i see it on an almost daily basis on permanent signs and printed publications. they are often misused when making plurals of abbreviations or numbers…ex: CD’s or 1980′s. argh! also, to the person who mentioned idle/idol, the worst grammar/punctuation errors that i’ve ever seen are usually on the comments of a celebrity’s web page. i’m not sure what that says…
Um … you realize, of course, you just made a grammar rant entirely in lower case, right?
48 comments and nobody mentioned my absolute favorite: IRREGARDLESS!!!
Just think about it.
Also, the misuse of the word “Proverbial” which means that what is said is pertaining to a proverb. Saying something like “It’s as cold as the proverbial nun’s box.” is incorrect because there is no mention of a nun’s genitals being cold in any proverb.
And yes, I got that from George Carlin’s book Braindroppings. Interesting if you’re into langusge.
Yarr: I hate that too.
Another good one- the incorrect use of “Tragic” and “Tragedy”
Tragedy is a literary term meaning that the protagonist of the story did not achieve his or her goal because of a flaw in the character.
Volcanos, car wrecks, and acts of terrorism are not tragic. They are disasters, calamities, or unfortunate incidents.
*****ty, yes. Tragic? No.
Yarr: nice one.
“Morissette herself does in fact acknowledge that ‘Ironic’ is not filled with ironies and this in itself is what makes it ironic.”
Above situation is an irony becasue most of her fans dont know it isnt an irony but only a few knows. Thats makes it irony, right?
“Irony is the disparity between what you expect will happen and what does happen.”
This one must be pretty obscure because no one mentioned it: the use of LESS and FEWER. It’s all about whether the substance being assessed is in units or not. Example: LESS milk, FEWER cookies. I cringe many times a day when I hear things like, “There’s less cookies in this package than that one”. FEWER, not LESS!
this is common..5 items or less ..5 items or fewer
judy b: excellent addition – I cringe too.
“you state something to a person that does not understand…”
I think you should do one on that/which. Shouldn’t that line above say “who” instead of “that”?
I thought “who” referenced a person, and “that” referenced a thing????
christa: I bow my head in shame! The worst thing is that for the life of me I can’t work out whether it should be who or whom – because “you” is the subject, a person is the object, which makes me think it must be whom, but whom sounds terribly wrong.
Whom or who? I don’t think anyone says ‘whom’ anymore with a straight face!
I think this list could be way longer! Just look at the way some people write on message boards and forums.
to whom it may concern
The large number of responses to this list is a delight.
So many grammatical errors can be easily noted in a very short time, even on the national news. I was beginning to think not many people cared.
By the way, in bonus 2 shouldn’t it be a person WHO instead of a person THAT does not understand?
Great list!