Article Submission :: most common mistake s did while we are doing

Much of language is learned through hearing and practice - through conversation. We rely on context to give meaning, but what happens when we're led astray by what we hear?

Misused words and poor grammar.

No problem - we've got the remedy! Discover the true meaning and maintain a keen eye on your articles for this batch of misused words:

e.g. vs. i.e.

e.g. - Latin abbreviation for "exempli gratia," which means "for example." Use this abbreviation when providing examples that's not a finite series.

Incorrect: Greg is a huge fan of cyborgs, i.e., the Terminator, Inspector Gadget, and RoboCop.
Correct: Greg is a huge fan of cyborgs, e.g., the Terminator, Inspector Gadget, and RoboCop.

i.e. - Latin abbreviation for "id est," which means "that is." Use this in place of “in other words,” when you’re making something more clear, or when providing a finite series.

Incorrect: Standing behind a horse can result in broken ribs, e.g., you’re more likely to get kicked.
Correct: Standing behind a horse can result in broken ribs, i.e., you’re more likely to get kicked.

accept vs. except

accept - to consent to receive; to agree to undertake.

Incorrect: I except your challenge.
Correct: I accept your challenge.

except - not including; other than; to exclude; a conjunction that conveys an exception.

Incorrect: "I can resist everything, accept temptation." -- Oscar Wilde
Correct: "I can resist everything, except temptation." -- Oscar Wilde

advice vs. advise

advice - information; guidance or recommendations typically given by an expert.*

Incorrect: Need advise? We've got answers!
Correct: Need advice? We've got answers!

*Tip: Advice is a noun that can be singular or plural, like moose.

advise - to offer suggestions; to recommend.

Incorrect: We can advice you on all of your legal needs!
Correct: We can advise you on all of your legal needs!

bear vs. bare

bear - to carry (i.e., physically or mentally); a mammal with thick fur and a short tail (e.g., grizzly bear, teddy bear, etc.).

Incorrect: Bare in mind, you should never trust a bear.
Correct: Bear in mind, you should never trust a bear.

bare - not clothed or covered; to uncover; to expose.

Incorrect: My bear hands turned blue in the cold.
Correct: My bare hands turned blue in the cold.

forth vs. fourth

forth - out from a starting point and forward or into view.

Incorrect: From that day fourth, Gerald never looked at eggplant the same way.
Correct: From that day forth, Gerald never looked at eggplant the same way.

fourth - a quarter; constituting number four in a sequence; 4th.

Incorrect: A forth of the sales can be attributed to cats.
Correct: A fourth of the sales can be attributed to cats.

Lose vs. Loose
lose – To be deprived of or cease to have; to cause someone to fail to gain or retain something.
Incorrect: Loose weight in 5 weeks or loose your chance to go to the beach!
Correct: Lose weight in 5 weeks or lose your chance to go to the beach!
loose – Not firmly or tightly fixed in place; to release or set free.
Incorrect: The dog’s collar was lose, so Bob tightened it before the dog got lose.
Correct: The dog’s collar was loose, so Bob tightened it before the dog got loose.

Its vs. It’s
its – Associated with a thing previously mentioned or in reference to an animal without prior knowledge of the animal’s gender.
Incorrect: That monkey will never be a ballet dancer; it’s posture is horrendous.
Correct: That monkey will never be a ballet dancer; its posture is horrendous.
it’s – Contraction of it is or it has.
Incorrect: John bikes to work. Its his favorite part of the day.
Correct: John bikes to work. It’s his favorite part of the day.
Your vs. You’re
your – Possessive form of you (typically used before a noun).
Incorrect: You’re article writing skills have improved!
Correct: Your article writing skills have improved!
you’re – Contraction of you are.
Incorrect: Your an article writing master!
Correct: You’re an article writing master!
Their vs. They’re vs. There
their – Possessive adjective indicating a particular noun belongs to them.
Incorrect: There keys are in the ignition.
Correct: Their keys are in the ignition.
they’re – Contraction of they are.
Incorrect: Where are they? Their at the shop.
Correct: Where are they? They’re at the shop.
there – Reference to the existence of something; a place or position.
Incorrect: Their is a reason why the pie is gone. John ate the last slice over they’re.
Correct: There is a reason why the pie is gone. John ate the last slice over there.
To vs. Too
to – In the direction of or at; used with the base form of a verb to show the verb is in the infinitive.
Incorrect: Susan goes too the store too buy vegetables.
Correct: Susan goes to the store to buy vegetables.
too – Very, as well, also.
Incorrect: Bill drives to fast on his motorcycle to.
Correct: Bill drives too fast on his motorcycle too.

Fright vs. Freight
fright – A sudden intense feeling of fear; an experience that causes someone to feel fear suddenly.
Incorrect: Horror movies give me a freight!
Correct: Horror movies give me a fright!
freight – Goods transported (or to transport goods) in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
Incorrect: That ship carries fright rather than passengers.
Correct: That ship carries freight rather than passengers.

