A/An::
The usage depends on the sound
of the word that "a" or "an" is placed in front of.
The letter
"a"
should be placed before all words that start with a consonant sound except
the silent "h" and a vowel with a consonant & vowel sound combination. The word "an" belongs in front of every
vowel sound. This usage is abused on the Internet in an enormous way.
Examples:
"a":
a toy, a situation, a musical event, a choice, a horn ("h" is not silent),
a utility pole (consonant & vowel sound combination)
"an":
an honorary member (silent "h"), an apple, an embryo
Affect/Effect:
I'm still confused by the correct usage of affect and effect. When I have a need to use one of them, I look it up.
Affect, always a verb,
means to influence, to assume, to pretend, to be given to.
Example of
influence: The book will affect my thoughts about holiday
decorating.
Effect
can be both a verb
and a noun.
The noun version expresses a result. The verb version means to
cause or bring about.
Example of result
(noun): This paper shows the effects of the
investigation?
Example of cause
(verb): An overthrow will effect a tyranny in
that country.
Allude/Elude:
allude means to refer indirectly or casually and
is followed by the word "to."
elude means
to slip away from; to dodge.
Allusion,
delusion, elusion, illusion:
Allusion is
an indirect reference or mention. Example:
"Sue made an allusion to the main character in a novel she was
reading."
Delusion
is a false belief, usually a result of
self-deception. Example:
"Sue is experiencing delusions of a life as a royal princess."
Elusion (rarely used
word) means an escape. Example:
"Your absence is an elusion of your obligations to the firm."
Illusion
(related in meaning to delusion but less likely to be as harmful or serious)
refers to a false mental image or idea. Example:
"Sue has illusions that she is a supermodel."
Antagonist/Protagonist:
Antagonist is
someone who opposes another in a fight. Example:
"The two friends became
antagonists on the tennis court." In
literature the antagonist is the
opponent of the main character.
Protagonist means
first combatant. A protagonist is the principal or central character
against whom an antagonist will conduct a fight.
Capital/Capitol:
Capital can be all meanings except a building. Example: "Sue raised the capital to
build a new pool." Capitol is a building. Example:
"We drove through the capital, passed the state capitol, and got back
onto the freeway."
Climactic/Climatic:
Climactic derives
from climax, the final and most forceful one of a series of ideas or
events. Example: "The
exploding bridge was the climactic scene of the movie."
Climatic refers
to weather. Example: "Sue
prefers the climatic features of Miami."
Couldn't
scarcely/Couldn't hardly:
calls
for dropping the negative part of the phrase.
He could
hardly drive through the blizzard.
Could
of: as well as may of, might of,
should of, and would of are illiteracies.
Example of correction: I could have done the job alone.
Exceptionable/Exceptional:
Exceptionable
means objectionable.
Exceptional
means extraordinary, uncommon,
unusual.
Indict/Indite:
Indict means
to accuse or charge with a crime.
Indite means to write, compose.
Ingenious/Ingenuous/Naive:
Ingenious
means inventive, resourceful, talented, imaginative.
Ingenuous
means naive, frank, unsophisticated, artless.
Naive
means the same as ingenuous but implies amusement to the user but to the
one implied.
Inhuman/Unhuman:
Inhuman means
cruel; brutal; lacking normal human compassion, pity, sympathy, and
kindness.
Unhuman means
not human; without the characteristics of human beings.
Laid/Lain:
Laid is
the past tense and past participle of lay - to set down; to put or place in
a horizontal position. Example: Sue laid her blouse on the bed.
Lain is
the past participle of lie - to be in a prostrate position. Example: My pup has lain down by my feet
every night this week.
Largely/Chiefly:
Largely means
to a great extent; generally; in great part. Example:
The demonstration was largely done to express the examples of the author.
Chiefly means
principally; mainly; essentially. Example: The intentions are chiefly good
ones.
Lay/Lie:
Lay means
to place and requires an object. Lay down the law; lay of the land;
lay down one's life; etc..
Lie means
to recline and does not require an object. Lie down on the job; lie
low; take lying down; etc..
Leave/Let
are interchangeable only when accompanied by the word
"alone." Example: leave
me alone.
Leave means
to go away from; to cause to remain.
Let means
to allow; to permit; to cause.
More easy
- You should use
the word "easier" and drop the word "more."
More better - You
should use the word "better" and drop the word "more."
Set/Sit:
Set means
to put; to place. Example: Would
you set the papers on that desk?
Sit means
to place oneself. Example:
I'd love to sit next to you.
Shall/Will:
Use shall in the
first person and will in the second and third person to express future
time. I (we) shall talk to you soon. You (he, they) will go
soon.
Use will in the
first person and shall in the second and third person to express command or
determination. I will enter the room no matter what you tell me.
You shall (must) go.
Theirs
versus his/her:
It doesn't make sense to announce that someone is going to their
house. The word "someone" is singular and the word
"their" is plural.
The proper way to say it is: someone is going to
his/her house. Or if one already knows the sex of the person being
talked about, you may limit it to either his or her.
Whether
or not: Usually the or not
isn't necessary, however it is necessary when saying: I will go whether you
like it or not. A way to determine whether "or not"
is needed, substitute the word "if" for the word
"whether" and if the "if" causes a different meaning,
then "or not" is needed.
Who/Whom:
Use who (or whoever) as the subject of a verb or as a predicate pronoun and
use whom (whomever) as the object of a verb or preposition.
Who's/Whose:
Who's is
a shortcut for who is.
Whose is
the possessive case of the pronoun who.
|