Dynamic Memory Common Errors in English (Paperback)

Dynamic Memory Common Errors in English Book Description

PREFACE
(IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH)
Officially English has a status of assistant language, but in fact it is the most important language of India. After Hindi it is the most commonly spoken language in India and probably the most read and written language in India. Indians who know English will always try to show that they know English. English symbolizes in Indians minds, better education, better culture and higher intellect. Indians who know English often mingle it with Indian languages in their conversations. It is also usual among Indians to abruptly move to speak fluent English in the middle of their conversations. English also serves as the communicator among Indians who speak different language. English is very important in some systems-legal, financial, educational, business-in India. Until the beginning of 1990s, foreign movies in India weren-t translated or dubbed in Indian languages, but were broadcast in English and were meant for English speakers only. The reason Indians give such importance to English is related to the fact that India was a British colony.
When the British started ruling India, they searched for Indian mediators who could help them to administer India. The British turned to high caste Indians to work for them. Many high caste Indians, especially the Brahmins worked for them. The British policy was to create an Indian class who should think like the British, or as it was said then in Britain -Indians in blood and colour but English in taste, in opinions and morals and intellect- The British also established in India universities based on British models with emphasis on English. These Indians also got their education in British universities. The English Christian missionaries came to India from 1813 and they also built schools at primary level for Indians in which the language of instruction was local language. Later on the missionaries built high schools with English as the language of instruction which obliged the Indians who wanted to study to have a good knowledge of English. The British rulers began building their universities in India from 1857. English became the first language in Indian education. The -modern- leaders of that era in India also supported English language and claimed it to be the main key towards success. Indians who knew good English were seen as the new elite of India. Many new schools were established in which the language of instruction was English. According to the British laws the language of instruction at university level was English and therefore schools that emphasized English were preferred by ambitious Indians. Even after India-s independence, English remained the main language of India. Officially it was given a status of an assistant language and was supposed to terminate officially after 15 years of India-s independence, but it still remains the important language of India.
Even today schools in India that emphasis English are considered better schools and the same is the case at university levels, even though there is a trend towards Indianization. In the 1970s and 1980s about one third of the Indian schools had English as their first language. For most of these students, English is their first language and it is easier for them to communicate, read and write in English than in Indian languages, including their mother tongues.
Just like the Americans, Australians or even the British who have their unique English words and phrases, the Indians also have their own unique English. The Indians and the Indian English language press uses many words derived from Indian languages, especially from Hindi. Other than that, the Indian accent is sometimes difficult for non-Indians to understand. There are some Indian pronunciations that don-t exist in non Indian languages. The British also had problems with that and they caused some changes in Indian words so that they could pronounce them. Even the Indians started using these changed words and made them part of their English. Two examples of such changed words are curry and sari.
To truly experience the culture of a place most people would agree that the best way to soak it in is on the streets. -On the streets- here does not necessarily mean eating at street stalls or buying clothes at a pavement bazaar, but experiencing culture by observing the local people. The English language in India and it-s localization is one such phenomenon that must be understood by observing the way people have molded it to fit into their own culture. I was walking through a fancy shopping mall in New Delhi with a friend and we passed by a glossy sign for McDonalds. The byline read, - I-m loving it- I had never given much thought to it, but my friend pointed out that this was the way many Indians speak. In fact she was a bit suspicious about whether the advertising agency was not actually taking a playful dig at the Indian tendency to use progressive in static verbs like, -I am understanding it- or -She is knowing the answer- However, I disagree with my friend about the byline actually being a cheeky dig. Advertising caters to a target audience in a way that will appeal to them and in a language they will understand. This is the way many Indians speak English. With globalization has come an acceptance of an Indian identity and it is reflected in the confidence with which Indians have made English a part of their culture and bent the rules of conventional usage.
There is a distinction between first language and -Mother Tongue- in India. A first language, as the one you think in, which for most educated Indians would be English. The -mother tongue- which is another Indian adaptation, is the language spoken in one-s native region. There are various other adaptations, which are distinct to English spoken in India . No one has a problem understanding sentences like, -You asked her no?- -We did it just like that only- or -Please off the lights- These are of course particular to conversational English and would not be used while writing.
There are several words that Indians use, which are not really used in other English speaking countries. For example -eve teasing- is the word used to describe the harassment of women, a -Himalayan blunder- is a very serious mistake, a -hotel- is used as a generic term for a eating place, -tops- are earrings, a -rubber- is an eraser, a -bearer- is a waiter, and -cent percent- is one hundred percent! Don-t be befuddled if an Indian asks you your -good name- which may lead you to think about which is the -bad- part and look at him or her blankly for a while. They just want to know your name! Signboards advertising -Fooding and Lodging- are common at small motels and no one has a problem understanding that.
Along with globalization has come not only the call center culture where young professionals are well versed with the nuances of American and British English and accents, but also a new confidence in the way Indians have adapted the English language to suit their own culture. Indians have improvised and innovated in order to make English a part of their identity. Liberally sprinkled with local terms it is used unashamedly because this is the way one speaks English in India . It is all part of effective communication. So whether it is Pepsi-s byline of -Yeh dil maange MORE- or Lehar-s -CONTROL nahin hota- they are reflections of the way English is spoken by most people here.
The disdain expressed by many educated Indians in the past at this tendency to infuse ethnicity into the English language is fading away. To speak English like the British is no longer the predominant view. Ivan Illich, an anti institutional philosopher, supported this trend in his series of articles called Vernacular Values. -Language would be totally inhuman if it were totally taught. Speech is much more than communication, and only machines can communicate to without reference to vernacular roots.- These improvisations are tailored for effective communication as there are certain times when neither English nor the local language are able to convey meaning adequately on their own. So it is common to hear Hinglish (a separate is given in this book on Hinglish), a combination of Hindi and English, where local terms are interspersed through English sentences. This usage is not only reflected in advertising, but also in television shows, in movies, and even in Indian writing in English. In the latter, it is used to lend authenticity to the narrative, as sometimes the English language cannot completely convey the local experience.
