Common Errors in Diction and Usage

Allen (2010) stated that diction also includes both vocabulary (individual words) and
syntax (the order or arrangement of words. It is then important to know the different
words which are commonly mistaken in usage. This can be a guide for one to have an
enriched and grammatically correct well-written pieces.
1.Acquire, obtain, procure. We acquire something that is retained more or less
permanently. Anything enjoyed temporarily is obtained or procured.
Ex: Khian acquired his assets through business.
Is it easy obtain a loan in times of pandemic?
We need to procure materials for building construction.
2.Adapt, adept, adopt. To adapt is “to change or adjust in order to deal with a new
condition or to make more suitable.” Adept means “good at something”; handy; skillful.
To adopt is “to take or use one’s own: to endorse.”
Ex: The transferee adapts to his new environment easily.
Jed Madela is adept in singing.
The researcher adopted the instrument of Howard Gardner in Multiple
Intelligence test.
3.Advice, advise. Advice is a noun; advise is a verb. In business correspondence jargon
advise is often misused to express some shading of “inform”.
Ex: I followed her advice to enroll in a public school.
He advised me to enroll in public school.
4. Affect, effect. Affect (v.) means “to have an influence on, to effect a change.” Effect,
as a noun means “result”; as a verb, it means “to bring about, accomplish, and
produce”.
Ex: COVID-19 pandemic affects people’s lives worldwide.
Being positive in times of pandemic has an effect in one’s life. (used as noun)
5. All ready, already. All ready means “all set, all prepared”; already, means “previously
or by the designated time.”
Ex: All activities for this year’s gathering were all ready few weeks before the schedule
of the event.
The president has already approved the date of opening of classes.

6. Almost, nearly. These two adverbs suggest different meanings. Use almost to
suggest the ending of an act, nearly for its beginning.
Ex: We have almost finished everything when the rain came.
The driver nearly hit the fence.

7. Also, too. Do not use also or too in a negative sentence. Instead, use either.
Ex: Jane has not delivered the piece well also (or too). (wrong) Jane has not delivered
the piece well either.

8. Among, between. Use among for more than two, between for two.
Ex: Among the provinces in Panay, Iloilo has the highest number of business
establishments.
Between the two brothers, Frits is smarter.
9. Anticipate, expect. Anticipate is stronger than expect or foresee. It means “to take
beforehand, to forestall, or to get ahead of.” The second meaning of anticipate is “to
look forward to,” usually implying approval or enjoyment. Use expect to mean a simple
expectation.
Ex: They anticipated to rain.
She expected her classmate to greet her.

10. Ashamed, shy, embarrassed. It is improper to use “ashamed of” in the meaning of
“shy.” Use ashamed of, not ashamed from.
Ex. She is shy of (or embarrassed of) her friend. (correct)
She is ashamed of her friend. (wrong)
He is now ashamed of his action. (correct)

11. Assure, ensure, insure. To assure is to guarantee or to state something confidently

to convince somebody that you are saying the truth, or something will happen or to
provide for a certainty. Ensure implies a more impersonal process of cause and effect.
To insure means to guard against possibility, such as risk or loss, usually by paying
money to an insurance company.
Ex. Our graduates are assured of getting a degree upon graduation.
To ensure success, you need to be diligent and patient.
Stop worrying; have your college education insured.

12. Beside, besides. Beside means “alongside of”; it can also mean “other than” or
“aside from.” Besides means “in addition to” or “moreover”.
Ex. Ishmael posed beside his newly-built apartment.
Your idea is beside the point.
I realize that I need something besides intelligence in order to succeed.

13. Cite, site, quote. Cite, a verb, means “to mention.” Site, a noun, means “location.”
Use quote only when the exact language of the source is given.
Ex. Atty. Marcoleta cited many examples to prove his argument.
The site of the new SM Mall looks small.
Did you quote the mayor’s inaugural speech?

14. Complement, compliment. A complement “completes or brings to perfection.” It also

means “the full amount.” Use it as a noun or a verb. Compliment (v. or n.) means
“praise.”
Ex. Eggs and ham complement each other. (used as verb)
I do appreciate sincere compliments. (noun)

15. Cope with, cope up. Cope is an intransitive verb used with In formal writing, one
does not “cope,” one “copes with” something or somebody. Cope up is incorrect.
Ex. I knew Jessie would cope with the situation.
The teacher made a way for students to cope with the online mode of classes.

16. Emigrant, immigrant. Emigrants are individuals going out the country, and
immigrants are individuals coming into it.
Ex. Filipino emigrants help a lot in improving our economy.
Filipino immigrants in the States are hardworking.

17. Former, latter. Former means “the first of two”. Latter means “the second of two”.
Ex. Jayvee and John Frances were student journalists. The former was qualified for
NSPC.
Jayvie and Jomel are the only remaining cartoonists in the school. The latter is the
older.

18. Imply, infer. To imply means to suggest or to hint something without stating it directly.
To infer means to draw a conclusion.
Ex. The teacher implied that the she is going to give an exam tomorrow.
The students inferred that the teacher will give the exam.

19. Oral, verbal. Oral means “uttered by the mouth or spoken; verbal means in words
either spoken or written.
Ex. She told the story orally.
The president will inform the officers about the intervention verbally. She will either
announce it during Flag Ceremony or she will send a memo.

20. Repress, suppress. To repress means to prevent from being expressed. To

suppress means to put an end to something that is already in existence.
Ex. The journalists were repressed during Martial Law.
The pandemic was hard to suppress.