�Overview of�

English Irregular Verbs

Traditional style alphabetical listing#Infinitive / Basic FormPast SimplePast
Participle1abideabodeabode2arisearosearisen3awakeawoke/awakedawoken/awaked4be
was/werebeen5bearboreborne/born6beatbeatbeaten7becomebecamebecome8befallbefell
befallen9begetbegotbegotten10beginbeganbegun11beholdbeheldbeheld12bendbentbent13
bereavebereavebereaved/bereft14beseechbesoughtbesought15betbetted/betbetted/bet16
bid (command)badebidden17bid (offer)bidbid18bindboundbound19bitebitbitten20bleed
bledbled21blowblewblown22breakbrokebroken23breedbredbred24bringbroughtbrought25
broadcastbroadcastbroadcast26buildbuiltbuilt27burnburned/burntburned/burnt28burst
burstburst29buyboughtbought30cancouldbeen able31castcastcast32catchcaughtcaught33
chidechidchidden34choosechosechosen35cleaveclove/cleftcloven/cleft36clingclungclung
37clotheclothed/cladclothed/clad38comecamecome39costcostcost40creepcreptcrept41crow
crowed/crewcrowed42cutcutcut43daredared/durstdared/durst44deal /di:l/dealtdealt45
digdugdug46dodiddone47drawdrewdrawn48dreamdreamed/dreamtdreamed/dreamt49drinkdrank
drunk50drivedrovedriven51dwelldwelled/dweltdwelled/dwelt52eatateeaten53fallfell
fallen54feedfedfed55feelfeltfelt56fightfoughtfought57findfoundfound58fleefledfled59
flingflungflung60flyflewflown#Infinitive / Basic FormPast SimplePast Participle61
forbearforboreforborne62forbidforbadeforbidden63forgetforgotforgotten64forgive
forgaveforgiven65forsakeforsookforsaken66freezefrozefrozen67getgotgot/gotten68gild
gilded/giltgilded/gilt69girdgirded/girtgirded/girt70givegavegiven71gowentgone/been
72grindgroundground73growgrewgrown74hanghanged/hunghanged/hung75havehadhad76hear
heardheard77hewhewedhewed/hewn78hidehidhidden79hithithit80holdheldheld81hurthurt
hurt82keepkeptkept83kneelkneltknelt84knitknitted/knitknitted/knit85knowknewknown86
laylaidlaid87leadledled88leanleaned/leantleaned/leant89leapleaped/leaptleaped/leapt
90learnlearned/learntlearned/learnt91leaveleftleft92lendlentlent93letletlet94lielay
lain95lightlighted/litlighted/lit96loselostlost97makemademade98maymight��99mean
meantmeant100meetmetmet101mowmowedmowed/mown102musthad tohad to103ought����104pay
paidpaid105putputput106read /ri:d/read /red/read /red/107rendrentrent108rideridrid
109rideroderidden110ringrangrung111riseroserisen112runranrun113sawsawedsawed/sawn
114saysaidsaid115seesawseen116seeksoughtsought117sellsoldsold118sendsentsent119set
setset120sewsewed/sewnsewed/sewn#Infinitive / Basic FormPast SimplePast Participle
121shakeshookshaken122shallshould��123shearsheared/shoresheared/shorn124shedshed
shed125shineshoneshone126shoeshoed/shodshoed/shod127shootshotshot128showshowed
showed/shown129shrinkshrankshrunk130shutshutshut131singsangsung132sinksanksunk133
sitsatsat134slayslewslain135sleepsleptslept136slideslidslid137slingslungslung138
slinkslunkslunk139slitslitslit140smellsmelled/smeltsmelled/smelt141smitesmote
smitten142sowsowedsowed/sown143speakspokespoken144speedspeeded/spedspeeded/sped145
spellspelled/speltspelled/spelt146spendspentspent147spillspilled/spiltspilled/spilt
148spinspunspun149spitspatspat150splitsplitsplit151spoilspoiled/spoilt
spoiled/spoilt152spreadspreadspread153springsprangsprung154standstoodstood155steal
stolestolen156stickstuckstuck157stingstungstung158stinkstank/stunkstunk159strew
strewedstrewed/strewn160stridestrodestridden161strikestruckstruck162stringstrung
strung163strivestrovestriven164swearsworesworn165sweepsweptswept166swellswelled
swelled/swollen167swimswamswum168swingswungswung169taketooktaken170teachtaught
taught171teartoretorn172telltoldtold173thinkthoughtthought174thrivethrived/throve
thrived/thriven175throwthrewthrown176thrustthrustthrust177treadtrodtrodden/trod178
understandunderstoodunderstood179undertakeundertookundertaken180wakewaked/woke
waked/woken181wearworeworn182weavewovewoven183weepweptwept184wetwetted/wet
wetted/wet185willwould��186winwonwon187windwoundwound188wringwrungwrung189write
wrotewritten

�Advisory on
Tense Situations
Making sense of tensePage ContentsPresent SimplePresent ContinuousPresent Perfect
Present Perfect ContinuousPast SimplePast ContinuousPast PerfectPast Perfect
ContinuousFuture SimpleFuture ContinuousFuture PerfectFuture Perfect Continuous
Present Simple�TenseThe present simple is used for established facts and things in
general.'A banana�is�never quite straight.'�
'Malaysia�exports�rubber.'It is also used for habitual activities or routines.The
President�gets up�at five and�starts�work at seven.The simple tenses�are generally
used with�verbs of
perception:�sound,�seem,�appear,�smell,�taste,�lookand�feel�(note
that�look�and�feel�can also be used with the continuous tenses).Going to
Fiji�sounds�just great because the beachesappear�less crowded and the
prices�seemreasonable.
��
This French bread�smells�quite fresh,�tastesdelicious,�feels�very soft
and�looks�just great.
COMPARE: 'I�am�not�feeling�very well today' and 'Youare looking�wonderful in that
new dress, my dear, but what happened to the curtains?'The present simple is used
with�hear,�and with�see(except when it means 'to meet').'I�hear�footsteps. Quick,
someone's coming!'
'I�see�you don't understand what I mean.'
COMPARE: 'She�is seeing�the dentist tomorrow.'The�simple tenses are always used
with so calledstate (or stative) verbs, such as�agree, approve of, believe, belong
to, consider�(hold an opinion),�consist of, contain, cost, depend, disagree,
gather(understand),�hate, have�(own),�know, like, loathe, love, mean, own, need,
possess, prefer, realize, regret, remember, resemble, suppose, think�(hold an
opinion),�understand, want, wish,�etc.'Some people�believe�in UFOs, but
I�think�they're misguided.'
'Henry�regrets�what he did and�wishes�to make amends.'
'Although, of course, I don't normally�approve ofgossip, I do�like�her new
autobiography. It�containsa number of sensational revelations about the world of
showbiz!'The�present simple is�usually�used with so calledperformative verbs�(i.e.
utterances that actually constitute an action),�such as�accept, acknowledge, admit,
advise, apologize, assume, deny, guarantee, hope, inform, predict, promise,
recommend,
suggest, warn,�etc.'He�admits�he made a big mistake,�acknowledgesfull
responsibility,�accepts�the consequences,apologizes�from the bottom of his heart
andpromises�not to do it again.'It is used for schedules drawn up by others.�'His
ship�sails�at dawn.'
'The next train�leaves�at half-past six.'It is often employed when telling jokes or
funny stories.'A man�wanders�into a restaurant and�says�he�caneat a horse. The
waiter�tells�him he's come to the wrong place.'The present simple is favored by
live sports commentators for word economy and to convey a sense of excitement and
directness.'Agassi�leads�four games to one in the first set.'�
'The crowd�roars�as Tyson�takes�a huge bite out of Holyfield's ear.'The present
simple is also preferred in newspaper headlines for succinctness where space is at
a premium.'Iraq�Invades�Kuwait'
'Man�Steals�Clock,�Faces�Time'
'Fake Cardiologist�Breaks�Woman's Heart'Present Continuous�TenseThe present
continuous is used for temporary actions or events going on at or around the time
of speaking.'The electrician�is mending�a fuse.'
'It's snowing.'
'In London John�is staying�at the Savoy.'It is used for self-made schedules,
generally for the not too distant future.'Lucia's leaving�for Milan after lunch.'
'Dan and Crystal�are getting married�in June.'It is also used for longer-term
enterprises.'He's studying�hard to become a doctor.'
'Joe Liebermann's running�for President.'�Used with adverbs of (high) frequency to
express disproval of annoying habits.�'He�is�always�complaining.'
'She's�forever�losing�her keys.'The present continuous also used to set the scene
for jokes or funny stories told in the�present simple.'This guy�is sitting�all by
himself in a bar�lookingpretty inebriated, so the barman�refuses�to serve him
another drink.'The present continuous of�to be�is used to react to behavior
perceived as uncharacteristic for someone.'He really�is being�stupid' (meaning this
person is normally more sensible).
COMPARE: 'He really�is�stupid' (meaning he is stupid the whole time).The present
continuous must be used with�have�when it is an�action verb.'She�is having�another
baby / filet steak for dinner /�a shower / a heart attack / etc.'�Remember that so
called�state verbs�cannot be used in continuous tense forms.'She�is having�has�a
lot of money.'
'She�is knowing�knows�how to fly a plane'
'He�is preferring�prefers�coffee to tea.'Present Perfect TenseThe present perfect
is used to emphasize the�resultsin the present of a recently completed�past
activity.�'Someone�has eaten�my sandwiches' (which explains why the plate is empty
and I'll have to go hungry).It is used to emphasize the�results�in the present of
a�recent event.�'I've lost�my passport' (hence I can't leave the country).American
English prefers the simple past tense to convey personal news. It thereby loses the
subtlety of British English to clearly distinguish between recent and not so recent
events.�'I lost my passport.' (Today? Last week? Last year?)It is used for breaking
news headlines or when wishing to emphasize�that�something has occurred rather than
exactly�when�it occurred.'Two lions�have escaped�from Chessington Zoo.'
'Powerful tornadoes�have hit�Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas'The present
perfect is used with�already,�just�andyet.'Samantha�has�already�left, but
Cindy�has�justarrived, so I guess the party�hasn't finished�yet.'Note that American
English often uses the simple past tense with�already, just�and�yet.�'Samantha
already left, but Cindy just arrived, so I guess the party didn't finish yet.'�It
is used to refer to a person's entire life experience since they were born.'Dan�has
traveled�a great deal, but he�has�neverbeen�to Greenland.'It is used with�ever�to
question a person's entire life experience of something in particular.
'Have�you�ever�seen�a straight banana?'
'Has�Chuck ever�done�an honest day's work in his life?'American English, on the
other hand, prefers the simple past tense with�ever.'Did you ever see a straight
banana?'�
'Did Chuck ever do an honest day's work in his life?'The present perfect is also
used to�quantifysomething done or progress made so far.'Harry�has driven�200 miles
since breakfast.'
"Meg�has saved�$8,000 toward her new BMW.'Present Perfect Continuous�TenseUsed to
emphasize�activities�that were in progress right up to or shortly before the time
of speaking and so have a direct influence on the current situation.'She�has been
using�a computer all day'�
(so her eyes are now bloodshot).�
'Someone�has been eating�my sandwiches' (so half of them are missing).Used
with�for�or�since�to say�how long�an ongoing or continuing activity has been in
progress.'Harry�has been driving�for three hours.'
'Meg�has been saving�for her BMW for ten months.'In many other cases the present
perfect continuous can be exchanged for the�present perfect simple, although when
the latter is chosen one tends to feel that change might be in the offing.'I've
been living�here for ten years (in other words, I feel almost like a native).'
'I�have lived here�for ten years (so perhaps it's about time I moved on to pastures
greener).'Remember that so called�state verbs�cannot be used in continuous tense
forms.'I�have�been knowing�known�Samantha for 19 years'.Past Simple�TenseThe past
simple is used for activities or events completed at a specific time in the past
(which is either understood or indicated by a time expression).Manchester
United�thrashed�Chelsea 4:1.
The ice sculptures�attracted�many visitors.
Many of the bars�closed�at midnight.It is used for two or more completed past
activities or events that occurred in sequence rather than in parallel.I�went�into
town at ten,�booked�my summer holiday at the travel agent's,�ate�lunch at Pizza
Hut,�saw�the new Bond film at the Odeon cinema,�did�my shopping for the weekend
and�arrived�home in time for tea at four.The past simple corresponds
to�the�foreground�in a painting. It is used for the action in a story
(the�past continuous�sets the scene).�The rock group were performing when the
earthquakestruck. Nobody�noticed.It is used with adverbs of frequency to talk about
repeated actions or events in the past;�would�andused to�are also used to talk
about past habits and routines.Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
often only�slept�four hours a night. She�would�go to bed at one in the morning and
get up at five to read the morning papers. The first thing she�used to�check was
what they were saying about her.It is used with verbs of perception:�sound, seem,
appear, smell, taste, look�and�feel�(note that�look�andfeel�can also be used with
the continuous tenses).The bread�smelt�fresh,�tasted�delicious,�felt�very soft
and�looked�just great.
