Grammar Help — Misused Word List A-E (F-Z here)
Here's a list of words which are commonly misspelled or otherwise abused. Some of them appear on other grammar pages on this site. Use the Question form to submit more.
|
Word |
Common Mistake |
|
a or an |
when using the indefinite article, use "a" when the following words starts with a consonant sound; use "an" when the following word starts with a vowel sound. The most common question I get is "a historic" or "an historic?" Since we should pronounce the "h" with an aspirated sound, then you should use "a historic." If you are Cockney, from London, (cheers mate!) you could say "an 'istoric..." |
|
a lot or alot |
should be two words "a lot", never "alot"; don't confuse this with the homophone "allot" which means to share out. |
|
always or all ways |
I always take the bus. He tried all ways to solve the problem, but it was impossible. |
|
although or all though |
Although I tried hard, I could not do it. |
|
affect and effect |
affect is usually a verb: it's the thing that I do to influence something. I yelled at my student but it didn't affect his study habits. effect is usually a noun: it's the thing that happens as a result of some cause. I yelled at my student but there was no effect on his study habits. People get confused about this because there are two exceptions. We can use "effect" as a verb in the construction "to effect change." We can use "affect" as a noun when we talk about someone's psychological condition: he has a depressed affect. |
|
among, amongst |
In North America, using "amongst" is considered either old fashioned or just incorrect, and most editors will probably edit it to "among." In the UK, it's perfectly acceptable. Fowler's Modern English Usage says they are equivalent; however, he's British, and old fashioned. |
|
apart or a part |
"Apart" means separate from; "a part" means "joined with." I am a part of my family; when I went off to college, I was apart from my family. |
|
assay, essay |
Assay means to measure or evaluate something, such as mineral ore; essay means to attempt or try (as a noun it means a literary composition, as well as an attempt). How about "My first essay at an essay was assayed as a failure." |
|
but, and |
Beginning a sentence with "But" or "And" is acceptable according to Fowler's Modern English usage. But I don't think it's good style. And avoid it in your formal papers. But learn to live with it in journalism. |
|
centre, center |
Visitors from the US can skip to the next one. This is for Canucks only. The correct usage in Canada is the British spelling: "centre." Due to the lax standards in most of our post-secondary institutions, you will probably be able to get away with either one. Should you get a particularly ignorant teacher, you may be marked down for the British form. You can refer the teacher to the Oxford Dictionary which allows either but the roots of the word are from the French which still spells it "centre." |
|
colour, color |
It's the British thing here; colour is the British spelling. |
|
defence, defense |
Defence is British, therefore Canadian; defense is American. |
|
ensure, insure |
Ensure is when you make sure of something. Often confused with insure which means to secure payment of a sum of money in the event of some kind of loss or injury. |
Next--> |