Though there are many opponents to this trend and the new confidence in this so called -convoluted- version, many believe it to be positive. Whether it is advertising professionals, writers, or scholars, they all believe it is about effective communication and the fact that English is becoming localized shows it-s popularity with the masses. Of course it is incorrect to believe that this hybrid version is used in business or professional communication. This is a casual style of speaking English adapted to the life of the millions of Indians who speak the language. Some may scream sacrilege, but it is really about the evolution of a language to mirror changing attitudes of a society. And for the millions who speak this hybrid version, -Well what to do, we-re loving it!-
q q


1. BASIC RULES OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR 9
2. AMERICAN VS. BRITISH SPELLINGS 12
3. COMMON ERRORS 14
4. NON-ERRORS 73
5. WORDS GENERALLY MISSPELLED 78
6. WORDS THAT ARE OFTEN CONFUSED 80
7. ERRORS IN THE USE OF PUNCTUATION MARKS 94
8. 100 MOST OFTEN MISPRONOUNCED WORDS AND
PHRASES IN ENGLISH 102
9. AWKWARD SENTENCES 113
10. HOW TO AVOID MAKING MISTAKES IN ENGLISH 138
11. CORRECT USE OF PUNCTUATION MARKS 141
12. CORRECT USE OF VERBS 143
13. CORRECT USE OF PRONOUNS 146
14. CORRECT USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS 152
15. PERFECT RESUME WRITING 154
16. HELP, ADVICE & TIPS 156
17. LATIN PHRASES IN COMMON USAGE IN ENGLISH 158
18. RULES OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR 166
19. PUNCTUATION RULES 168
20. 20 IMPORTANT RULES FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE 169
21. IMPROVE YOUR WRITING 170
22. WRITING GUIDELINES 175
23. HINDI WORDS IN ENGLISH 178

BASIC RULES OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules make the written words understood. A writer should make the reader-s job easier by communicating what he or she wants to communicate. If you also want to write, pay respect to your readers. Don-t take them for granted. Learning and understanding the basic rules of English Grammar, you will surely be able to avoid ill-formed, confusing sentences. Hence, following and applying the rules of English Grammar and thereby producing a good writing can help the readers save their time from trying desperately to guess what you mean. Here are 5 basic rules of English Grammar.
Subject-Verb Agreement - Errors in agreement are the most common mistakes made in writings. To avoid this, just follow the simple rule: A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.
Wrong: Identification of these goods have been difficult.
Right: Identification of these goods has been difficult. (-Identification- is the subject here)
Wrong: The best way to keep your children happy are to give them enough responsibilities.
Right: The best way to keep your children happy is to give them enough responsibilities. (Use a singular verb if the subject is a phrase or clause)
Awkward: Neither John nor I am interested in this project.
Better: John is not interested in this project; nor am I. (If you write an awkward sentence, consider rewriting it)
Exception: Use a singular verb if a compound subject refers to the same person or thing.
Example: Milk and breads is a typical breakfast for many people.
Tense - Tense refers to time. It tells when an action is happening: in the present, in the future, or in the past. Whatever time it is, it should remain consistent throughout your whole piece of writing. There are three main tenses - Past Tense, Present Tense and Future Tense.
Here is an example of writing with mixed tenses:
Wrong: John wanted to know why Rebecca is sad, but she will not tell him.
Right: John wanted to know why Rebecca was sad, but she would not tell him.
Present tense, Past tense and Future Tense each has the following four forms. The examples below will help you understand that:
Past Tense
Simple Past - I spoke
Past Continuous - I was speaking
Past Perfect - I had spoken
Past Perfect Continuous - I had been speaking
Present Tense
Simple Present - I speak
Present Continuous - I am speaking
Present Perfect - I have spoken
Present Perfect Continuous - I have been speaking
Future Tense
Simple Future- I shall/ will speak
Future Continuous - I shall/ will be speaking
Future Perfect - I shall/will have spoken
Future Perfect Continuous - I shall/ will have been speaking
Double Negatives - Two negative words create a positive meaning, which may be just the opposite of what you have intended to convey.
Wrong: I don-t have nothing to say.
Right: I don-t have anything to say.
Wrong: Tom couldn-t hardly believe what Jack said.
Right: Tom could hardly believe what Jack said.
Modifiers - Words that describe or limit other words are called modifiers. Adjective is a word or group of words that modifies a noun or pronoun, whereas Adverb is a group of words that modifies a verb, adjective or other adverb. Avoid misplaced and dangling modifiers.
Wrong: Thomas told her that he wanted to marry her frequently.
Right: Thomas frequently told her that he wanted to marry her.
Wrong: Nicole picked up a girl in a blue jacket named Agatha.
Right: Nicole picked up Agatha, a girl in a blue jacket.
Wrong: Walking across the busy street, a bus almost hit me.
Right: As I walked across the busy street, a bus almost hit me.
Usage - If you are going to use a word, you must know how to use it. Use simple words. Many people have the tendency to use big, difficult words while writing. Avoid fancy words and phrases when simpler ones convey the idea. Omit unnecessary words. A piece of writing, containing long words strung together in complex sentences, turn out to be poorly written and not impressive. You will have fewer chances for grammatical errors if you can cut a word out which can be cut out.
Stuffy: I will make modifications in the document.
Simple: I will change the document.
Wordy: You should remember to consult your watch in order to keep a person from waiting for you when you have decided to meet him at a particular time.
Translation: Be punctual.
The more you remember the basic rules of English Grammar and practice good writing, the better your writings will be. The process is simple and easy. Keeping a good dictionary is essential in searching for the right word and finding out the actual meanings that will help you in selecting the right words. Usage of proper English Grammar and selecting the right words will make it more likely that your writings stand out from the rest. So, keep enjoying the process and keep writing.
(Courtesy : perfectediting.com)
q q
AMERICAN VS. BRITISH SPELLINGS

A few years ago in Britain there was some controversy around the fact that some British official body had recommended that English spelling be standardized by the adoption of U.S. spelling, e.g., that -sulfate- be used instead of -sulphate- and -fetus- instead of -foetus- British linguistic purists were outraged and suggested, on the contrary, that English spelling be standardized by the adoption of British spelling. This is typical of the sort of thinking prevalent in that decrepit society, which is continually reliving its -finest hour- sixty years ago, and which seems incapable of change, mainly because change would endanger the wealth and privilege of its established upper/moneyed class (that-s why the society is decrepit).
If you are writing for a target audience of British linguistic purists then clearly British spelling should be used. If writing for an American audience then U.S. spelling should be used. If writing for a general readership then the choice is yours. Your choice should be based on two main considerations: (i) Are there more readers used to U.S. spelling than readers used to British spelling? (Probably yes.) (ii) Which spelling looks and sounds best? In most cases, in my opinion, it is the U.S. spelling, e.g., -colour- instead of -colour- but sometimes the British.