COMPARE: 'Max�wasn't feeling�very well today. He really�was looking�under the
weather.'The simple tenses are always used for so called�state verbs�such as�agree,
approve of, believe, belong to, consider�(hold an opinion),�consist, contain, cost,
depend, disagree, gather�(understand),�hate, have(own),�know, like, loathe, love,
mean, own, need, possess, prefer, realize, regret, remember, resemble, suppose,
think�(hold an opinion),�understand, want, wish,�etc.'The minister�was
agreeing�agreed�to resign even though he�wasn't thinking�didn't think�he�was
needing�needed�to.'Usually�preferred with so called�performative verbs(i.e.
utterances which actually constitute an action) such as�accept, acknowledge, admit,
advise, apologize, assume, bet, deny, guarantee, hope, inform, predict, promise,
recommend, suggest, warn,etc.'Although the rich oil sheik�promised�(was promising)
the Hollywood actress a million dollars in cash, a new Mercedes and a house in Palm
Beach, her lawyeradvised�her not to marry him.'�Past Continuous�TenseThe past
continuous corresponds to the�backgroundin a painting. It sets the scene for all
the action reported in the�past simple.'I�was sitting�in my armchair�looking�up at
the night sky. The moon�was beaming�brightly. All the starswere twinkling. Then
it�came�to me: I�had�to get the roof fixed!'It is used for temporary actions or
events that were going on at or around a particular time in the past when something
of shorter duration occurred.�'While I�was waiting�for the ferry I�ate�lunch in a
sushi bar."�
'While I�was wolfing�down my sushi a small piece of fish�started�moving.'It is also
used for two activities of similar duration that were going on in parallel.'I�was
washing�the car while my wife�was cleaningthe house.'Remember that so called state
verbs cannot be used in continuous tense forms.�'I�was knowing�knew�Samantha very
well'.Past Perfect�TenseThis tense is used to talk about the pre-past, i.e.
activities or events�completed before�(but relevant to) subsequent activities or
events referred to in thepast simple.'I�had�just�prepared�a candlelight dinner for
two when the Jehovah's Witnesses�called.'
'Jacky, who�was�quite breathless,�had climbed�ten flights of stairs.'
'Mandy�had studied�Finnish for 3 years before sheemigrated�to Finland.'If, however,
the second action is a direct result of the first, then the past simple is used for
both.'When the artist�had�finally�appeared�on stage, everyone�applauded'.�The past
perfect tense is used to report on past intentions that were sadly never realized.
'The boss�had hoped�to slip off to the golf course for the rest of the afternoon
but head office�wanted�to speak to him about disappointing sales figures.'Past
Perfect Continuous�TenseThe past perfect continuous is used to report on anactivity
of interest or direct relevance�that was still in progress up until or immediately
prior to a subsequent event in the past.�'When the chemistry teacher�returned�to
the lab, hesniffed�and�stopped�smiling. Someone�had been making�a stink bomb.'�
'Police�arrested�the chief executive whose companyhad been cooking�the books.'
Remember that so called state verbs cannot be used in continuous tense forms.'In
1994 I�had�already�been knowing�knownSamantha for 10 years'.Future Simple�Tense
WILL: used to express pure futurity
(i.e. without any element of willpower).'The sun�will�rise tomorrow morning.'WILL:
used when making predictions based upon one's knowledge of a person's character.
'Linda�will�help you, I'm sure.'WILL: used for plain, informal requests, as well as
orders given to subordinates.'Darling,�will�you post this letter for me?'
'Sally,�will�you show Mr. Anderson to the accounts department, please?'Stressed
WILL: used with stress to express irritation over the bad habits of others.'My
husband�will�always invite his friends round for a drink just as I'm putting the
kids to bed!'WILL/SHALL: used for spontaneous offers or plans made at the time of
speaking, or to agree to something.'If you do decide to buy this car model, sir,
we'llinclude a satellite navigation system.'�
'Okay, I'll�ask my bank manager for a loan.'WILL/SHALL:�used for promises.'Don't
worry, I�won't/shan't�tell a soul!'SHALL: sometimes used instead of WILL in the
first person singular and plural in more formal style to express futurity,
especially in cases where the element of willpower is involved.'I�shall (will)�be
late this evening.'
'We�shan't (won't)�go that nightclub anymore; the prices are exorbitant.'
'We�shall�overcome!'
'I�shall�succeed!'SHALL: used when seeking others' approval of offers or
suggestions.�'Shall�I buy you a watch for your birthday?'
'Shall�we all go out to dinner?'SHALL: used to elicit more information.'Which
restaurant�shall�we go to?'GOING TO: used to talk about plans already made before
the time of speaking.�'I'm�going to�buy a new digital camera. My old one doesn't
seem to produce sharp enough pictures.'GOING TO: used when forecasting what is
likely or inevitable because all the signs are there.'Look over there. That crazy
driver's lost control. He'sgoing to�crash!'
'I feel awful after that raw fish. I think I'm�going tothrow up.'PRESENT
CONTINUOUS: often used instead of GOING TO for self-made plans and voluntary
schedules, especially for the not too distant future.'We're�having�a party on
Friday night.'
'She's�leaving�home right after breakfast and�drivingall the way up to Tallahassee
in her grandma's old car.'PRESENT CONTINUOUS:�usually�preferred to the GOING TO
future with GO and COME.'He is�going�to�go to�New York after he leaves Washington.'
'The Smiths are�going to�come�coming�home from Canada next spring'.PRESENT SIMPLE:
used for schedules decided by others.'He�flies�to Cairo on business at noon
tomorrow.'Future Continuous�TenseUsed for actions or events forecast to be in
progress at or around a particular time in the future.'The kids�will be
sleeping�when I get home.'
'Some Japanese schoolboys�will�no doubt still�be donning�19th century black
Prussian military uniforms in a hundred years' time.'Used for future events that
are the result of previous arrangements or decisions.'As you know, I'll be
working�overtime this evening.'
'Nancy�will be staying�at her parents' home over Christmas (she always does).'The
future continuous tense can be used instead of the�present continuous�with future
meaning.'She'll be leaving�home after breakfast.'It is also used to make extra
polite enquiries about someone's future plans.'Will�you�be needing�your laptop at
work today?'
'Is�IBM�going to be recruiting�any new personnel in the near future?'�Remember that
so called state verbs cannot be used in the continuous tense forms.'The museum is
well sign-posted, so you�will�be knowing�know�which way to go.'Future Perfect�Tense
Used for activities or events forecast to becompleted�by a particular time in the
future.'No matter what their academic performance, many students at Japan's most
prestigious universities�will have found�a job one whole year before they
graduate.'Used to quantify progress forecast to have been made at a given time in
the future.�'He smokes 20 a day, so this time next year he�will
have�happily�puffed�his way through another 584 meters of cigarette.'Future Perfect
Continuous�TenseUsed for activities forecast still to be
in progress�at some time in the future.�'By the end of 2013 we�will have been
flying�in planes for 110 years.'Remember that so called state verbs cannot be used
in continuous tense forms.�'Next summer I�will have�been knowing�knownSamantha for
20 years.'

��Guide to
Article Usage in English�
When to use�a,�an,�the�or nothing at allPage ContentsA Short Article on
Articles������The Indefinite Article������The Definite Article������The Zero
ArticleA Short Article on ArticlesFor better or for worse, English is blessed with
articles. This causes a considerable amount of confusion for speakers of most of
the world's other languages, who seem to get on rather well without them. The good
news is that English began dropping the complex case systems and grammatical
genders still prevalent in other European languages a very long time ago. Now we
are left with just two forms of the indefinite article (a�&�an) and one form of the
definite article (the). Perhaps more than anything it is the transition from being
a language with�synthetic�structure to one which is more�analytic�that has helped
gain English the kind of unrivalled worldwide acceptance it enjoys today.�
Although greatly simplified, English article usage still poses a number of
challenges to speakers of other European languages. Let's compare the German
sentence�"Da er Botaniker ist, liebt er�die�Natur"�with the corresponding English
one�"Being�a�botanist, he is fond of nature". You'll see that English puts an
indefinite article in front of a profession but German doesn't. Conversely, English
manages without articles in front of abstract nouns like�nature,�where German needs
a definite article.�
Even between British and American usage one finds subtle differences in nuance or
emphasis. For example, Americans usually say someone is�in the hospital, much as
they could be�at the bank�or�in the park.�To the British this sounds like there is
only one hospital in town or that the American is thinking of one hospital in
particular that he or she patronizes. The Brits say an ailing person is�in
hospital, just as they would say a child is�at school�or a criminal is�in prison.
This is because they are thinking more of the primary activities that take place
within those institutions rather than the buildings in which they are housed. If,
however, you are merely visiting one of these places, you are�at the hospital,�at
the school�or�at the prison ��both British and Americans agree here that what we
have in mind is the building itself.
These few examples serve to illustrate that there is more to articles than at first
meets the eye. From whatever perspective you are viewing this page, we hope you'll
discover that articles are actually precision tools that greatly contribute to the
unique accuracy of expression afforded by the English language. Most article usage
does in fact have a reasonably logical explanation. If this can be properly grasped
then non-native English can be made a lot less conspicuous and many
misunderstandings avoided.�a, an�����The Indefinite ArticleTo facilitate
pronunciation,�a�is used in front of any word that begins with
a�consonant�or�consonant-like vowel sound.�
Conversely,�an�is put in front of any word that begins with a pure vowel sound or a
mute�'h'.* Our town has�a�theatre,�a�university,
a�large park and�a�conference hall.�
* Many Chinese still believe�an�Englishman
always carries�an�umbrella.�
* It's�an�old custom.
It's�a�strange old custom.Note that spelling is�not�a reliable indicator of when
to use�a�or�an!�* The coastguard received�an�SOS.
* He spent�an�hour standing in line.�The indefinite article�a/an�is placed in front
of acountable noun�that is being mentioned for the very first time. Once
introduced, all further references to it can be preceded by the definite
article�the.* I have two cars:�a�Ford and�an�Audi.
The�Ford is white and�the�Audi is silver.In English, an indefinite article is
needed in front of professions.* She is�an�architect and he is�a�doctor.The
indefinite article can also be used instead of�perwhen giving the rate or pace of
something.* He earns $200�a�day.�
* She swims twice�a�week.�
* He drove at 60 miles�an�hour.Note too that�little�and�few�become a whole lot more
positive when preceded by the indefinite article!* She has�a�little money and�a�few
friends,
so she'll probably get by.
Compare:
* She has little money and few friends,
so I doubt if she'll get by.the�����The Definite ArticleThe definite article�the�is
used in front of any noun the listener or reader already knows about.�* I have two
cars: a Ford and an Audi.
The�Ford is white and�the�Audi is silver.The�is also used when the existence of
something is common knowledge or comes as no surprise because of the context in
which it is mentioned.�* Last week a fighter plane crashed into a field
but�the�pilot managed to eject safely.
* Yesterday I spent�the�afternoon at home.�
I put my clothes into�the�washing machine and went outside to sit in�the�garden.The
definite article is used in front of things generally regarded as unique.*
The�sun,�the�moon,�the�sea,�the�sky,�theArctic
Circle,�the�environment,�the�capital,�theair,�the�ground, etc.�Because nouns
preceded by�superlative adjectives�andordinal numbers�are by their very nature
unique, they too require the definite article.
Irregularity: Spoken American English drops�the�in dates.* It was�the�worst day of
my life!�
* The captain was�the�first person to leave
the burning tanker.
* AmE�June twenty-first.�
* BrE� June�the�twenty-first.
�����The�twenty-first (day) of June.The definite article is used in front of
countable nouns representing a whole class or category of something.* The�computer
has changed our lives.
* It is left up to�the�consumer to decide
which one to buy.
* We all have a responsibility to look after
the�old and infirm.
* The�whale is the largest mammal.The�is used in front of oceans, seas, rivers,
island and mountain chains, deserts, countries with plural names, and noun forms of
points of the compass.* The�Pacific,�the�Mediterranean,�the�Amazon,
the�West Indies,�the�Rockies,�the�Sahara,�
the�Netherlands,�the�Far East, etc.The�is used in place names and titles
including�of.

In the case of official job titles,�the�is usually dropped if there is only one
such incumbent at any given time.* It is unlikely�the�Queen of Denmark has�
ever swum in�the�Bay of Bengal.
* Margrethe II is�(the)�Queen of Denmark.