Bought vs. Brought
bought – Obtain in exchange for payment; to purchase.
Incorrect: I brought a new phone with my last paycheck.
Correct: I bought a new phone with my last paycheck.
brought – To come to a place with (someone or something); to cause (someone or something) to come to a place.
Incorrect: I bought my friend Jackie to the party.
Correct: I brought my friend Jackie to the party.
Personal vs. Personnel
personal – Of, affecting, or belonging to a particular person; an advertisement.
Incorrect: Take care of your body with these personnel hygiene tips!
Correct: Take care of your body with these personal hygiene tips!
personnel – Staff, people employed in an organization.
Incorrect: Use these methods when recruiting new personal into your organization.
Correct: Use these methods when recruiting new personnel into your organization.
Versus vs. Verses
versus – Against; as opposed to; in contrast to.
Incorrect: In a hypothetical fight of a gorilla verses a shark, I’d put money on the gorilla.
Correct: In a hypothetical fight of a gorilla versus a shark, I’d put money on the gorilla.
verses – Plural form of verse; writing arranged with a rhythm; a group of lines that form a unit of a poem or song, a stanza.
Incorrect: The poem’s versus didn’t contain a rhyming scheme.
Correct: The poem’s verses didn’t contain a rhyming scheme.
Adapt vs. Adopt
adapt – To make something suitable for a new use or purpose; to modify; to adjust to new conditions; to alter.
Incorrect: The institution must change and therefore adopt to new conditions.
Correct: The institution must change and therefore adapt to new conditions.
adopt – To legally take a child (or pet) and raise it as one’s own; to take up an idea or method; to take on or assume.
Incorrect: “Adapt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Correct: “Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
lighting vs. lightning
lighting – the arrangement or effect of lights; equipment for producing light.
Incorrect: You should install track lightning in your kitchen!
Correct: You should install track lighting in your kitchen!
lightning – a flash or discharge; very quick; the occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration, accompanied by a bright flash and typically also thunder.
Incorrect: Don’t stand at the top of the hill during a lighting storm.
Correct: Don’t stand at the top of the hill during a lightning storm.
setup vs. set up
setup – the result of something having been arranged or put together.
Incorrect: The cops got him; it was a set up.
Correct: The cops got him; it was a setup.
set up – to put something together.
Incorrect: Let’s setup the cake display in the window.
Correct: Let’s set up the cake display in the window.
whether vs. weather
whether – a conjunction used when expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives; expressing an inquiry or investigation.
Incorrect: “I’m not sure weather I should get chicken or beef,” thought Patrick.
Correct: “I’m not sure whether I should get chicken or beef,” thought Patrick.
weather – to wear away or change the appearance; the state of the atmosphere.
Incorrect: The whether here is nice, when it’s not raining!
Correct: The weather here is nice, when it’s not raining!
fair vs. fare
fair – without cheating or in accordance with the rules; a traveling show; fine or pretty good.
Incorrect: The weather this afternoon will be fare, so let’s go to the fare!
Correct: The weather this afternoon will be fair, so let’s go to the fair!
fare – the money a passenger on public transportation has to pay.
Incorrect: How much is the bus fair to Ithaca?
Correct: How much is the bus fare to Ithaca?
peak vs. peek
peak – the summit of a mountain; the highest point; to bring or achieve a maximum of development, value, or intensity; to become sickly.
Incorrect: Don’t give up until you’ve reached the peek!
Correct: Don’t give up until you’ve reached the peak!
peek – to glance quickly; to peer from a place of concealment.
Incorrect: Watch this preview to get a sneak peak!
Correct: Watch this preview to get a sneak peek!

affect vs. effect
affect – To have an effect on; make a difference to; an emotion or desire.
Incorrect: Chocolate effects my behavior.
Correct: Chocolate affects my behavior.
effect – To bring about; to cause something to happen; a change that is a result of an action or cause.
Incorrect: Chocolate has an incredible affect on behavior.
Correct: Chocolate has an incredible effect on behavior.

allot vs. a lot
allot – To give or to apportion something to someone as a share or a task.
Incorrect: I will a lot 3 prizes to the winners.
Correct: I will allot 3 prizes to the winners.
a lot – (never alot) A large amount, very many; also, very much.
Incorrect: I like monkeys allot. There are alot of them at the zoo.
Correct: I like monkeys a lot. There are a lot of them at the zoo.
Please note the context of a piece of land or lot, as in “a lot”, is also acceptable; however, it’s not a common usage error.
then vs. than
then – At that time; at the time in question; after that, next, afterward.
Incorrect: I went to the zoo and than to the park.
Correct: I went to the zoo and then to the park.
than – Used in expressions when introducing an exception or contrast.
Incorrect: Bob is shorter then Ralph.
Correct: Bob is shorter than Ralph.
lie vs. lay
lie – To be in or assume a horizontal or resting position; the way, direction, or position in which something lies.
Please note we will not be discussing “lie”, i.e. to tell a falsehood or to fib, because it’s not a common usage error.
Incorrect: I am going to lay down for a nap.
Correct: I am going to lie down for a nap.
lay – To put down (generally carefully or gently); the general appearance of an area.
Incorrect: I am going to lie the baby down for a nap.
Correct: I am going to lay the baby down for a nap.
desert vs. dessert
desert – To abandon; a dry, barren area of land; barren.
Incorrect: The nomads desserted the dessert in search of water.
Correct: The nomads deserted the desert in search of water.
dessert – The sweet course at the end of the meal.
Incorrect: Did you see this low-fat and delicious desert recipe?
Correct: Did you see this low-fat and delicious dessert recipe?

so stop by the Blog again for new grammar and spelling tips to ensure your articles are error free. Not only will these tips help you maintain your credibility, but they can be applied across multiple platforms and help you drive more traffic to your blog or website!

As always, we are on the hunt for more and more commonly misused words to help you achieve 100% error-free articles. If you have any misused words you'd like to see added to the Top Misused Words series, get them off your chest!