At times, however, I will use the British spelling of a word even though I suppose my audience to be mainly American, as in the case of -burned- (U.S.) and -burnt- (British). The reason is that the spelling -burnt- is superior to -burned- because (i) the word is more easily and more quickly pronounced as -burnt- (unvoiced final consonant) rather than -burned- (voiced final consonant) and (ii) in this case that spelling which reflects the pronunciation is better. If Americans have any sense then they will see the validity of this argument and stop spelling the word in their ridiculous manner as -burned- (as if they were quite incapable of forming the past tense of a verb by any means other than adding -ed-
Sometimes the choice is not easy. Should one use -plough- (British) or -plow- (American)? Did the farmer plough his land or did he plow it? -Plow- is close in spelling to -blow- but the two words are pronounced differently. Of course, the same is nearly as true of -plough- and -trough- There-s really no good solution to this problem. In such cases just choose one spelling and use it consistently throughout (though in a piece of writing intended for a different audience you might use an alternative spelling).
By the way, note that if a sentence is included in parentheses then the period, or -full stop- in British English, goes before the closing parenthesis. (It-s also poor style to have two consecutive sentences each enclosed in parentheses.) (It looks as if you don-t know when to stop adding comments to what went before.) (And it-s also better, although not absolutely necessary, to avoid nesting parentheses (or brackets, or braces).
I also incline toward the principle of spell-as-you-speak (as with -burnt- rather than -burned- but although this principle is fully implemented in languages such as German, English spelling is so variable that a strict implementation of this in English would result in chaos and confusion (e.g., -Thuh stayk is pritti tuff- Let-s just say that when considering whether to use the American or the British spelling of a word the principle of spell-as-you-speak should be given some wate, er, wayt, no, wait, I mean, weight.
This principle can be taken to extremes, with unfortunate results. In recent years some among those youth of inferior mental ability have taken to spelling (even in written English) -you- as -u- -are- as -r- and similar barbarisms. This pernicious habit presumably has arisen from the need to compress text when sending short messages by cellphone, as in -c u 2nit- This sort of thing may be OK for cellphone dialog, but when this spelling is carried over into written English it suggests that the writer cannot remember which spelling is appropriate for which medium of communication and thus has the mental capacity of a chimpanzee.
q q
COMMON ERRORS
360 Degrees/180 Degrees : When you turn 360 degrees you-ve completed a circle and are back where you started. So if you want to describe a position that-s diametrically opposed to another, the expression you want is not - degrees away- but - degrees away.-
A/An : If the word following begins with a vowel, the word you want is -an- -Have an apple, Adam.- If the word following begins with a consonant, but begins with a vowel sound, you still need -an- -An X-ray will show whether there-s a worm in it.- It is nonstandard and often considered sloppy speech to utter an -uh- sound in such cases.
When the following word definitely begins with a consonant sound, you need -a- -A snake told me apples enhance mental abilities.-
A.D. : -A.D.- does not mean -after death,- as many people suppose. -B.C.- stands for the English phrase -before Christ,- but -A.D.- stands confusingly for a Latin phrase: anno domini (-in the year of the Lord-the year Jesus was born). If the calendar actually changed with Jesus- death, then what would we do with the years during which he lived? Since Jesus was probably actually born around 6 B.C. or so, the connection of the calendar with him can be misleading.
All of these abbreviations can also be spelled without their periods.
A.M./P.M. : -AM- stands for the Latin phrase Ante Meridiem -which means -before noon-and -PM- stands for Post Meridiem : -after noon.- Although digital clocks routinely label noon - PM- you should avoid this expression not only because it is incorrect, but because many people will imagine you are talking about midnight instead. The same goes for - AM.- Just say or write -noon- or -midnight- when you mean those precise times.
It is now rare to see periods placed after these abbreviations: -A.M.- , but in formal writing it is still preferable to capitalize them, though the lower-case -am- and -pm- are now so popular they are not likely to get you into trouble.
Occasionally computer programs encourage you to write -AM- and -PM- without a space before them, but others will misread your data if you omit the space. The nonstandard habit of omitting the space is spreading rapidly, and should be avoided in formal writing.
Abstruse/Obtuse : Most people first encounter -obtuse- in geometry class, where it labels an angle of more than 90 degrees. Imagine what sort of blunt arrowhead that kind of angle would make and you will understand why it also has a figurative meaning of -dull, stupid.- But people often mix the word up with -abstruse,- which means -difficult to understand.-
When you mean to criticize something for being needlessly complex or baffling, the word you need is not -obtuse,- but -abstruse.-
Accede/Exceed : If you drive too fast, you exceed the speed limit. -Accede- is a much rarer word meaning -give in,- -agree.-
Accept/Expect : If you offer me Godiva chocolates I will gladly accept them-except for the candied violet ones. Just remember that the -X- in -except- excludes things-they tend to stand out, be different. In contrast, just look at those two cozy -C-s- snuggling up together. Very accepting. And be careful; when typing -except- it often comes out -expect.-
Actionable/Doable : -Actionable- is a technical term referring to something that provides grounds for a legal action or lawsuit. People in the business world have begun using it as a fancy synonym for -doable- or -feasible.- This is both pretentious and confusing.
Actual fact/Actually : -In actual fact- is an unnecessarily complicated way of saying -actually.-
Ad/Add : -Advertisement- is abbreviated -ad,- not -add.-
Adopt/Adapt : You can adopt a child or a custom or a law; in all of these cases you are making the object of the adoption your own, accepting it. If you adapt something, however, you are changing it.
Administer/Minister : You can minister to someone by administering first aid. Note how the -ad- in -administer- resembles -aid- in order to remember the correct form of the latter phrase. -Minister- as a verb always requires -to- following it.
Advance/Advanced : When you hear about something in advance, earlier than other people, you get advance notice or information. -Advanced- means -complex, sophisticated- and doesn-t necessarily have anything to do with the revealing of secrets.
Adverse/Averse : The word -adverse- turns up most frequently in the phrase -adverse circumstances,- meaning difficult circumstances, circumstances which act as an adversary; but people often confuse this word with -averse,- a much rarer word, meaning having a strong feeling against, or aversion toward.
Advice/Advise : -Advice- is the noun, -advise- the verb. When Ann Landers advises people, she gives them advice.
Adviser/Advisor : -Adviser- and -advisor- are equally fine spellings. There is no distinction between them.
Aesthetic/Ascetic : People often encounter these two words first in college, and may confuse one with the other although they have almost opposite connotations. -Aesthetic- (also spelled -esthetic- has to do with beauty, whereas -ascetic- has to do with avoiding pleasure, including presumably the pleasure of looking at beautiful things.