* Donald was elected chairman of the board.The�is also used in proper names
consisting of noun(s) and/or adjective(s) + noun.�* The�Empire State
Building,�the�English Channel,the�White House,�the�Festival Hall,�the�Rolling
Stones,�the�Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,�theBritish Museum, etc.The�is used in
hotel names.* The�Hilton Hotel,�the�Savoy,�the�SheratonThe�is used for newspapers.�
* The�Times,�the�Baltimore Sun,�the�Daily MailThe�is used for many larger
organizations and
institutions (not�commercial enterprises), including those with initials that are
normally spelled out.�
Acronyms (initials read as whole words) are treated in the same way as regular
names (proper nouns) and so do not require any article. If you are uncertain,
please monitor usage in the media or consult a dictionary.*
The�Commonwealth,�the�Fed,�the�EU,�the�WHO,the�BBC,�the�FDA,�the�IAEA, etc.
Compare:
* OPEC, NATO, ICANN, etc.The�is used for currencies.�* The�U.S. dollar has risen
against�the�yen but fallen against�the�euro.�In front of people's names,
however,�the�is only used to avoid confusion.* I'm�the�David Appleyard that lives
in Japan.The�is used with the names of musical instruments.�* Richard Clayderman
plays�the�piano.The�can be used instead of a possessive form when referring to
parts of the body and items of clothing.* She was hit on�the�head by a snowball
(= a snowball hit�her�head).�
* Joe grabbed the youth by�the�collar
(= Joe grabbed�the youth's�collar).Many forms of entertainment are preceded by the
definite article�the, but not the medium of television.* I go
to�the�cinema/movies,�the�theatre,�
the�circus,�the�ballet and�the�opera.�
* In the daytime I listen to�the�radio, but in the evenings I like to watch
television.������The Zero ArticleNo article is needed before abstract nouns used in
a general sense.* Love is all you need.�
* Crime is a growing problem in the inner cities.No article is needed for most
places consisting of just the name of a person, or the name of a person/place
followed by a noun.* Harrods, Macys, McDonald's, Lloyds Bank, St. Paul's Cathedral,
Buckingham Palace, Kennedy Airport, Waterloo Station, Cambridge University, etc.No
article is usually needed in front of company names.* Cisco Systems, Microsoft,
CBS, EMI, Hitachi, Lufthansa, etcAn article is unnecessary in official job titles,
if there is only one person holding this position at any given time.* George
Osborne is�(the)�Chancellor of
the Exchequer.
Compare:�
* George Osborne is�a�cabinet minister.No article is needed in front of�most�roads,
streets, parks, squares or bridges.* Queen's Road, Oxford Street, Central Park,
Times Square, Tower Bridge, etc.No article is needed in the names of single
mountains.* While in New Zealand I climbed Mount Cook.No article is needed before
the names of meals, unless it is a formal occasion.* Roger had breakfast in his
hotel room.
Compare:
* I attended�a�dinner at the Rotary Club.No article is needed for the names of
games or sports.�* Anna Kournikova plays tennis to keep in shape.No article is
needed before�bed,�church,�court,hospital,�prison,�school,�college,�university,
etc. when these are used for their primary purpose.
�
�
�
If, however, they are used for any other purposes,
the�is required.* She stayed�in bed�on Sunday instead of
going�to church.�
* The dissatisfied customer threatened to
take him�to court.�
* The dissident was released�from prison.�
* After graduating from high school he went
to university.�
Compare:�
* She sat on�the�bed while she changed her socks.
* He entered�the�church to photograph its interior.�
* The decorators forgot a ladder in�the�prison and the place was empty when they
came back for it.Articles are not needed in more abstract expressions of situation
like�to/at sea, to/at/out of work,�in/out of town,�in/out of office, etc.
�
�

�
�
If, however, you start talking about somewhere concrete or some place in
particular, then the definite article�the�is required.* My uncle first went�to
sea�at the age of 15. He used to spend months�at sea.�
* I go�to work�every day. I was�at workyesterday.�
* Jack's been�out of work�for almost a year.
* What's on�in town�(= my local town) this weekend?�
* Julie's�out of town�(= the town she lives in) until Thursday.�
* This government has been�in office�for about a year now. The opposition parties
would dearly love to vote them�out of office.
Compare:�
* I went to�the�sea/seaside to swim.�
I stayed by�the�sea/seaside all day.�
* What's on in�the�town (= a particular town, not necessarily my own) this weekend?
* How do I get out of�the�town?�
* Sally spent all day in�the�office (= her workplace). She didn't get out
of�the�office much before 7 o'clock.No article is needed before television as a
medium,�
only as an appliance.* Carol saw her brother on television.
Compare:�
* She had an indoor antenna on�the�television.There is no article before a noun
followed by a categorizing letter or number.* The students have just read section
C.�
* The Chicago train is about to depart
from track 5.�
* Her flight leaves from gate 32.�
* He fell asleep on page 816 of�
"War and Peace".�
* She is staying in room 689.�To give added punch, articles are often dropped in
the titles of books, movies, music and other works of art.
Even if an article exists in the original title, as in�
J.R.R. Tolkien's��'The Lord of the Rings', people tend to omit this when making
reference to it in everyday speech or writing.* "Journey into Hell"�sounds even
more exciting than�"The Journey into Hell".
* "Have you read�'Lord of the Rings'?"In order to save space, articles are usually
dropped in headlines.* "Iraqi Head Seeks Arms"
* "Stolen Painting Found by Tree"
* "Police Confirm Shotgun Attack
on Bullet Train"

�Guide to�
Words Often Confused�
An alphabetical listing of well-known English troublemakersPage Contents
Introduction������The Danger ListMaking Sense of Vexing�VocabularyIn this section
of our English User Guides we'll�attempt to clarify differences in meaning between
words which, because they look or sound very similar, tend to cause confusion among
both foreign students of English and native speakers alike.�
It will soon become apparent that, in order to distinguish between homonyms of
entirely different meaning,
British English has retained a richer variety of spellings (e.g.�check�and�cheque,
or�story�and�storey). So it is probably safe to say there is less scope for errors
in�AmE�(American English) than in�BrE�(British English).
Please judge for yourselves, and comments or suggestions are always welcome!
Confusing WordsExamples of Usage, or Clarificationaccede + exceed(1) He�acceded�to
the man's request.
(2) Queen Elizabeth II�acceded�to the throne in 1953.Too many drivers�exceed�the
speed limit in built-up areas.accept + except(1) The corrupt officials
had�accepted�bribes.
(2) They�accepted�they would have to lose their jobs.(1) Low-income families
are�excepted�from paying the new tax.
(2) Everyone�except�John came to the party.access + excess(1) The thief
gained�access�to the office through a side door. Then he�accessed�the safe.
(2) When he discovered it was empty he left in an�access�of anger.(1) Airlines will
no longer tolerate�excess�hand-luggage.
(2) Some terrible�excesses�are committed in the name of religion.adapt + adopt(1)
It took the Eskimo quite a long time to�adapt�to life in the Congo.
(2) Microsoft software has been�adapted�to work on Apple computers.
(3) The author JK Rowling could not imagine having her quintessentially British
"Harry Potter" stories specially�adapted�for American audiences.(1) They childless
couple�adopted�an orphaned two-year-old girl from Korea.
(2) The local school board will�adopt�strict new penalties to counter bullying.
(3) More Japanese companies are�adopting�western styles of management.
(4)�BrE�The Conservative Party�adopted�David Cameron as its leader in 2005.affect +
effectThe noisy crowd�affected�the tennis star's concentration.(1) The thick fog
had no�effect�on her arrival time.
(2) The prime minister is trying to�effect�policy changes.allude + eludeWhen the
President mentioned "evil forces" he was�alluding�to the terrorists.(1) They will
not be able to�elude�justice indefinitely.
(2) It�eludes�me how suicide bombers can believe they're going to paradise!allusion
+ illusionAn�allusion�is an indirect reference to something.An�illusion�is a false
impression.altar + alterIn the church there was a cross on the�altar.It is
impossible to�alter�past mistakes, but we can learn from them.amend + emendWhen you
mean general changes for the better or modifications to rules or
legislation,amend�is the correct choice:�
(1) The boy was told to�amend�his behavior or face possible expulsion.�
(2) The sudden outbreak of war forced the journalist to�amend�his article.
(3) Some Japanese would like to�amend�the nation's constitution.�The use
of�emend�is generally limited to text correction (hint: like 'edit' it begins with
an 'e'): The publisher told the author to�emend�his manuscript.annex + annexe
Israeli settlers still believe they have a God-given right to�annex�Arab land.
In�BrE, an�annexe�is either an extension to an existing building or a smaller
building constructed later alongside (AmE�annex).antisocial + asocial
+ unsociable + unsocialThe behavior of�antisocial�individuals runs counter to the
norms of existing society and might, for example, involve drunkenness, vandalism or
assault.An�asocial�person is thoroughly ill at ease with other people and may feel
driven to avoid their company to such an extent that he or she becomes a recluse.
An�unsociable�person shows dislike of and avoids company, but does not experience
the same kind of paranoia or urge to shut himself away as the�asocial�person.
Theunsociable�person thinks he gets along just fine without the help of others.
In�BrE, anything�unsocial�fails to conform to the needs of society. Someone who
worksunsocial�hours, for example, may rarely get to see his or her friends.artist +
artisteAn�artist�is a painter or one who is skilled in any of the fine arts.
An�artiste�is a professional performer on stage or in the circus.ascent + assentThe
first successful�ascent�of Everest took place in 1953.The appointment of a new
British prime minister still requires royal�assent, but this is a mere formality.
assure + ensure
+ insureThe government always�assures�us that it is safe to eat beef.Every driver
should�ensure�his passengers are wearing seatbelts.You should�insure�valuables
against loss, theft or damage.aural + oralAural�relates to the ears. An�aural�exam
is one in listening comprehension.Oral�relates to the mouth. It's hard to prepare
for an�oral�English exam.baited + batedThe small mousetrap was�baited�with cheddar
cheese.So he looked on with�bated�breath when a large rat appeared!bale (out) +
bail (out)(1) There was a large�bale�of hay in the barn.
(2) He needed a bucket to�bale out�rain water from the boat.(1) He was charged with
the offense but later released on�bail.
(2) Some governments may have to�bail out�their national airlines.base + bass(1) He
found the sell-by date printed on the�base�of the container.
(2) Their mission accomplished, the special force returned to�base.His father
complained when he turned up the�bass�on his stereo.�berth + birth(1) The
QE2�berths�in New York on the 18th. Here is her�berth.
(2) You can sleep well on board because of the comfortable�berths.The crew say they
can deal with anything, even the�birth�of a baby!bloc + blockAll those countries of
eastern Europe which were once part of the communist�bloc�have now embraced the
free market.(1) A fallen tree�blocked�the road.�
(2) He picked up a�block�of wood and threw it on the fire.
(3) He lived in a�block�of flats (AmE�apartment building).blond + blondeHe
is�blond. His sister also has�blond�hair.She is�blonde. She's a�blonde.�born +
borneShe was�born�in San Francisco.Now a local hero, he was�borne�shoulder-high
through the street.�bough + bowThe monkey sat on the�bough�of a tree eating a
banana.(1) The�bow�of a ship is the fore-end.
(2) The Japanese man gave me a�bow�instead of a handshake.brake + breakTo stop, put
your foot on the�brake, but don't�brake�too suddenly.(1) If you drop the glass on
the floor it will�break.
(2) The doctor had to�break�the news of the failed operation.
(3) He's been working too hard and needs a complete�break.
(4) Landing that well-paid job with IBM was his lucky�break.bridal + bridleThe
couple had booked the�bridal�suite for their wedding night.(1) The�bridle�is the
piece of headgear used to control a horse.
(2) Mrs. Thompson�bridled�at her daughter's ungrateful remarks.broach + broochWe
didn't want to�broach�the issue of the dead man's debts at his funeral.Former U.S.
Secretary of State Madeline Albright always wore a large�brooch�carefully chosen to
reflect her mood.boy + buoyTheir second child was a�boy.(1) The site of the
shipwreck was marked by a�buoy.
(2) It's cruel to�buoy�up someone's hopes if failure seems certain.canon + cannon
(1) The priest's father had been a�canon, but he certainly wasn't the son of a gun!
(2)�Canon�Law is a body of laws for the Roman Catholic church.A 19th-
century�cannon�stood in front of the castle.canvas + canvassHe paints pictures
on�canvas�and camps out in a�canvas�tent.The party's candidate wasn't able
to�canvass�enough support to win the election.cast + caste(1) If you�cast�something
you throw it purposefully and forcefully: the Romans used tocast�Christians to the
lions; come springtime I'll�cast�off these winter clothes;�
Matt�cast�the dice, praying for a double six; offshore fishermen�cast�their nets,
while onshore anglers�cast�their lines.
(2) He�cast�a glance at his watch.
