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!