Affect/Effect : There are four distinct words here. When -affect- is accented on the final syllable (a-FECT), it is a verb meaning -have an influence on- -The million-dollar donation from the industrialist did not affect my vote against the Clean Air Act.- A much rarer meaning is indicated when the word is accented on the first syllable (AFF-ect), meaning -emotion.- In this case the word is used mostly by psychiatrists and social scientists- people who normally know how to spell it. The real problem arises when people confuse the first spelling with the second: -effect.- This too can be two different words. The more common one is a noun: -When I left the stove on, the effect was that the house filled with smoke.- When you affect a situation, you have an effect on it. The less common is a verb meaning -to create- -I-m trying to effect a change in the way we purchase widgets.- No wonder people are confused. Note especially that the proper expression is not -take affect- but -take effect-become effective. Hey, nobody ever said English was logical: just memorize it and get on with your life.
Affluence/Effluence : Wealth brings affluence; sewage is effluence.
Agnostic/Atheist : Both agnostics and atheists are regularly criticized as illogical by people who don-t understand the meaning of these terms. An agnostic is a person who believes that the existence of a god or gods cannot be proven or known. Agnosticism is a statement about the limits of human knowledge. It is an error to suppose that agnostics perpetually hesitate between faith and doubt: they are confident they cannot know the ultimate truth. Similarly, atheists believe there are no gods. Atheists need not be able to disprove the existence of gods to be consistent just as believers do not need to be able to prove that gods do exist in order to be regarded as religious. Both attitudes have to do with beliefs, not knowledge.
-Agnostic- is often used metaphorically of any refusal to make a judgment, usually on the basis of a lack of evidence; people can be agnostic about acupuncture, for instance, if they believe there is not enough evidence one way or another to decide its effectiveness.
Aisle/Isle : An aisle is a narrow passageway, especially in a church or store; an isle is an island. Propose to the person you-re stranded on a desert isle with and maybe you-ll march down the aisle together after you-re rescued.
Allude/Elude : You can allude (refer) to your daughter-s membership in the honor society when boasting about her, but a criminal tries to elude (escape) captivity. There is no such word as -illude.-
Allusion/Illusion : An allusion is a reference, something you allude to: -Her allusion to flowers reminded me that Valentine-s Day was coming.- In that English paper, don-t write -literary illusions- when you mean -allusions.- A mirage, hallucination, or a magic trick is an illusion. (Doesn-t being fooled just make you ill')
Allusive/Elusive/Illusive : When a lawyer alludes to his client-s poor mother, he is being allusive. When the mole keeps eluding the traps you-ve set in the garden, it-s being elusive. We also speak of matters that are difficult to understand, identify, or remember as elusive. Illusions can be illusive, but we more often refer to them as illusory.
Aloud/Allowed : If you think Grandma allowed the kids to eat too much ice cream, you-d better not say so aloud, or her feelings will be hurt. -Aloud- means -out loud- and refers to sounds (most often speech) that can be heard by others. But this word is often misused when people mean -allowed,- meaning -permitted.-
All ready/Already : -All ready- is a phrase meaning -completely prepared,- as in -As soon as I put my coat on, I-ll be all ready.- -Already,- however, is an adverb used to describe something that has happened before a certain time, as in -What do you mean you-d rather stay home? I-ve already got my coat on.-
Altar/Alter : An altar is that platform at the front of a church or in a temple; to alter something is to change it.
Alternate/Alternative : Although UK authorities disapprove, in U.S. usage, -alternate- is frequently an adjective, substituted for the older -alternative- -an alternate route.- -Alternate- can also be a noun; a substitute delegate is, for instance, called an -alternate.- But when you-re speaking of -every other- as in -our club meets on alternate Tuesdays,- you can-t substitute -alternative.-
Altogether/All together : -Altogether- is an adverb meaning -completely,- -entirely.- For example: -When he first saw the examination questions, he was altogether baffled.- -All together,- in contrast, is a phrase meaning -in a group.- For example: -The wedding guests were gathered all together in the garden.- Undressed people are said in informal speech to be -in the altogether- (perhaps a shortening of the phrase -altogether naked- ).
Alumnus/Alumni : We used to have -alumnus- (male singular), -alumni- (male plural), -alumna- (female singular) and -alumnae- (female plural); but the latter two are now popular only among older female graduates, with the first two terms becoming unisex. However, it is still important to distinguish between one alumnus and a stadium full of alumni. Never say, -I am an alumni- if you don-t want to cast discredit on your school. Many avoid the whole problem by resorting to the informal abbreviation -alum.-
Ambiguous/Ambivalent : Even though the prefix -ambi-- means -both,- -ambiguous- has come to mean -unclear,- -undefined,- while -ambivalent- means -torn between two opposing feelings or views.- If your attitude cannot be defined into two polarized alternatives, then you-re ambiguous, not ambivalent.
Among/Amongst : Although -amongst- has not dated nearly as badly as -whilst,- it is still less common in standard speech than -among.-
Amoral/Immoral : -Amoral- is a rather technical word meaning -unrelated to morality.- When you mean to denounce someone-s behaviour, call it -immoral.-
And/Or : The legal phrase -and/or,- indicating that you can either choose between two alternatives or choose both of them, has proved irresistible in other contexts and is now widely acceptable though it irritates some readers as jargon. However, you can logically use it only when you are discussing choices which may or may not both be done: -Bring chips and/or beer.- It-s very much overused where simple -or- would do, and it would be wrong to say, -you can get to the campus for this morning-s meeting on a bike and/or in a car.- Choosing one eliminates the possibility of the other, so this isn-t an and/or situation.
Anecdote/Antidote : A humorist relates -anecdotes.- The doctor prescribes -antidotes- for children who have swallowed poison. Laughter may be the best medicine, but that-s no reason to confuse these two with each other.
Angles/Angels : People who want to write about winged beings from Heaven often miscall them -angles.- A triangle has three angles. The Heavenly Host is made of angels. Just remember the adjectival form: -angelic.- If you pronounce it aloud you-ll be reminded that the E comes before the L.
Anxious/Eager : Most people use -anxious- interchangeably with -eager,- but its original meaning had to do with worrying, being full of anxiety. Perfectly correct phrases like, -anxious to please- obscure the nervous tension implicit in this word and lead people to say less correct things like -I-m anxious for Christmas morning to come so I can open my presents.- Traditionalists frown on anxiety-free anxiousness. Say instead you are eager for or looking forward to a happy event.