(3) The disaster could�cast�doubt on the future of the space program.
(4) You�cast�your fate to the wind if you drive without a seatbelt.�
(5) The wicked witch�cast�an evil spell on the boy and turned him into a frog.
(6) Now that the election campaign is over, the electorate can finally�cast�its
vote.
(7) Using a�cast�or mould (AmE�mold), molten metal or plastic is�cast�into a
desired shape.
(8) In�Casino Royale�Daniel Craig was�cast�as the new James Bond. He was well
supported by the rest of the�cast�(other actors).
(9) In zoology, a�cast�can be a mass of earth excreted by a worm or a mass of
indigestible food regurgitated by a large bird.1) The Hindu�caste�system
discriminates people according to their perceived purity.
(2) In more general terms, a�caste�has come to mean any exclusive social class.
(3) In zoology, a�caste�is a category of insect with a particular social function.
censor + censureMany governments still try to�censor�the news.Former tennis star
John McEnroe was often�censured�for his cantankerous behavior.childish + childlike
He soon gets angry if he can't have his own way. He's so�childish!She has
a�childlike�appreciation of the simpler things in life.complement + compliment(1)
Scones and jam are an excellent�complement�to afternoon tea.
(2) The ship left port with a full�complement�of officers and crew.
She�complimented�him on his cooking.�contemptible + contemptuousIf you strongly
dislike and have no respect at all for something or someone then you describe it or
him or her as�contemptible.In the above situation you yourself are�contemptuous.
continual + continuousIf something is�continual�it is incessant or constantly
repeated.If something is�continuous�it is unbroken and so truly non-stop.cord +
chord(1) The kidnappers tied his hands with a piece of�cord.
(2) In anatomy we read about the spinal�cord�and the vocal�cords.(1) He played
a�chord�on the piano.
(2) His emotionally charged speech struck a�chord�with the audience.
(3) In geometry a�chord�is a straight line joining the ends of an arc.corps +
corpseThe French word�corps�is used for a group of people working together to
perform a specific task, e.g. the diplomatic�corps.A�corpse�is a dead body, usually
human.council + counselA�council�is a formal decision-making body meeting
regularly.After being served with a summons he sought legal�counsel.councilor
+counselor�A�councilor�(BrE�councillor) is an elected member of a council.
A�counselor�(BrE�counsellor) is an adviser, legal or otherwise.currant + current
A�currant�is a small dried seedless grape.(1) A�current�is a flow of air, water or
electricity.
(2) The adjective�current�means present or existing.dairy + diaryDairy�products are
foods made from milk, like butter and cheese.A�diary�is a book with a separate
space for every day of the year so you can write what you have done or are planning
to do each day.dependant + dependentA�dependant�(AmE�dependent) is a person who is
supported by someone else.�Dependent�means relying or depending on
something/somebody.�dependence + dependencyDependence�is the state of relying on
something/somebody else.(1) Tahiti is a�dependency�of France.
(2) A�dependency�is a specific kind of�dependence�(see above!), e.g. 'Too many
young people have a�dependency�on drugs.' 'The Swedish government has nurtured too
much welfare�dependency.'
(3) In�AmE, a�dependency�is a smaller building, such as a stable, that is an
adjunct to a larger one.desert + dessertThe Sahara is a�desert�in north Africa.
Chocolate pudding with whipped cream is my favorite�dessert.discrete + discreetIf
something is�discrete�it is apart from something else. For example, the brain has
two�discrete�halves.If someone is�discreet�they are tactful and generally cautious
about what they say so as not to embarrass or cause offense.�draft + draught(1) She
sent a first�draft�of her medical paper to the publisher.
(2) I received a banker's�draft�for $100.(1) There's a cold�draught�(AmE�draft)
every time the door opens.
(2) She took a long�draught�(AmE�draft) of beer.
(3) She always prefers�draught�(AmE�draft) beer to bottled beer.
(4) Flat-bottomed boats have a shallow�draught�(AmE�draft).�
(5) After dinner they played a game of�draughts�(AmE�checkers).�dual + duelNatalie
has�dual�nationality: British and French.The Wimbledon men's singles final turned
out to be an exciting�duel.eatable + edibleIf food is�eatable�then it is palatable
and probably quite tasty.If food is�edible�then it is merely suitable or safe to
eat.�economic + economical(1) According to an�economic�survey, Japan is in
recession.
(2) If prices keep falling, our business will no longer be�economic.Small cars are
more�economical. but not as safe as large ones.�effective + efficient(1) Using less
energy is the most�effective�way to reduce pollution.
(2) In Japan it is often bureaucrats who are in�effective�command.
(3) The new law becomes�effective�on January 1.It would be unnecessary for staff to
put in so much overtime if their work routines were more�efficient.egoist + egotist
An�egoist�is guilty of�egoism, which is another word for selfishness.
An�egoist�only considers what is best for himself and doesn't care about others.
An�egotist�is guilty of�egotism, which is a preoccupation with oneself and a belief
in one's superiority to others.� An�egotist�speaks incessantly of his own
achievements.elicit + illicitThe teacher used a lot of tag questions in order
to�elicit�yes/no answers from the students.Bill Clinton is said to have had a
number of�illicit�love affairs.�eligible + illegibleShe wasn't�eligible�to apply
for the job because she didn't have the right qualifications.His handwriting was so
bad that it was�illegible.emigrant + immigrantAmerica is home to�immigrants�from
all over the world.Many poorer�emigrants�from Europe never reached America.�eminent
+ imminentThe�eminent�scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry.When she
saw the black clouds she knew a storm was�imminent.enquire + inquire
Nowadays�enquire�and�inquire�are being used interchangeably.�For purists, however,
a useful distinction can be made between�enquire, meaning to ask about something in
general, and�inquire, meaning to investigate something in an official capacity.
When conducting an academic investigation, it seems�enquire�is preferred.ensure +
insureHigh security is in place to�ensure�(AmE�also 'insure') the dignitaries'
safety.It is said Dolly Parton took the trouble to�insure�her breasts for $600,000.
epigram + epigraph
�+ epitaphAn�epigram�is a short, witty, proverbial poem, maxim or saying.
An�epigraph�is the (often Latin) inscription on a statue, coin, etc.An�epitaph�is a
few words written in memory of someone who has died, usually on their tombstone.
esteem + estimateFormer South African President Mandela is held in high�esteem.
Authorities�estimate�the cost of reconstruction will be around 200 million dollars.
expedient + expeditious(1) If it is�expedient�to do something it is advantageous,
efficient and convenient, but not necessarily morally acceptable.
(2) An�expedient�is a means to an end without moral considerations.�If an action
is�expeditious�it is simply fast and efficient.farther + furtherFarther�can only
apply to distance, e.g. 'I couldn't walk any�farther'.Further�is much more common
and is not only used for distance but in a�more general sense. As a verb it means
to promote or advance something.
(1) I could not go any�further.
(2) She explained�further�what he had to do.
(3) His prime-time TV appearance helped him�further�his cause.flair + flareBill has
a�flair�for making people laugh.(1) When we saw the passing ship we launched a
distress�flare.
(2) Almost every day trouble�flares�up somewhere in the world.
(3) 1970s trousers were�flared�(=became wider) at the bottom.floe + flowThere are
ice�floes�in the Baltic all through the winter.Water�flows�through pipes.forbear +
forebear(1) The noun�forbear�means 'ancestor'.
(2) As a verb in literature, to�forbear�means to abstain or desist from doing
something.Forebear�is an alternative spelling for the noun form only.forgo + forego
forgone + foregoneThe only meaning of�forgo�is to relinquish a right to something
or do without it, e.g. 'Since the warranty had expired he had�forgone�his right to
free repair service'.�(1)�Forgo/forgone�above can also be spelt�forego/foregone.�
(2) As a verb in literature�forego�means 'precede in time or place'.
(3) A�foregone�conclusion is an easily predictable outcome.gamble + gambolWhen
people�gamble�they bet money on the horses or in casinos.When kids or
puppies�gambol�they run and jump around playfully.genus + geniusA�genus�is a
category of similar animals or plants.Einstein was a�genius�for his intelligence,
and Mozart for his creative talent.gild + guildIf you�gild�something you cover it
in gold or gold-like material.A�guild�is a kind of special interest group or
association.gilt + guiltGilt�is the gold or gold-like material you use for gilding.
You have a sense of�guilt�if you know you have done something wrong AND feel
unhappy about it.hangar + hangerAn aircraft is kept or undergoes maintenance in
a�hangar.Jackie hates putting her clothes in the closet on wire�hangers.historic +
historicalA�historic�event is one whose significance will be remembered by future
generations. The fact that the U.S., Russia and China now stand united against
terrorism is ahistoric�development.Something or someone�historical�existed in the
past. Stonehenge, for example, is a structure of immense�historical�interest. Some
people like reading�historical�novels.hoard + hordeShortages are made worse by
people who�hoard�large quantities of essential commodities in their homes.Hordes�of
bargain-hunters soon empty supermarket shelves.human + humaneIt is said that most
air crashes are the result of�human�error.Proponents of euthanasia think that it is
more�humane�to put the terminally ill out of their misery than to prolong their
suffering.Confusing WordsExamples of Usage, or Clarificationidle + idol(1) Many
shipyards now lie�idle.
(2) Those who shirk work are�idle.
(3) Since his retirement he has just�idled�the hours away.An�idol�is a person or
statue worshipped by people.imperial + imperiousThe secretive
Japanese�imperial�household has little relevance to the lives of ordinary people.�
An�imperious�person is proud and overbearing, and expects to be obeyed.incredible +
incredulousIt's�incredible�that he's been struck by lightning seven times and
survived!I was�incredulous�until I read it in the Guinness Book of Records!
industrial +industriousIn�industrial�cities you'll find many factories.Korean
workers are among the most�industrious�in the world.ingenious + ingenuousSome
Swedish streets have an�ingenious�system of underground heating elements to keep
them free from ice and snow in winter.Most children are�ingenuous, i.e. innocent,
honest and trusting.installation +�installment(1) An�installation�(BrE�instalation)
is a semi-permanent building or complex staffed and equipped for a specific
purpose, often military.
(2) The�installation�(BrE�instalation) of something means putting it in place so it
is ready for use (e.g. 'after the installation of a new PC at the installation, the
installation of an old program on it caused some compatibility problems.')
(3) The�installation�(BrE�instalation) of a person means placing him or her in an
official position (e.g. 'the installation of a new President takes place in
January.')�An�installment�(BrE�instalment) is one of a number of parts into which
usually a story or payment plan has been divided in order to make it more
manageable.irrelevant + irreverentIf something is�irrelevant�it has nothing to do
with one's current situation or the topic under discussion.If somebody
is�irreverent�they show less respect for someone than would normally be expected.
it's + itsSome people think English is hard, while others think�it's�easy.The dog
wagged�its�tail.���Read more about apostrophe usage!judicial + judicious(1) Going
to court to settle a dispute is a�judicial�procedure.
(2) A�judicial�decision is an extremely careful and prudent one.The
adjective�judicious�means almost the same as 'judicial' in example (2) above, i.e.
well thought-out and based on sound judgment.�lightening + lightning(1) The artist
began�lightening�the background of his dark painting.
(2) Dawn had come and the sky was slowly�lightening�in the east.
(2) He was�lightening�her burden by doing all the shopping.A thunderstorm means
heavy rain with thunder and�lightning.literal + literateThe primary meaning of a
word without metaphor or allegory is its�literal�meaning. Aliteral�translation is
one which translates each word individually rather than making sentences that sound
natural in the target language. The�literal�truth is the absolute truth.To
be�literate�means you can read and write. If you are highly�literate�you are a
well-educated and intelligent person.loath/loth + loatheThe
adjective�loath�(BrE�also 'loth') means strongly disinclined to do something, e.g.
'Her teenage son was�loath�to go to school'.To�loathe�is the corresponding verb
meaning to detest, e.g. 'She simply�loathes�going to the dentist'.�
Note:�This word is one of several extremely powerful, often monosyllabic
expressions surviving from Old English.loose + loseA wheel came off the car at high
speed because the bolts had come�loose.�Rich people who�lose�their money
also�lose�many of their friends.�mat + matt(e)A fat cat sat on the�mat�in front of
the door.Simon doesn't like glossy photos. He wants them�matt�(or�matte).�meat +
meet + meteVegetarians don't eat�meat.You are unlikely to�meet�a vegetarian in a
steakhouse.If a vegetarian society found out one of its members was eating in a
steakhouse, it would probably�mete�out a severe punishment.miner + minorSouth
African�miners�work in both gold and diamond mines.(1) In�'The Countess of Hong
Kong'�Chaplin played only a�minor�role.
(2) He was under 18 (only a�minor) and so not allowed to vote.moral + morale(1)
A�moral�is an accepted rule or standard of behavior.