Apart/A part : Paradoxically, the one-word form implies separation while the two-word form implies union. Feuding roommates decide to live apart. Their time together may be a part of their life they will remember with some bitterness.
Appraise/Apprise : When you estimate the value of something, you appraise it. When you inform people of a situation, you apprise them of it.
Around/About : Lots of people think it-s just nifty to say things like -We-re having ongoing discussions around the proposed merger.- This strikes some of us as irritating jargon. We feel it should be -discussions about- rather than -around.-
Aspect/Respect : When used to refer to different elements of or perspectives on a thing or idea, these words are closely related, but not interchangeable. It-s -in all respects,- not -in all aspects.- Similarly, one can say -in some respects- but not -in some aspects.- One says -in this respect,- not -in this aspect.- One looks at all -aspects- of an issue, not at all -respects.-
Assure/Ensure/Insure : To -assure- a person of something is to make him or her confident of it. According to Associated Press style, to -ensure- that something happens is to make certain that it does, and to -insure- is to issue an insurance policy. Other authorities, however, consider -ensure- and -insure- interchangeable. To please conservatives, make the distinction. However, it is worth noting that in older usage these spellings were not clearly distinguished.
European -life assurance- companies take the position that all policy-holders are mortal and someone will definitely collect, thus assuring heirs of some income. American companies tend to go with -insurance- for coverage of life as well as of fire, theft, etc.
Astrology/Astronomy : Modern astronomers consider astrology an outdated superstition. You-ll embarrass yourself if you use the term -astrology- to label the scientific study of the cosmos. In writing about history, however, you may have occasion to note that ancient astrologers, whose main goal was to peer into the future, incidentally did some sound astronomy as they studied the positions and movements of celestial objects.
Attribute/Contribute : When trying to give credit to someone, say that you attribute your success to their help, not contribute. (Of course, a politician may attribute his success to those who contribute to his campaign fund, but probably only in private.)
Aural/Oral : -Aural- has to do with things you hear, -oral- with things you say, or relating to your mouth.
Auger/Augur : An augur was an ancient Roman prophet, and as a verb the word means -foretell-their love augurs well for a successful marriage.- Don-t mix this word up with -auger,- a tool for boring holes. Some people mishear the phrase -augurs well- as -all goes well- and mistakenly use that instead.
Autobiography/Biography : When you write the story of your own life, you write an autobiography; but when you write the story of someone else-s life, it-s just a plain old biography.
Avenge/Revenge : When you try to get vengeance for people who-ve been wronged, you want to avenge them. You can also avenge a wrong itself: -He avenged the murder by taking vengeance on the killer.- Substituting -revenge- for -avenge- in such contexts is very common, but frowned on by some people. They feel that if you seek revenge in the pursuit of justice you want to avenge wrongs; not revenge them.
Avocation/Vocation : Your avocation is just your hobby; don-t mix it up with your job: your vocation.
Away/A way : -Jessica commented on my haircut in a way that made me think maybe I shouldn-t have let my little sister do it for me.- In this sort of context, -a way- should always be two distinct words, though many people use the single word -away- instead. If you-re uncertain, try substituting another word for -way- -in a manner that,- -in a style that.- If the result makes sense, you need the two-word phrase. Then you can tell Jessica to just go away.
Awhile/A while : When -awhile- is spelled as a single word, it is an adverb meaning -for a time- (-stay awhile- but when -while- is the object of a prepositional phrase, like -Lend me your monkey wrench for a while- the -while- must be separated from the -a.- (But if the preposition -for- were lacking in this sentence, -awhile- could be used in this way: -Lend me your monkey wrench awhile.-
Axle/Axel : The center of a wheel is its axle. An axel is a tricky jump in figure skating named after Axel Paulsen.
Backslash/Slash : This is a slash: /. Because the top of it leans forward, it is sometimes called a -forward slash.-
This is a backslash: \. Notice the way it leans back, distinguishing it from the regular slash.
Slashes are often used to indicate directories and subdirectories in computer systems such as Unix and in World Wide Web addresses. Unfortunately, many people, assuming -backslash- is some sort of technical term for the regular slash, use the term incorrectly, which risks confusing those who know enough to distinguish between the two but not enough to realize that Web addresses rarely contain backslashes.
Backward/Backwards : As an adverb, either word will do: -put the shirt on backward- or -put the shirt on backwards.- However, as an adjective, only -backward- will do: -a backward glance.- When in doubt, use -backward.-
Bail/Bale : In the expression -bail out- meaning to abandon a position or situation, it is non-standard in America to use -bale,- though that spelling is widely accepted in the UK. The metaphor is to compare oneself when jumping out of a plane to a bucket of water being tossed out of a boat, so the US spelling is more closely linked to the phrase-s origin.
Baldfaced/Boldfaced : The only one of these spellings recognized by the Oxford English Dictionary as meaning -shameless- is -barefaced.- Etymologies often refer to the prevalence of beards among Renaissance Englishmen, but beards were probably too common to be considered as deceptively concealing. It seems more likely that the term derived from the widespread custom at that time among the upper classes of wearing masks to social occasions where one would rather not be recognized.
Bare/Bear : There are actually three words here. The simple one is the big growly creature (unless you prefer the Winnie-the-Pooh type). Hardly anyone past the age of ten gets that one wrong. The problem is the other two. Stevedores bear burdens on their backs and mothers bear children. Both mean -carry- (in the case of mothers, the meaning has been extended from carrying the child during pregnancy to actually giving birth). But strippers bare their bodies-sometimes bare-naked. The confusion between this latter verb and -bear- creates many unintentionally amusing sentences; so if you want to entertain your readers while convincing them that you are a dolt, by all means mix them up. -Bear with me,- the standard expression, is a request for forbearance or patience. -Bare with me- would be an invitation to undress. -Bare- has an adjectival form: -The pioneers stripped the forest bare.-
Bazaar/Bizarre : A -bazaar- is a market where miscellaneous goods are sold. -Bizarre,- in contrast, is an adjective meaning -strange,- -weird.-
Beat/Bead : In American English when you focus narrowly on something or define it carefully you -get a bead- or -draw a bead- on it. In this expression the term -bead- comes from the former name for the little metal bump on the end of a gun barrel which helped the shooter aim precisely at a target. -Beat- is often mistakenly substituted for -bead- by people who imagine that the expression has something to do with matching the timing of the person or activity being observed, catching up with it.