(2) The�moral�of a story is the message it seeks to put across.When a battle is
going well, soldiers'�morale�is usually high, i.e. they show confidence and a
positive attitude.motif + motiveA�motif�is either a distinctive theme in a work of
art, literature or music, or a decorative design on, for example, cloth or
wallpaper.(1) The police were unable to find any�motive�(reason) for the killing.
(2) Occasionally,�motive�is an alternative spelling for 'motif'�above.naturalism +
naturism(1)�Naturalism�is the study of animals, plants and living things.
(2) In art�naturalism�is the portrayal of nature as it really is. This is in stark
contrast to idealism.
(3) In literature�naturalism�is a frank and detailed depiction of life as it really
is.
(4) In philosophy�naturalism�means a complete rejection of the spiritual or
supernatural.(1)�Naturism�is an appreciation of the beauty of nature.
(2)�Naturism�is also another name for nudism, i.e. coming closer to nature by
removing one's clothes.naval + navelIf you meet a retired�naval�officer you can say
'Long time no sea!'.It is becoming increasingly trendy for young 'cuties' to flaunt
their�navels�in the summertime.neglect + negligenceNeglect�is a failure to take
good care of something or someone, or simply a failure to do something you are
supposed to do.Negligence�is carelessness, or a failure to pay proper attention to
operating rules, warning signs and other key information.official + officious(1)
An�official�is a person in a position of trust or authority.
(2) If something is�official�it has been sanctioned by an authority.Unfortunately,
some�officials�tend to be rather�officious. In other words, they exercise their
authority in a self-important, domineering manner.pail + paleA�pail�is an old-
fashioned word for a bucket.The adjective�pale�means not bright or strong in color.
passed + past(1) He�passed�the station on his way to work.
(2) The nurse�passed�the thermometer to the doctor.
(3) Harry�passed�his driver's test at the third attempt.
(4) He�passed�away the years in prison learning English.
(5) The government�passed�a new law against stalkers.
(6) The jury announced a guilty verdict and the judge�passed�sentence.
(7) The thief had donned a white overall and�passed�for a doctor.(1) It's pointless
looking back on the�past�or worrying over past mistakes.
(2) The library is just�past�the post office on the left-hand side.
(3) Many Japanese politicians are over 70 and, many think,�past�it!pastel +
pastille(1) A�pastel�is a kind of artist's crayon.
(2) A�pastel�is also a picture drawn with such crayons.
(3)�Pastel�colors are pale and subdued.A�pastille�is a small round fruit-flavored
candy or medicinal lozenge.pedal + peddleIn England you are not allowed to�pedal�a
bicycle on the sidewalk.Many peddlers (BrE�pedlars) try to�peddle�Chinese medicine.
personal + personnelThe adjective�personal�means 'private'.The collective
noun�personnel�means 'staff'.plain + plane(1) Jackie was a stunner but her sister
was quite�plain.
(2) Jackie loved fruit yogurt but her sister preferred the�plain�type.
(3) It was�plain�to see that he was lying.
(4) The two mountains were separated by a valley with a wide�plain.(1) I took
a�plane�from LA to Atlanta.
(2) On the way it had trouble with its tail�plane.�
(3) I used a�plane�and then some sandpaper to smooth the wood.
(4) Humans are supposed to be on a higher�plane�than the apes.popular + populous(1)
Cricket is exceedingly�popular�(liked) in India.
(2) Reincarnation is a�popular�(common) belief in India.Both Beijing and Cairo
are�populous�(thickly inhabited) cities.practical + practicable(1) He went to Libya
to get some�practical�experience of camels.
(2) She was a very�practical�woman; she always knew just what to do.
(3) A safari suit is the most�practical�thing to wear on a safari.Many scientists
now believe a round-trip to Mars is�practicable�(feasible).pray + preyOn New Year's
Day most Japanese go to a temple or shrine to�pray.Zebras are a lion's�prey. Even
domestic cats�prey�on small birds.principal + principle(1) The�principal�of a U.S.
school is called a headmaster in the U.K.
(2) Amsterdam is not the capital but the�principal�city of the Netherlands.
A�principle�is a basic rule or norm. An important�principle�of our criminal justice
system is that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of
law.prise + prizeYou might be able to�prise�(AmE�prize, pry) open a simple lock
with a screwdriver.A�prize�is something awarded to the winner of a competition. The
farmer was proud of his�prize�bull.prophecy + prophesyA�prophecy�is a statement
that something will happen in the future.The corresponding verb is
to�prophesy�something.prudent + prudishIt is�prudent�to look twice each way before
crossing a road.Japanese terrestrial television is nowadays even more�prudish�than
it was in the 1990s. Scenes of sex or nudity in imported movies are being replaced
by commercial inserts.�punctual + punctiliousTeresa was always very�punctual, never
late for her Spanish classes.His�punctilious�manner was getting on her nerves. He
was always so formal and correct. If only he would let down his hair for once!rain
+ reign + reinBergen is a very wet city with more than 2000 mm of�rain�a year.Queen
Elizabeth II began her�reign�in 1953.Reins�are straps for guiding horses or
restraining young children near busy roads.raise + raze(1) If you�raise�something
you increase it or lift it up.
(2) A�raise�(BrE�rise) is a salary increase.If you�raze�(BrE�also 'rase') something
you destroy it completely.respectable + respectful(1) A�respectable�person or thing
has won social approval.
(2) A�respectable�sum of money is an adequate or acceptable amount.If you
are�respectful�of someone then your words and manner reflect your good opinion of
their ideas or character.�respectfully + respectivelyThey stood
up�respectfully�when the teacher entered the room.The three largest cities in
Sweden are Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malm�respectively.�review + revue(1) The New
York Times gave the new show a positive�review.
(2) It seems unlikely the U.S. will�review�its policy toward Cuba.
(3) The students did some�review�(BrE�revision) for the exam.A�revue�is light
entertainment on-stage with music, dance and jokes.rhyme + rime(1) Snug, bug and
rug�rhyme.�
(2) A short poem with rhyming words at the end of each line is also called a�rhyme.
(3) People who commit atrocities do so without�rhyme�or reason.(1)�Rime�is hoar
frost.
(2) In archaic English�rime�is a spelling variant of 'rhyme' above.r�le/role + roll
Sean Connery played the leading�r�le�of James Bond in "Dr. No".(1) He released the
handbrake and saw the car�roll�down the hill.
(2) Sandra bought another�roll�of wallpaper.
(3) In Paris I had a cheese and ham�roll�for breakfast.
(4) When I joined I had my name added to the membership�roll.
(5) Each morning on the tropical island I awoke to the�roll�of drums.rout + route
The Iraqis' 1991 disorganized retreat from Kuwait was called a�rout.A�route�is the
course or path taken from one place to another.satisfactory + satisfyingIf
something is�satisfactory�it is adequate or good enough.If something
is�satisfying�it lives entirely up to expectations and possibly even more.scald +
scold(1) A�scald�is the injury caused when skin comes into contact with boiling hot
liquid or steam.
(2) Every day countless young children�scald�themselves badly because careless
parents heat saucepans on the stove with handles sticking out into the room and
invitingly easy to grab hold of.�
(3)�Scald�babies' bottles to sterilize them.
(4) If you�scald�a liquid (e.g. milk), you heat it until almost boiling.If
you�scold�someone you tell them off for doing something you disapprove of.�sceptic
+ septicA�sceptic�(AmE�skeptic) is a person who doesn't believe or remains
unconvinced by what he or she is told.If a wound becomes�septic�it is contaminated
with harmful bacteria.sensible + sensitiveA�sensible�person makes good judgments
and the right decisions.�(1) He was�sensitive�enough not to mention the fly in the
soup to his kind mother.
(2) She was always very�sensitive�about criticism of her cooking.
(3)�Sensitive�instruments can detect the slightest seismic movements and help us to
predict earthquakes.sense + sensibility
�+ sensitivity(1)�Sense�[U] means prudence, rationality or reasonableness.�
(2) If you�sense�something you become aware of it.
(3) The five�senses�[C] are hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste.
(4) One observer said the Japanese have a great�sense�of beauty but little sense of
ugliness.(1)�Sensibility�is an openness and responsiveness to emotions.
(2) Out of�sensibility�to the local religion no pork was served.Sensitivity�is the
noun form of the adjective 'sensitive' above.sociable + socialIf you
are�sociable�you enjoy meeting people and making new friends.(1) A jury is made up
of people from different�social�backgrounds.
(2) Many people do volunteer work to expand their�social�contacts.stationary +
stationeryParked cars are�stationary�or standing still.�Envelopes and writing paper
for letters are�stationery�items.stile + styleA�stile�is a step on either side of a
fence surrounding a field to enable people but not animals to climb over.(1)
The�style�of an activity is the manner in which it is done.
(2) The�style�of a product is its design.
(2) A person's�style�is his general behavior.
(3) If someone has�style�then they are elegant and smart.storey + story
A�storey�(AmE�story) is a horizontal division in a building.A�story�is a tale or
account of real or imaginary events.straight + strait(1) If something
is�straight�it continues in the same direction without the slightest deviation.
(2) If you go�straight�to a place you choose a direct path.
(3) A�straight�movie is serious one without comedy.
(4) A�straight�person is honest and gives�straight�answers to questions instead of
evasive ones.
(5) If you like your liquor�straight�you drink it neat or undiluted.
(6) In colloquial language,�straight�means heterosexual and not gay.A�strait�is a
narrow seaway between two land masses that links two large areas of water.sty +
styePigs live in a�sty�or pigsty (AmE�pigpen).A�stye�(AmE�sty;�BrE�alternative
spelling 'sty') is an inflamed swelling at the base of an eyelid.substantial +
substantive(1) [LARGE IN SIZE OR VALUE] A�substantial�amount of work needs to be
done on the old house, which is likely to cost us a�substantial�amount of money.�
(2) [GENERAL OR ESSENTIAL] That two wrongs don't make a right is
a�substantial�truth. On that point we are in�substantial�agreement.�(1) [OF
SUBSTANCE OR SIGNIFICANCE] The police remained tight-lipped and their press
briefing did not reveal anything�substantive�(i.e. nothing new came to light).
(2) [OF PRACTICAL USE OR IMPORTANCE] After completing the on-site inspection,
members of the housing committee felt like a�substantive�meal (i.e. one that was
both adequate in size and nourishing). They then held a meeting and reached
asubstantive�agreement to give the go ahead for construction of 500 new homes.suit
+ suite(1) A regular�suit�is a jacket with matching trousers or skirt. Other kinds
of�suit�for specific purposes include space suits and bathing suits.
(2) If clothes�suit�you, they look good on you.
(3) If an arrangement�suits�you, it is convenient for you.
(4) In a court of law a�suit�(lawsuit) is legal action taken by one individual or
entity against another individual or entity.
(5) Playing cards have four�suits: hearts, clubs, spades and diamonds.
(6) If you follow�suit�you copy someone else's actions.(1) A�suite�is a set of
adjoining rooms in a hotel.
(2) A�suite�is a set of matching furniture.�
(3) In the world of music a�suite�is either a set of original musical compositions
designed to be played in quick succession, or an arrangement of items from an
existing composition that gets treated as a separate work.swat + swotIt's easiest
to hit a fly with a fly�swat.�Serious students�swot�(AmE�cram) hard for their
exams.systematic + systemic�An action or process executed methodically, or
according to some system or plan (with or without official blessing!),
is�systematic. So, for example, in recent decades we have witnessed
the�systematic�destruction of tropical rain forests.If a problem is systemic it
affects the whole of something and not just part of it. Japan's preference for
self-regulation instead of independent outside inspection has led
to�systemic�corruption in many industries.tire + tyre(1) If tasks demand a lot of
energy they�tire�you.�
(2) Some kids never�tire�of playing.A�tyre�(AmE�tire) is a ring of (usually
inflated) rubber placed around the rim of a wheel to soften contact with the road.
troop + troupe(1) A�troop�is a cavalry unit under the command of a captain.
(2)�Troops�are a large collection of soldiers forming a fighting force.
(3) A�troop�of animals or people is a group of them.A�troupe�is a group of actors,
singers, dancers or acrobats who perform together.wave + waive(1) North Koreans are
not allowed to�wave�back to people across the border in China. Plain clothes guards
watch them all the time.
(2) After an earthquake there is the possibility of a tidal�wave.
(3) Another�wave�of violence has struck the West Bank.(1) The French authorities
traditionally�waive�parking fines when a new president takes office. People don't
have to pay them.
(2) If you�waive�your right to something you opt to do without it.�whose + who's
"Whose�racquet is that?" "It's Melissa's.""Who's�Melissa?" "She's my doubles
partner!"your + you're"Ms. Harrison,�your�husband won $10,000 in the lottery but
I'm afraid he forgot to claim it in time.""You're�joking!"

ist of commonly misused English words

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article has multiple issues. Please help�improve it�or discuss these issues on
the�talk page.
* It�needs additional�citations�for�verification.�Tagged since February 2009.
* Its�factual accuracy is�disputed.�Tagged since March 2010.
* It�may contain�original research.�Tagged since February 2009.
This article includes a�list of references, but�its sources remain unclear because
it has insufficient�inline citations. Please help to�improve�this article
by�introducing�more precise citations.�(March 2010)This is a list of English words
which are commonly misused. It is meant to include only words whose�misuse�is
deprecated by most usage writers, editors, and other professional linguists of
Standard English. It is possible that some of the meanings marked�non-standard�may
pass into�Standard�English in the future, but at this time all of the
following�Non-standard�phrases are likely to be marked as�incorrect�by English
teachers or changed by editors if used in a work submitted for publication. Some of
the examples are�homonyms�or pairs of similarly spelled words which are often
confused.
The words listed below are consistently used in ways that major English
dictionaries do not condone in any definition. See�list of English words with
disputed usage�for words that are used in ways that are�deprecated�by some usage
writers but are condoned by some dictionaries. There may be regional variations in
grammar, spelling, and word-use, especially between different English-speaking
countries. Such differences are not seen as incorrect once they have gained
widespread acceptance in a particular country.
Contents
��[hide]�
* 1�List
o 1.1�A
o 1.2�B
o 1.3�C
o 1.4�D
o 1.5�E
o 1.6�F
o 1.7�H
o 1.8�I
o 1.9�J
o 1.10�L
o 1.11�M
o 1.12�N
o 1.13�O
o 1.14�P
o 1.15�Q
o 1.16�R
o 1.17�S
o 1.18�T
o 1.19�V
o 1.20�W
o 1.21�Y
* 2�See also
* 3�Notes
* 4�References
* 5�External links[edit]List
[edit]A
* abdicate,�abrogate, and�arrogate. To�abdicate�is to resign from the throne, or
more loosely to cast off a responsibility. To�abrogate�is to repeal a law or
abolish an arrangement. Toarrogate�is to attempt to take on a right or
responsibility to which one is not entitled.
* Standard: Edward VIII abdicated from the throne of the United Kingdom.
* Standard: Henry VIII abrogated Welsh customary law.
* Non-standard: John abrogated all responsibility for the catering arrangements
(should be "abdicated").
* Non-standard: You should not abrogate to yourself the whole honour of the
President's visit (should be "arrogate").
* accept�and�except. While they sound similar (or even identical),�except�is
a�preposition�that means "apart from", while�accept�is a�verb�that means "agree
with", "take in", or "receive".�Except�is also occasionally used as a verb, meaning
to take out or to leave out.
* Standard: We accept all major credit cards, except Diners Club.
* Standard: Men are fools... present company excepted! (Which means, "present
company excluded")
* Non-standard: I had trouble making friends with them; I never felt excepted.
* Non-standard: We all went swimming, accept for Jack.
* acute�and�chronic.�Acute�means "sharp", as an acute illness is one that rapidly
worsens and reaches a crisis. A�chronic�illness may also be a severe one, but it is
long-lasting or lingering.
* Standard: She was treated with epinephrine during an acute asthma attack.
* Standard: It is not a terminal illness, but it does cause chronic pain.
* Non-standard: I have suffered from acute asthma for twenty years.
* Non-standard: I just started feeling this chronic pain in my back.
* adverse�and�averse.�Adverse�means unfavorable, contrary or hostile.�Averse�means
having a strong feeling of opposition, antipathy, or repugnance.
* Standard: They sailed despite adverse weather conditions.
* Standard: He was averse to taking his medicine.
* Non-standard: He is not adverse to having a drink now and then.
* affect�and�effect. The verb�affect�means "to influence something", and the
noun�effect�means "the result of".�Effect�can also be a verb that means "to cause
[something] to be", whileaffect�as a noun has technical meanings
in�psychology,�music, and�aesthetic theory: an�emotion�or�subjectively�experienced
feeling. A device to remember when trying to decide which is the right choice: If
something affects you it usually has an effect on you.
* Standard. This poem affected me so much that I cried.
* Standard. Temperature has an effect on reaction spontaneity.
* Standard. The dynamite effected the wall's collapse.
* Standard. He seemed completely devoid of affect.
* Non-standard. The rain effected our plans for the day.
* Non-standard. We tried appeasing the rain gods, but to no affect.
* aggravate�and�mitigate.�Aggravate�means "to make worse".�Mitigate�means "to make
less bad". "Mitigating factor" refers to something that affects someone's case by
lessening the degree of blame, not anything that has any effect at all.
* algorithm�and�logarithm. An�algorithm�is a sequence of instructions, often used
for calculation and processing data. A�logarithm�is a�mathematical function�that
indicates, for a given base, the power (i.e. exponent) to which the base must be
raised to produce that number.
* Standard: The manager developed an algorithm by which he could determine which
candidate would best meet the needs of the company.
* Standard: The pH is equivalent to the negative logarithm of the concentration
of�hydrogen�ions in solution. Thus, a solution of pH 6.2 will have an [H+]
concentration of 10?6.2�mol/L
* a lot�and�allot.�A lot�means many;�allot�means to distribute something.
* allusion,�illusion, and�hallucination. An�allusion�is an indirect or metaphorical
reference to something; an�illusion�is a false picture of something that is there;
a�hallucination�is the seeing of something that is not there.
* alternately�and�alternatively.�Alternately�is an adverb that means in turn; one
after the other.�Alternatively�is an adverb that means on the other hand; one or
the other.
* Standard: We alternately spun the wheel in the game.
* Standard: You can choose a large bookcase or, alternatively, you can buy two
small ones.
* appraise�and�apprise. To�appraise�is to assess or value something; to�apprise�is
to teach or inform.
* Standard: His performance was appraised very positively.
* Standard: I lost no time in apprising her of the situation.
* Non-standard: Has he been appraised of the fact?
* assume: to suppose to be true, especially without proof, and�presume: to take for
granted as being true in the absence of proof to the contrary.�Presume�can also
mean "take excessive liberties", as in the adjective form "presumptuous".
* Standard: They had assumed that they were alone, so they were surprised when they
heard a third voice join their song.
* Standard: Doctor Livingstone, I presume?
* assure,�ensure, and�insure. In American English, to�assure�is purely to intend to
give the listener confidence, to�ensure�is to make certain of, and to�insure�is to
purchase insurance. The only difference with British English is that "assure" can
be used instead of "insure", particularly in the context of life
insurance/assurance.
* Standard: I assure you that I will have your car washed by the time you return.
* Standard: When you mow the lawn, ensure there are no foreign objects in the
grass.
* Standard: I plan to purchase the collision policy when I insure my car.
* Standard: I already have more than enough life assurance.
* Non-standard: His actions insured that the attacking army would fail.
[edit]B
* bifurcate. Bifurcate means to segregate or divide into two parts. It is not a
stand-in for 'more than one.'
* breath�and�breathe. A�breath�(noun) is the inhalation or exhalation of air from
the lungs. To�breathe�(verb) is the act of inhalation and exhalation.
[edit]C
* cache�and�cachet. A�cache�(IPA:�/k�?/) is a storage place from which items may be
quickly retrieved. A�cachet�(IPA:�/k�??e?/) is a seal or mark, such as a wax seal
on an envelope or a mark of authenticity on a product. Note that�cachet�is usually
used figuratively to mean "marked by excellence, distinction or superiority".
* Standard: The pirates buried a cache of jewels near the coast.
* Standard: Living in New York City definitely has a certain cachet.
* Non-standard: If your web browser is running slowly, try emptying the cachet.
* can't�and�cant.�Can't�is a contraction of�cannot.�Cant�has a number of different
meanings, including a slope or slant, or a kind of slang or jargon spoken by a
particular group of people. "Canting arms" is a coat-of-arms that represents
meaning of the bearer's surname.
* Standard: I can't understand the dialogue in this book because it is written in
cant.
* Standard: Heralds do not pun; they cant.[1]
* Non-standard: I cant swim; I have never taken lessons.
* complementary�and�complimentary. Things or people that go together well
are�complementary�(i.e., they�complete�each other);�complimentary�describes to an
item given without charge (considered a 'gift'), usually in addition to a product
or service that may have been purchased. It also describes praise given to someone
or something.
* Standard: Orange and blue are complementary colors.
* Standard: The motel provides a complimentary breakfast (i.e., breakfast at no
charge) to customers who stay overnight.
* Standard: Jane was very complimentary about your new home.
Similarly, a�complement�is an accessory, while a�compliment�is a statement of
admiration.
* complacency�and�complaisance.�Complacency�means self-satisfaction especially when
accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.�Complaisance�means
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others.
* comprise,�compose�and�consist. To�comprise�means to be made up of, or to�consist
of; as a slightly different usage it can mean to contain, include, or embrace. It
takes as a direct object each of the parts. Each of these is used with the greater
whole as the subject of the verb. To�compose�in this context (of a whole thing and
its parts) is used with the parts, considered together, as the subject of the verb.
[2]
* Standard: A full pack comprises 52 cards.
* Standard: A full pack consists of 52 cards.
* Standard: A full pack is composed of 52 cards plus the joker.
* Standard: A full pack includes 52 cards and the joker.
* Non-standard: A full pack comprises of 52 cards.
* Non-standard: A full pack is comprised of 52 cards.
* Standard: The property comprises five floors of office space.
* Standard: The property consists of five floors of office space.
* Standard: The property includes five floors of office space and a private
elevator (lift).
* Non-standard: The property comprises of five floors of office space.
* Non-standard: The property is comprised of five floors of office space.
* Non-standard: "Both the union and the league are comprised of many
individuals, ..."[3]
* concession. A�concession stand�gets its name from the fact that the operator has
typically been granted a contract known as a "concession" to operate the stand. It
is non-standard to refer to the items sold at concession stands as "concessions."
* contiguous,�continual, and�continuous.�Contiguous�means "touching" or "adjoining
in space";�continual�means "repeated in rapid succession";�continuous�means
"uninterrupted" (in time or space).
* Standard: Alaska is not one of the forty-eight contiguous states.
* Standard: The field was surrounded by a continuous fence.
* Standard: The continuous murmur of the stream.
* Standard: His continual interruptions are very irritating.
* contingent�and�contingency. As a noun, a�contingent�is a representative group;
a�contingency�is a possible event.
* Standard: The explorers were prepared for every contingency.
* Standard: He was a member of the California contingent at the convention.
* Non-standard: He was greeted by a contingency from the school board.
* crotch�and�crutch. A�crotch�is an area where something branches or forks off in
two directions, or the area on a person's body where the legs fork from the trunk
(commonly interchanged with 'groin'). A�crutch�is a device that assists motion,
especially one that sits under the armpit, or something that supports, often used
negatively to indicate that it is not needed and causes an unhealthful dependency.
[edit]D
* diffuse�and�defuse. To�diffuse�is to disperse randomly, whereas to�defuse�is to
remove the fuse from a bomb, or in general to render a situation less
dangerous.�Diffuse�can also be used as an adjective, meaning "not concentrated".
* Standard: The situation was defused when Sandy explained that he was gay, and had
no interest in Frank's wife.
* Standard: The smell of gasoline slowly diffused into the still air of the hall.
* Standard: The spotlights were turned off, leaving the stage lit by the diffuse
glow of the lanterns.
* disassemble�and�dissemble. To�disassemble�means "to dismantle" (e.g. to take
a�machine code�program�apart to see how it works); to�dissemble�means "to tell
lies".
* disburse�and�disperse.�Disburse�means "to give out", especially
money.�Disperse�means "to scatter".
* discreet�and�discrete.�Discreet�means "circumspect".�Discrete�means "having
separate parts", as opposed to contiguous.
* disinterested�and�uninterested. To be�disinterested�in something means to not be
biased about something (i.e. to have no personal stake in a particular side of an
issue). To beuninterested�means to not be interested in or intrigued by something.
* Standard: As their good friend, I tried to mediate their argument in a
disinterested manner so as not to anger either.
* Standard: Though his initial reaction suggested otherwise, he maintains that he
remains uninterested in the business proposition.
* Non-standard: The key to attracting a member of the opposite sex is to balance
between giving attention to him or her and appearing disinterested.
* dissect�and�bisect.�Bisect�means "to cut into two";�dissect�means "to cut apart",
both literally and figuratively.�Disect�is an archaic word meaning "to separate by
cutting", but has not been in common use since the 17th century.
* Standard: We dissected the eye of a bull in biology class today.
* Standard: She dissected Smith's dissertation, pointing out scores of errors.
* Standard: The Americas are bisected by the Panama canal.
* Non-standard: We bisected the eye of a bull in biology class today.