Belief/Believes : If you have it, it-s a belief; if you do it, you believe. People can-t have religious -believes- they have religious beliefs. If you have it, it-s a belief; if you do it, you believe.
Benefactors/Beneficiaries : Benefactors give benefits; beneficiaries receive them. We expect to hear of generous benefactors and grateful beneficiaries.
Beside/Besides : -Besides- can mean -in addition to- as in -besides the puppy chow, Spot scarfed up the filet mignon I was going to serve for dinner.- -Beside,- in contrast, usually means -next to.- -I sat beside Cheryl all evening, but she kept talking to Jerry instead.- Using -beside- for -besides,- won-t usually get you in trouble; but using -besides- when you mean -next to- will.
Bias/Biased : A person who is influenced by a bias is biased. The expression is not -they-re bias,- but -they-re biased.- Also, many people say someone is -biased toward- something or someone when they mean biased against. To have a bias toward something is to be biased in its favour.
Biweekly/Semiweekly : Technically, a biweekly meeting occurs every two weeks and a semiweekly one occurs twice a week; but so few people get this straight that your club is liable to disintegrate unless you avoid these words in the newsletter and stick with -every other week- or -twice weekly.- The same is true of -bimonthly- and -semimonthly,- though -biennial- and -semi-annual- are less often confused with each other.
Boarders/Borders : Boarders are residents in a boarding house or school paying for their room and board (food), fighters who board ships, or more recently, people who go snowboarding a lot. You can also board animals, though usually only people are called -boarders.- All of these have some connection with boards: hunks of wood (the planks of a table, the deck of a ship, a snowboard).
All uses having to do with boundaries and edges are spelled -border-
Both/Each : There are times when it is important to use -each- instead of -both.- Few people will be confused if you say -I gave both of the boys a cricket glove,- meaning -I gave both of the boys cricket gloves- because it is unlikely that two boys would be expected to share one glove; but you risk confusion if you say -I gave both of the boys Rs. 50.- It is possible to construe this sentence as meaning that the boys shared the same Rs. 50 gift. -I gave each of the boys Rs. 50- is clearer.
Bought/Brought : If you pay for something, you-ve bought it; if you bring something you-ve brought it. These two words are probably interchanged most often out of mere carelessness. A spelling checker won-t catch the switch, so watch out for it.
Bounce/Bounds : A leaky ball may be out of bounce, but when it crosses the boundary line off the basketball court or football field it goes out of bounds. Similarly, any action or speech that goes beyond proper limits can be called -out of bounds-
Breach/Breech : Substitute a K for the CH in -breach- to remind you that the word has to do with breakage: you can breach (break through) a dam or breach (violate the terms of) a contract. As a noun, a breach is something broken off or open, as in a breach in a military line during combat.
-Breech- however, refers to rear ends, as in -breeches- (slang spelling -britches- ). -Once more unto the breach, dear friends,- means -let-s fill up the gap in the line of battle,- not -let-s reach into our pants again.-
Breath/Breathe : When you need to breathe, you take a breath. -Breathe- is the verb, -breath- the noun.
Bring/Take : When you are viewing the movement of something from the point of arrival, use -bring- -When you come to the potluck, please bring a green salad.- Viewing things from the point of departure, you should use -take-
Briton/British : A British person is a Briton; only the country can be referred to as -Britain.-
Broach/Brooch : A decorative pin is a -brooch- even though it sounds like -broach-a quite different word. Although some dictionaries now accept the latter spelling for jewellery, you risk looking ignorant to many readers if you use it.
Broke/Broken : When you break something, it-s broken, not -broke,- though a person or organization which has run out of money can be said in informal speech to be -broke.- Otherwise, use -broke- only as the simple past tense of -break,- without a helping verb: -Sachin broke the record,- but -The record was broken by Sachin.-
By/-Bye/Buy : These are probably confused with each other more often through haste than through actual ignorance, but -by- is the common preposition in phrases like -you should know by now.- It can also serve a number of other functions, but the main point here is not to confuse -by- with the other two spellings: -bye- is an abbreviated form of -goodbye- (preferably with an apostrophe before it to indicate the missing syllable), and -buy- is the verb meaning -purchase.- -Buy- can also be a noun, as in -that was a great buy.- The term for the position of a competitor who advances to the next level of a tournament without playing is a -bye.- All others are -by.-
Cache/Cachet : -Cache- comes from the French verb cacher, meaning -to hide,- and in English is pronounced exactly like the word -cash.- But reporters speaking of a cache (hidden hoard) of weapons or drugs often mispronounce it to sound like cachet-ca-SHAY- -a word with a very different meaning: originally a seal affixed to a document, now a quality attributed to anything with authority or prestige. Rolex watches have cachet.
Callous/Callused : Calling someone -callous- is a way of metaphorically suggesting a lack of feeling similar to that caused by calluses on the skin; but if you are speaking literally of the tough build-up on a person-s hand or feet, the word you need is -callused.-
Calvary/Cavalry : -Calvary,- always capitalized, is the hill on which Jesus was crucified. It means -hill of skulls.- Soldiers mounted on horseback are cavalry.
Cannot/Can not : These two spellings are largely interchangeable, but by far the most common is -cannot- and you should probably use it except when you want to be emphatic: -No, you can not wash your cloth here.-
Canon/Cannon : -Canon- used to be such a rare word that there was no temptation to confuse it with -cannon- a large piece of artillery. The debate over the literary canon (a list of officially-approved works) and the popularity of Pachelbel-s Canon (an imitative musical form related to the common -round- have changed all that-confusion is rampant. Just remember that the big gun is a -cannon.- All the rest are -canons.- Note that there are metaphorical uses of -cannon- for objects shaped like large guns, such as a horse-s -cannon bone.-
Capital/Capitol : A -capitol- is almost always a building. Cities which serve as seats of government are capitals spelled with an A in the last syllable, as are most other uses of the word as a common noun. The only exceptions are place names alluding to capitol buildings in some way or other, like -Capitol Hill- in DC, Denver, or Seattle (the latter either named after the hill in Denver or in hopes of attracting the Washington State capitol building). Would it help to remember that Congress with an O meets in the Capitol with another O'
Carat/Caret/Carrot/Karet : -Carrots- are those crunchy orange vegetables Bugs Bunny is so fond of, but this spelling gets misused for the less familiar words which are pronounced the same but have very different meanings. Precious stones like diamonds are weighed in carats. The same word is used to express the proportion of pure gold in an alloy, though in this usage it is sometimes spelled -karat- (hence the abbreviation -K gold- A caret is a proofreader-s mark showing where something needs to be inserted, shaped like a tiny pitched roof. It looks rather like a French circumflex, but is usually distinct from it on modern computer keyboards. Carets are extensively used in computer programming. Just remember, if you can-t eat it, it-s not a carrot.
Carrier/Career : A truck careening down the road is swerving from side to side as it races along, whereas a truck careering down the road may be simply travelling very fast. But because it is not often clear which meaning a person intends, confusing these two words is not likely to get you into trouble.
Celibate/Chaste : Believe it or not, you can be celibate without being chaste, and chaste without being celibate. A celibate person is merely unmarried, usually (but not always) because of a vow of celibacy. The traditional assumption is that such a person is not having sex with anyone, which leads many to confuse the word with -chaste,- denoting someone who does not have illicit sex. A woman could have daily with her lawful husband and technically still be chaste, though the word is more often used to imply a general abstemiousness from sex and sexuality. You can always amuse your readers by misspelling the latter word as -chased.-
Cement/Concrete : People in the building trades distinguish cement (the gray powder that comes in bags) from concrete (the combination of cement, water, sand, and gravel which becomes hard enough in your driveway to drive your car on). In contexts where technical precision matters, it-s probably better to speak of a -concrete sidewalk- rather than of a -cement sidewalk.-
Chose/Choose : You chose tranquliser last night; you choose aspirin this morning. -Chose- is the past tense, -choose- the present.
Chuck/Chunk : In casual conversation, you may get by with saying -Chuck [throw] me that monkey wrench, will you?- But you will mark yourself as illiterate beyond mere casualness by saying instead -Chunk me that wrench.- This is a fairly common substitution in some dialects of American English.
Cite/Site/Sight : You cite the author in an endnote; you visit a Web site or the site of the crime, and you sight your beloved running toward you in slow motion on the beach (a sight for sore eyes!).
Classic/Classical : -Classical- usually describes things from ancient Greece or Rome, or things from analogous ancient periods like classical Sanskrit poetry. The exception is classical music, which in the narrow sense is late 18th and 19th-century music by the likes of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, and in the broader sense formal concert music of any period in the West or traditional formal music from other cultures, like classical ragas.
-Classic- has a much looser meaning, describing things that are outstanding examples of their kind, like a classic car or even a classic blunder.
Cleanup/Clean up : -Cleanup- is usually a noun: -the cleanup of the toxic waste site will cost billions of dollars.- -Clean- is a verb in the phrase -clean up- -You can go to the mall after you clean up your room.-
Clich/ Clichd : One often hears young people say -That movie was so clich!- The standard expression is clichd.
Clique/Clik : Students lamenting the division of their schools into snobbish factions often misspell -clique- as -click.- In the original French, -clique- was synonymous with -claque-an organized group of supporters at a theatrical event who tried to prompt positive audience response by clapping enthusiastically.
Close/Clothes : Because the TH in -clothes- is seldom pronounced distinctly, it is often misspelled -close.- Just remember the TH in -clothing,- where it is obvious. Clothes are made of cloth. Rags can also be cloths (without an E).
Coarse/Course : -Coarse- is always an adjective meaning -rough, crude.- Unfortunately, this spelling is often mistakenly used for a quite different word, -course,- which can be either a verb or a noun (with several different meanings).
Collaborate/Corroborate : People who work together on a project collaborate (share their labour); people who support your testimony as a witness corroborate (strengthen by confirming) it.
Collage/College : You can paste together bits of paper to make a collage, but the institution of higher education is a college.
Columbia/Culombia : Although both are named after Columbus, the U.S. capital is the District of Columbia, whereas the South American country is Colombia.
Colon/Semicolon : Colons have a host of uses, but they mostly have in common that the colon acts to connect what precedes it with what follows. Think of the two dots of a colon as if they were stretched out to form an equal sign, so that you get cases like this: -he provided all the ingredients: sugar, flour, butter, and vanilla.- There are a few exceptions to this pattern, however. One unusual use of colons is in between the chapter and verses of a Biblical citation, for instance, -Raman 6:5.- In bibliographic citation a colon separates the city from the publisher: -New Delhi: New Directions, 1999.- It also separates minutes from hours in times of day when given in figures: -
It is incorrect to substitute a semicolon in any of these cases. Think of the semicolon as erecting a little barrier with that dug-in comma under the dot; semicolons always imply separation rather than connection. A sentence made up of two distinct parts whose separation needs to be emphasized may do so with a semicolon: -Mary moved to Nainital; she was sick of getting sunburned in Jodhpur.- When a compound sentence contains commas within one or more of its clauses, you have to escalate to a semicolon to separate the clauses themselves: -It was a mild, deliciously warm spring day; and Mary decided to walk to the fair.- The other main use of semicolons is to separate one series of items from another-a series within a series, if you will: -The issues discussed by the board of directors were many: the loud, acrimonious complaints of the stockholders; the abrupt, devastating departure of the director; and the startling, humiliating discovery that he had absconded with half the company-s assets.- Any time the phrases which make up a series contain commas, for whatever reason, they need to be separated by semicolons.
Many people are so terrified of making the wrong choice that they try to avoid colons and semicolons altogether, but I-m afraid this just can-t be done. Formal writing requires their use, and it-s necessary to learn the correct patterns.
Compare to/Compare with : These are sometimes interchangeable, but when you are stressing similarities between the items compared, the most common word is -to- -She compared his home-made wine to toxic waste.- If you are examining both similarities and differences, use -with- -The teacher compared Ravi exam with Sushil to see whether they had cheated.-
Complement/Compliment : Originally these two spellings were used interchangeably, but they have come to be distinguished from each other in modern times. Most of the time the word people intend is -compliment- nice things said about someone (-She paid me the compliment of admiring the way I shined my shoes.- -Complement,- much less common, has a number of meanings associated with matching or completing. Complements supplement each other, each adding something the others lack, so we can say that -Alice-s love for entertaining and Mike-s love for washing dishes complement each other.- Remember, if you-re not making nice to someone, the word is -complement.-
Compliment/Complimentary : When paying someone a compliment like -I love what you-ve done with the kitchen!- you-re being complimentary. A free bonus item is also a complimentary gift. But items or people that go well with each other are complementary.
In geometry, complementary angles add up to 90, whereas supplementary ones add up to 180.
Connote/Denote : The literal meaning of a word is its denotation; the broader associations we have with a word are its connotations. People who depend on a thesaurus or a computer translation engine to find synonyms often choose a word with the right denotation but the wrong connotations.