[edit]E
* economic�and�economical.�Economic�means "having to do with the
economy".�Economical�means "financially prudent, frugal" and also figuratively in
the sense "sparing use" (of time, language, etc.)[4]
* Standard: Buying in bulk can often be the most economical choice.
* Standard: The actor should be economical in his use of movement.
* Standard: He attended the School of Economic and Business Sciences.
* Non-standard: Leading economical indicators suggest that a recession may be on
the horizon.
* Non-standard: The actor should be economic in his use of movement.
* e.g.�and�i.e.�The abbreviation�e.g.�stands for the Latin�exempli grati?�"for
example", and should be used when the example(s) given are just one or a few of
many. The abbreviation�i.e.stands for the Latin�id est�"that is", and is used to
give the only example(s) or to otherwise qualify the statement just made.
* Standard: A Briton is a British citizen, e.g. John Lennon.
* Standard: Tolkien's�The Hobbit�is named after its protagonist, i.e., Bilbo
Baggins.
* Non-standard: A Briton is a British citizen, i.e., Paul McCartney�(at the last
count, there were about 60 million Britons�Sir Paul is far from being the only one)
* emigration�and�immigration.�Emigration�is the process of leaving a
country;�immigration�is the process of arriving in a country�in both cases,
indefinitely.
* Standard: Ethnic communities, such as Little Italy, were created by people
emigrating from their home countries.
* eminent,�preeminent,�imminent, and�immanent.�Eminent, originally meaning
"emerging", means "illustrious or highly-regarded".�Preeminent�means "most highly-
regarded".Imminent�means "about to occur".�Immanent�(less common than the other
two, and often theological) means "indwelling, pervading".
* Standard: The eminent doctor Jones testified on behalf of the defence.
* Standard: Rumours that war was imminent soon spread through the population.
* Standard: God's grace is immanent throughout the entire creation.
* eponymous�is used to describe something which gives its name to something else,
not something which receives the name of something else.
* Standard: Frank, the eponymous owner of�Frank's Bistro, prepares all meals in a
spotless kitchen.
* Non-standard: Frank maintains an eponymous restaurant,�Frank's Bistro.
* exacerbate�and�exasperate.�Exacerbate�means "to make worse".�Exasperate�means "to
exhaust", usually someone's patience.
* Standard: Treatment by untrained personnel can exacerbate injuries.
* Standard: Do not let Jack talk to the state trooper; he is tactless and will just
exasperate her.
* expedient�and�expeditious.�Expedient�means "to do conveniently or quickly, but
possibly improperly".�Expeditious�means "done efficiently", and does not carry any
negative connotation.
* Standard: The chef's expedient solution was to microwave the undercooked
hamburger.
* Standard: The chef's expeditious solution was to cook a new hamburger.
[edit]F
* flesh�and�flush. To�flesh out�is to add flesh to a skeleton, or metaphorically to
add substance to an incomplete rendering. To�flush out�is to cause game fowl to
take to flight, or to frighten any quarry from a place of concealment.
* Standard: The forensic pathologist will flesh out the skull with clay.
* Standard: The beaters flushed out the game with drums and torches.
* Non-standard: This outline is incomplete and must be flushed out.
* flounder�and�founder. To�flounder�is to be clumsy, confused, indecisive or to
flop around like a fish out of water. A�flounder�is also a type of�flatfish.
To�founder�is to fill with water and sink.It also means "to fail".
* Standard: The ship is damaged and may founder.
* Standard: She was floundering on the�balance beam.
* Non-standard: The ship is damaged and may flounder.
* flout�and�flaunt. One�flouts�a rule or law by flagrantly ignoring it.
One�flaunts�something by showing it off.
* Standard: If you have it, flaunt it.
* Standard: He continually flouted the speed limit.
* Non-standard: If you have it, flout it.
* Non-standard: He continually flaunted the speed limit.
[edit]H
* hay�and�straw.�Hay�is a grassy plant used as animal fodder.�Straw�is the dry
stalk of a cereal plant (e.g., barley, oats, rice, rye), after the grain or seed
has been removed; it is used to line an animal's stall or for insulation.
* hang. To�hang�something or someone in the present tense, one uses the same form.
In the past, however, pictures are�hung�and criminals are�hanged.
* hangar�and�hanger. The aeroplane is in the hangar; the coat is on the hanger.
* hear�and�here. To "hear" is to detect a sound with one's ears. "Here" refers to
one's immediate location.
* hoard�and�horde. A�hoard�is a store or accumulation of things. A�horde�is a large
group of people.
* Standard: A horde of shoppers lined up to be the first to buy the new gizmo.
* Standard: He has a hoard of discontinued rare cards.
* Non-standard: Do not horde the candy, share it.
* Non-standard: The hoard charged when the horns sounded.
[edit]I
* imply�and�infer. Something is�implied�if it is a suggestion intended by the
person speaking, whereas a conclusion is�inferred�if it is reached by the person
listening.
* Standard: When Tony told me he had no money, he was implying that I should give
him some.
* Standard: When Tony told me he had no money, I inferred that I should give him
some.
* Non-standard: When Tony told me he had no money, he was inferring that I should
give him some.
* inherent�and�inherit. A part�inherent in�X is logically inseparable from X.�To
inherit�is a verb, meaning "pass down a generation".
* Standard: Risk is inherent in the stock market.
* Standard: The next president inherits a legacy of mistrust and fear.
* Non-standard: There is violence inherit in the system.
* it's�and�its.�It's�is a contraction that replaces�it is�or�it
has�(see�apostrophe).�Its�is the�possessive determiner�corresponding to�it, meaning
"belonging to it".
* Standard: It's time to eat! (it is time)
* Standard: It's been nice getting to meet you. (it has been)
* Standard: My cell phone has poor reception because its antenna is broken.
* Non-standard: Its good to be the king.
* Non-standard: The bicycle tire had lost all of it's pressure.
* irony. Something is�ironic�if it is the opposite of what is appropriate,
expected, or fitting.
* Standard: It is ironic that the center for the handicapped has no wheelchair
ramp.
* Standard: It is ironic that�Alanis Morissette�wrote a song called "Ironic" with
many examples, not one of which is actually ironic.
* Non-standard: It is ironic that George W Bush is right-handed and Republican
while Bill Clinton is left-handed and Democratic.
* Non-standard: It is raining on our wedding day! Is it not ironic?
* isle�and�aisle. An isle is an island. An aisle is corridor through which one may
pass from one place to another.
* Standard: He came from a small isle in the Caribbean.
* Standard: The coffee is down the third aisle on the left.
[edit]J
* jive�and�jibe. Jive is hepcat patois or deception. Jibe is to be in accord with.
* Standard: Don't give me that same old jive.
* Standard: Your report doesn't jibe with the facts.
* Non-standard: Your report doesn't jive with the facts.
[edit]L
* lay�(lay,�laid,�laid,�laying,�lays) and�lie�(lie,�lay,�lain,�lying,�lies) are
often used synonymously.�Lay�is a�transitive verb, meaning that it takes an object.
"To lay something" means to place something.�Lie, on the other hand,
is�intransitive�and means to recline. The distinction between these related verbs
is further blurred by the fact that the past tense of�lie�is�lay. An easy rule of
thumb is to replace the words with�sit�and�set. If�sit�makes sense (e.g. sit down)
then�lie�should be used (lie down). If the sentence works with�set�(e.g. set the
book on the table) then�lay�should be used (lay the book on the table). A�layoff�is
never a�lieoff�or�lyoff. (To lie�can also mean "to not tell the truth" � but in
that case, the past tense islied.)
* Standard: I lay my husband's work clothes out for him every morning. Yesterday, I
decided to see if he paid attention to what I was doing, so I laid out one white
sock and one black. He did not notice!
* Standard: You should not lie down right after eating a large meal. Yesterday, I
lay on my bed for half an hour after dinner, and suffered indigestion as a result.
My wife saw me lying there and made me get up; she told me that if I had waited for
a couple of hours I could have lain down in perfect comfort.
* Standard: You lied to me, there is no hidden chamber!
* Non-standard: Is this bed comfortable when you lay on it? (Should be�lie)
* Non-standard: Yesterday I lied down in my office during the lunch hour. (Should
be�lay)
* Non-standard: There was no reason for him to have laid down in the middle of the
path, it unnerved me to see him laying there saying nothing. (Should be "have lain
down" and "him lying there")
* Non-standard: Lie the baby down, and change his diaper (Should be�lay, as�lie�is
intransitive)
* Non-standard: "It could be easy for those guys to�lay�down. After I left, they
could have just�laid�down."[5]
* Non-standard: I am going to lay out in the sun and work on my tan. (Should
be�lie. In general, the term�lay out�when referring to sunbathing is always non-
standard usage.)
* Non-standard: Sorry, I lay about our appointment yesterday. (Should be�lied)
* Non-standard: You should not�lay�down right after eating a large meal. Yesterday,
I�lied�on my bed for half an hour after dinner, and suffered indigestion as a
result. My wife saw me�laying�there and made me get up; she told me that if I had
waited for a couple of hours I could have�lied�down in perfect comfort. (Should
be�lie,�lay,�lying�and�lain)
* Non-standard: Yueyue laid motionless in the street for 10 minutes until Chen
Xianmei, a 58-year-old woman who collects trash for a living, passed by.[6]
* levee�and�levy. A�levee�is a structure built along a river to raise the height of
its banks, thereby preventing nearby land from flooding (see:�dike).�To levy�is to
impose (1) a tax, fine or other assessment, or (2) a military draft; as a noun,
a�levy�is an assessment or army thus gathered. The two words share a common root,
but they are not considered interchangeable in Standard English. Because they
are�homophones, misuse is usually only apparent when observed in writing.
* Standard: The Netherlands is well known for its elaborate system of levees.
* Standard: This statute allows the state to levy a 3% tax.
* Non-standard: Recent storms have weakened the levy.
* loathe�and�loath�or�loth:�Loathe�is a verb meaning "to strongly dislike",
and�loath�(or�loth) is an adjective meaning "unwilling" or "reluctant".
* Standard: I loathe arrogant people.
* Standard: I was loath to concede defeat.
* Standard: I was loth to submit to a body-cavity search until I saw who would be
administering it.
* lose�and�loose.�Lose�can mean "fail to win", "misplace", or "cease to be in
possession".�Loose�can mean the opposite of tight, or the opposite of
tighten.�Lose�is often misspelledloose, likely because�lose�has an irregular rhyme
for the way it is spelled: it is more common for words ending�-ose�to rhyme�-??z,
like�nose, or�rose, but�lose�rhymes�-u?z, like�newsor�confuse. This may cause poor
spellers to guess the correct spelling should match another -u?z rhyming word
like�choose, although�choose�is itself also an exception to the regular rhyme for
words ending�-oose�(typically such words, including�loose, rhyme�-u?s,
like�goose�or�caboose).
* Standard: We cannot afford to lose customers to our competitors.
* Standard: A screw is loose and I need a screwdriver to tighten it.
* Non-standard: If the team cannot score any points, they will loose the game.
[edit]M
* macerate,�marinate, and�marinade. (From post-classical Latin�marina�brine, short
for classical Latin�aqua marina�sea water.)[7]�In Standard English,�marinade�is a
noun and not a verb; marinate is the verb.�Macerate�means "to soften by steeping in
a liquid" and in culinary terminology is used for non-protein items,
specifically�fruit.[7]�The word�macerate�is also used in science "to soften bone,
rock etc. in a liquid".[7]
* Standard: The meat will taste better if you marinate it in olive oil before
cooking.
* Standard: Prepare the marinade by mixing vinegar and soy sauce.
* Non-standard: Marinade the meat in wine for half an hour.
* Standard: Macerate the fruit in wine for half an hour.
* Non-standard: Marinate the fruit in wine for half an hour.
* me,�myself, and�I. In a traditional prescriptive grammar,�I�is used only as a
subject,�me�is used only as an object, and�myself�is used only as a reflexive
object, that is to say when the subject is "I" and the object would otherwise be
"me".�Myself�is often used incorrectly, often in a form of�hypercorrection. Like
the other�reflexive pronouns,�myself�should be used only when both the subject and
object of the verb are the speaker, or as an emphatic pronoun (intensifier).
* Standard: Jim and I took the train.
* Standard: He lent the books to Jim and me.
* Standard: That is I in the picture. (This is very formal, and seldom found in
speech.)
* Acceptable: That is me in the picture. (This is typical in informal English.)
* Standard�(intensifying): I myself have seen instances of that type.
* Standard�(reflexive): I hurt myself. I did it to myself. I played by myself. I
want to enjoy myself.
* Non-standard: Jim and me went into town.
* Non-standard: Me and Jim went into town.
* Non-standard: As for myself, I prefer the red.
* Non-standard: He is an American like myself.