-Determined- and -pig-headed- both denote stubbornness; but the first connotes a wise adherence to purpose and the second connotes foolish rigidity.
-Boss- and -Chief Executive Officer- (CEO) can refer to the same office; but the first is less admiring and likely to connote the view of employees lower down in the company-nobody wants to be thought of as -bossy.- Higher executives would be more likely to speak admiringly of a -CEO.-
I often write -insufficiently complex- at the bottom of student papers instead of -simple-minded.- Although they denote essentially the same quality, the connotations of the first are less insulting.
Contaminates/Contaminants : When run-off from a chemical plant enters the river it contaminates the water; but the garbage itself consists of contaminants.
Continual/Continuous : -Continuous- refers to actions which are uninterrupted: -My upstairs neighbour played his stereo continuously from 6:00 PM to 3:30 AM.- Continual actions, however, need not be uninterrupted, only repeated: -My father continually urges me to get a job.-
Contrary/Contrast : The phrases -on the contrary- and -to the contrary- are used to reply to an opposing point. Your friend tells you she is moving to New Delhi and you express surprise because you thought she hated big cities. She replies, -On the contrary, I-ve always wanted to live in an urban area.-
Contrast/Contrast with : When a distinction is being made that does not involve opposition of this sort, -in contrast- is appropriate. -In New York, you don-t need a car. In Los Angeles, in contrast, you can-t really get along without one, though you won-t need a snow shovel.-
If you could possibly substitute -that-s wrong- the phrase you want is -on the contrary- or -to the contrary- If not, then use -in contrast.-
-With- must not be omitted in sentences like this: -Julia-s enthusiasm for rugby contrasts with Cheryl-s devotion to chess.-
Copywrite/Copyright : You can copyright writing, but you can also copyright a photograph or song. The word has to do with securing rights. Thus, there is no such word as -copywritten- it-s -copyrighted.-
Core/Corps/Corpse : Apples have cores. A corps is an organization, like the Peace Corps. A corpse is a dead body, a carcass.
Costumer/Customer : Just what would a -costumer service- do? Supply extra-shiny spangles for a Broadway diva-s outfit? But this phrase is almost always a typographical error for -customer service,- and it appears on an enormous number of Web pages. Be careful not to swap the U and O when you type -customer.-
Could of/Would of/ Should of : This is one of those errors typically made by a person more familiar with the spoken than the written form of English. A sentence like -I would have gone if anyone had given me free tickets- is normally spoken in a slurred way so that the two words -would have- are not distinctly separated, but blended together into what is properly rendered -would-ve.- Seeing that -V- tips you off right away that -would-ve- is a contraction of -would have.- But many people hear -would of- and that-s how they write it. Wrong.
Note that -must of- is similarly an error for -must have.-
Council/Counsel/Consul : The first two words are pronounced the same but have distinct meanings. An official group that deliberates, like the Council on Foreign Relations, is a -council- all the rest are -counsels- your lawyer, advice, etc. A consul is a local representative of a foreign government.
Couple/Couple of : Instead of -she went with a couple sleazy guys before she met me,- write -a couple of guys- if you are trying to sound a bit more formal. Leaving the -of- out is a casual, slangy pattern.
Credible/Credulous : -Credible- means -believable- or -trust-worthy.- It is also used in a more abstract sense, meaning something like -worthy- -She made a credible lyric soprano.- Don-t confuse -credible- with -credulous,- a much rarer word which means -gullible.- -He was incredulous- means -he didn-t believe it- whereas -he was incredible- means -he was wonderful- (but use the latter expression only in casual speech).
Climax/Crescendo : When something is growing louder or more intense, it is going through a crescendo (from an Italian word meaning -growing- Traditionalists object to its use when you mean -climax.- A crescendo of cheers by an enthusiastic audience grows until it reaches a climax, or peak. -Crescendo- as a verb is common, but also disapproved of by many authorities. Instead of -the orchestra crescendos,- write -the orchestra plays a crescendo.-
Crevice/Crevasse : Crevices are by definition tiny, like that little crevice between your teeth where the popcorn hulls always get caught. A huge crack in a glacier is given the French spelling: crevasse.
Criteria/Criterion : There are several words with Latin or Greek roots whose plural forms ending in A are constantly mistaken for singular ones. See, for instance, data and media. You can have one criterion or many criteria. Don-t confuse them.
Critique/Criticize : A critique is a detailed evaluation of something. The formal way to request one is -give me your critique,- though people often say informally -critique this-meaning -evaluate it thoroughly.- But -critique- as a verb is not synonymous with -criticize- and should not be routinely substituted for it. -Josh critiqued my backhand- means Josh evaluated your tennis technique but not necessarily that he found it lacking. -Josh criticized my backhand- means that he had a low opinion of it.
You can write criticism on a subject, but you don-t criticize on something, you just criticize it.
Crucifix/Cross : A crucifix is a cross with an image of the crucified Christ affixed to it. Reporters often mistakenly refer to someone wearing a -crucifix- when the object involved is an empty cross. Crucifixes are most often associated with Catholics, empty crosses with Protestants.
Cue/Queue : -Cue- has a variety of meanings, but all uses of -queue- relate to its original French meaning of -tail,- which becomes a metaphor for a line (beware, however: in French queue is also rude slang for the male sex organ). Although a few dictionaries accept -cue- as an alternative spelling for the braided tail some people make of their hair or a waiting line, traditionally both are queues: -Sun Yat Sen ordered that all Chinese men should cut off their queues,- -I have over 300 movies in my Netflix queue.-
Currant/Current : -Current- is an adjective having to do with the present time, and can also be a noun naming a thing that, like time, flows: electrical current, currents of public opinion. -Currant- refers only to little fruits.
Cut & paste/Copy & paste : Because -cut and paste- is a familiar phrase, many people say it when they mean -copy and paste- in a computer context. This can lead to disastrous results if followed literally by an inexpert person. If you mean to tell someone to duplicate something rather than move it, say -copy.- And when you are moving bits of computer information from one place to another the safest sequence is often to copy the original, paste the copy elsewhere, and only then delete (cut) the original.
Damped/Dampened : When the vibration of a wheel is reduced it is damped, but when you drive through a puddle your tire is dampened. -Dampened- always has to do with wetting, if only metaphorically:

Book Details

Customer Reviews : Dynamic Memory Common Errors in English

Be the first one to review this product!

Discussion : Dynamic Memory Common Errors in English