* Non-standard: He gave the paper to Jim and myself.
* Non-standard: My wife and myself do not like the development.
* Non-standard: 'I wake up/With my eyes shut tight/Hoping tomorrow will never
come/For you and I.' (Should be�For you and me) (From "You And I, Part II"
by�Fleetwood Mac)
* Non-standard: "Allow myself to introduce myself." (An example of intentional
misuse for humorous effect, from�Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.)
* mitigate�and�militate. To�mitigate�is to make something milder. To�militate�is to
fight or exert pressure for something to happen or not to happen.
* Standard: The seriousness of your crime was mitigated by the provocation you were
under.
* Standard: Over-protective practices in this factory militate against increased
efficiency.
* Non-standard: Over-protective practices in this factory mitigate against
increased efficiency.
[edit]N
* novice�and�novitiate. A�novice�is a prospective or trainee member, as of a
religious order. The�novitiate�is the state of being a novice, or the time for
which one is a novice. However, a novice monk or nun is often incorrectly described
as "a novitiate" (perhaps confused with "initiate").
[edit]O
* of�and�have. In some dialects of spoken English,�of�and the contracted form
of�have,�'ve, sound alike. However, in standard written English, they are not
interchangeable.
* Standard: Susan would have stopped to eat, but she was running late.
* Standard: You could have warned me!
* Non-standard: I should of known that the store would be closed. (Should be "I
should've known")
* overestimate�and�underestimate. There is frequent confusion between things
that�cannot�and�should not�be over/underestimated, though the meanings are
opposite.
* Standard: The damage caused by pollution cannot be overestimated (i.e. it is so
enormous that no estimate, however high, is excessive)
* Standard: The damage caused by pollution should not be underestimated (i.e. it is
wrong to regard it as minor)
* Non-standard: The damage caused by pollution cannot be underestimated (literal
meaning: it is so minimal that no estimate is too small. Intended meaning: one of
the previous two)
[edit]P
* past�and�passed.�Past�refers to events that have previously occurred,
while�passed�is the past tense of "to pass", whether in a congressional action or a
physical occurrence.
* Standard: Congress passed the bill limiting the powers of the President.
* Standard: History is mainly concerned with the events of the past.
* Non-standard: He past my house on his way to the store.
* peremptory�and�preemptive. A�peremptory�act or statement is absolute; it cannot
be denied. A�preemptive�action is one taken before an adversary can act.
* Standard: He issued a peremptory order.
* Standard: Preemptive air strikes stopped the enemy from launching the new
warship.
* perpetrate�and�perpetuate. To�perpetrate�something is to commit it, while
to�perpetuate�something is to cause it to continue or to keep happening.
* Standard: The gang perpetrated outrages against several citizens.
* Standard: The stories only serve to perpetuate the legend that the house is
haunted.
* perquisite�and�prerequisite.�Perquisite�usually means 'an extra allowance or
privilege'.�Prerequisite�means 'something required as a condition'.
* Standard: He had all the perquisites of a movie star, including a stand-in.
* Standard: Passing the examination was one of the prerequisites for a teaching
position.
* perspective�and�prospective.�Perspective�is a view with correct visual angles,
example: parallel railway tracks converging in the distance. "Prospective" is a
future possibility or expectation.
* perspicuity�and�perspicacity. If something is perspicuous, it is easily
understood; its meaning is obvious. If one is perspicacious, then one is quick to
understand or has good insight.
* Standard: I admired her perspicacity; she just seemed to get it so much better
than I.
* Standard: He expressed the idea so perspicuously that anyone could understand.
* Non-standard: She spoke in a perspicacious way.
* photogenic�and�photographic. The former is to be used to mean someone's likeness
is particularly amenable to being well photographed. The latter is anything
pertaining to photography whether it is technical e.g. photographic chemical or
equipment, or generic e.g. photographic journals.
* practice�and�practise. In British English,�practice�is the noun and�practise�is
the verb, although this distinction is not maintained in American English.
* prescribe�and�proscribe. To�prescribe�something is to command or recommend it.
To�proscribe�somebody or something is to outlaw him, her or it.
* progeny�and�prodigy.�Progeny�are�offspring�or things that follow something else.
A�prodigy�is a�genius�or a marvelous example of something.
[edit]Q
* Quartary�and�quaternary.�Quartary�(from�Latin:�quartarius) is the fourth member
of an�ordinal number�word series beginning with (primary, secondary,�tertiary) and
continuing with (quintary, sextary, ...).[8]�Quaternary�(from�Latin:�quaternarius)
is the fourth member of a distributive number word series beginning with (singular,
binary,�ternary) and continuing with (quinary, senary, septenary, octonary ...
centenary).[9][10]
In biology, the non-standard usage "Quaternary structure" is so firmly entrenched
that to refer to "Quartary structure" would be incorrect.
[edit]R
* redundant�does not mean "useless" or "unable to perform its function". It means
that there is an excess of something, that something is "surplus to requirements"
and no longer needed.
* Standard: The week before Christmas, the company made seventy-five workers
redundant.
* Standard: A new pill that will instantly cure any illness has made antibiotics
redundant. (Antibiotics could still be used to cure illnesses, but they are no
longer needed because a better pill has been invented.)
* Non-standard: Over-use of antibiotics risks making them redundant. (This should
read: over-use of antibiotics risks making them ineffective)
* regimen�and�regiment. A�regimen�is a system of order, and may often refer to the
systematic dosing of medication. A�regiment�is a military unit.
* Standard: The sick soldier was removed from his regiment.
* Standard: The sick soldier was ordered to complete a regimen of�amoxicillin.
* Non-standard: But wow, without the daily regiment of basketball, imagine what
will happen to him?[11]
* reign�and�rein. A�reign�refers to the rule of a monarch.[12]�Reins�are the straps
used to control the movements of an animal (typically a horse).[13]�Thus, to "take
the reins" means to assume control, and to have "free rein" means to be free of
constraints.[14]
* Non-standard: ...the Suns gave Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum free reign of
practices...[15]
* Non-standard: Bobby Jindal, a whiz kid takes the reigns of Louisiana's Department
of Health and Hospital[16]
* Non-standard: Taylor will be passing on the reigns of the neighborhood school to
Assistant Principal Amy Kleiner.[17]
* Non-standard: ...his rein of terror in 1969 is fascinating part of the history of
20th century crime...[18]
* Non-standard: He spent the last four seasons trying to patch together lineups in
Houston, where injuries reined supreme, and he had a great deal of success under
the circumstances.[19]
* revert. To revert is to return to a former state, not to reply or respond to
someone.
* Standard: The Hulk reverted to Bruce Banner after he had a nice cup of tea and
calmed down a bit.
* Non-standard: Thanks for your email, I will look into this and revert to you.[20]
[edit]S
* sensual�and�sensuous. Both words mean "to do with the senses".�Sensual�is more
often applied to a pleasure or experience or to a person's character;�sensuous�to
someone or something of enticing appearance.
* Standard: Don Juan is the most sensual character in fiction.
* Standard: Ascetics believe in avoiding all sensual pleasures.
* Standard: Marilyn Monroe looks extremely sensuous in this film clip.
* set�and�sit. When used as a transitive verb, to�set�means "to place" or "to
adjust to a value", whereas to�sit�means, "to be seated".
* Standard: Set the pot upon the stove.
* Standard: Set the temperature-control to 100 �C.
* Non-standard: Set down over there.
* Non-standard: Sit the pot on the stove.
* Standard: Sit on the chair.
* shirk�and�shrink. To�shirk�means "to consistently avoid", "to neglect", "to be
too afraid to engage". To�shrink�means "to contract", "to become physically smaller
in size"; also, toshrink away�means, "to suddenly jerk away from something in
horror". However, to�shrink from�may also mean, "to hesitate or show reluctance
toward".
* Standard: I will not shirk discussion.
* Standard: I will not shrink from discussion.
* Standard: She shrank away from me.
* Non-standard: I will not shrink discussion.
* Non-standard: I will not shirk from discussion.
* since�and�sense.�Since�is used as an adverb or a preposition to imply the same
meaning as "after then" or "from" in a sentence.�Sense�is a noun meaning any method
to gather data about an environment.
* Standard: I have known her since last year.
* Standard: My sense of smell is weak.
* Non-standard: I wont go sense I have no fuel.
* Non-standard: I can since your aura.
* cite,�sight�and�site. A�sight�is something seen; a�site�is a place. To�cite�is to
quote or list as a source.
* Standard: You are a sight for sore eyes.
* Standard: I found a list of the sights of Rome on a tourist site.
* Standard: Please cite the sources you used in your essay.
* Standard: You must travel to the site of the dig to see the dinosaur bones.
* Standard: It is necessary to have line-of-sight if you want to use semaphore.
* Non-standard: One must be careful on a construction sight.
* Non-standard: I will site the book in which I saw the statistics.
* Non-standard: I could not fire because I did not have line-of-site to the target.
[edit]T
* temblor�and�trembler. A�temblor�is an earthquake. A�trembler�is something that
trembles.
* than�and�then.�Than�is a�grammatical particle�and�preposition�associated with
comparatives, whereas�then�is an�adverb�and a�noun. In certain dialects, the two
words are usuallyhomophones�because they are�function words�with�reduced vowels,
and this may cause speakers to confuse them.
* Standard: I like pizza more than lasagna.
* Standard: We ate dinner, then went to the movies.
* Non-standard: You are a better person then I am.
* their,�there,�they're, and�there're.�There�refers to the location of
something.�Their�means "belonging to them".�They're�is a contraction of "they
are".�There're�is a contraction of "there are".[citation needed]
* Standard: There're five of them, and they're all coming to the restaurant for
their dinner; we will meet them there.
* there's,�where's, etc. A common spoken mistake is using a singular contraction
when it should be plural in words like�there's�and�where's. This stems from the
fact that�there're�andwhere're�are more difficult to enunciate and are often
avoided for that reason in colloquial speech.
* Non-standard: Where's the cars? (Should be�Where're�or�where are)
* Non-standard: There's many types of car. (Should be�There are)
* throe�and�throw.�Throe�is a spasm.�Throw�means to pass an object back and forth
through the air.
* to�and�too.�Too�means "in excess" or "also".�To�is a preposition or is a part of
a verb in the infinitive. At the end of a sentence�to�may also refer to a dropped
verb in the infinitive.
* trimester. A�trimester�is a period of three�months.[21][22]�Because it is most
commonly used in conjunction with a nine-month�academic year[23]�or a nine-month
term of humanpregnancy,[24]�it is sometimes wrongly assumed that�trimester�is
simply a synonym for one third.[25][26]
* Standard: One�calendar year�contains four trimesters.
* Non-standard: Without further delay, then, comes ESPN.com's annual (and overdue)
First Trimester Report, ushering folks back to the office by taking stock of the
season's opening third:[27]
[edit]V
* venal�and�venial. These words are sometimes confused;�venal�means "corrupt",
"able to be bribed", or "for sale";�venial�means "pardonable, not serious".[4][28]
* Standard: According to Catholic doctrine, eating meat on a Friday is a venial
sin, but murder is a mortal sin.
* Standard: All ages have examples of venal politicians.
[edit]W
* warranty�and�warrantee. A warranty is a legal assurance that some object can
perform some specified task or meets certain quality standards. A warrantee is the
person who benefits from a warranty. The verb form is�warrant. Confusion here can
stem from�guarantee�and the less common�guaranty, which have similar meanings.
* Standard: Most new cars come with at least a three-year warranty.
* Standard: I guarantee that you will make a return on your investment.
* Non-standard: Your mobile phone has stopped working? Maybe you need to claim
under the warrantee.
* whose�and�who's.�Whose�is an�interrogative word�(Whose is this?) or a relative
pronoun (The people whose house you admired);�who's�is a contraction for "who is"
or "who has".
* won't,�wont�and�want.�Won't�is a contraction for "will not", while�wont�is a word
meaning "accustomed" or "inclined to" (as an adjective) or "habit or custom" (as a
noun). Want means the act of desiring or wishing for something.
* Standard: He won't let me drive his car.
* Standard: He spent the morning reading, as he was wont to do.
* Standard: He took a walk in the evening, as was his wont.
* Standard: His only want was to see his son again.
* Non-standard: I wont need to go to the supermarket after all.
* Non-standard: He took a walk in the evening, as was his want.
[edit]Y
* you're�and�your. While they sound the same in many dialects, in standard written
English they have separate meanings.�You're�is a contraction for "you are",
and�your�is a possessive pronoun meaning "belonging to you". When in doubt, just
see whether the word in question can logically be expanded to "you are".
* Standard: When driving, always wear your seatbelt.
* Standard: If you're going out, please be home by ten o'clock.
* Non-standard: You're mother called this morning.
* Non-standard: Your the first person to notice my new haircut today!