COMPOSITION 9Miscellaneous Usage Issues

We’ve covered a lot of “usage” issues, including raise vs. rise and sit vs. set. Here is a bunch more where that came from…

What is Usage?

A vs. An A is the indefinite article that is meant to

precede all words beginning with consonant sounds, while an is the indefinite article that should precede all words that begin with vowel sounds. This is pretty straightforward, except when it comes to silent letters and different letter sounds. Examples: A hug; An honor Examples: A university; An undergarment.

Accept vs. Except Follow along on textbook pages 697-699. The word accept is a verb meaning “to receive.”

Example: I accept your apology. The word except can be used as a verb or a

preposition. As a verb, it means “to leave out.” Example: Because you are kind, I except you from

the group punishment. As a preposition, except means “but” or

“excluding.” Example: Everyone except you is punished.

Affect vs. Effect Affect is a verb that means “to influence.”

Example: Athletes’ choices often dramatically affect American youth.

Effect can be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means “to accomplish.” Example: You should use your influence to effect social

change. As a noun, effect means “the result of some action.”

Example: The melting of the polar icecaps is an effect of carbon emissions.

A lot A lot is two words, not one. It is the

article a combined with the noun lot, meaning “bunch.” You should never combine these into one word. Incorrect: I do alot for my family. Correct: I do a lot for my family.

A while vs. Awhile A while is a combination of article and noun

meant to indicate a period of time. Awhile is an adverb meant to tell how much of a time frame has elapsed or is being referred to. Incorrect: My essay is a while overdue. Correct: My essay is awhile overdue. Incorrect: Let me think about this for awhile. Let me think about this for a while.

All Ready vs. Already All ready is the combination of an indefinite

pronoun and an adjective meant to indicate that some quantity of something is completely prepared. Already is an adverb that indicates that something should have taken place by a certain time. Incorrect: The feast is already. Correct: The feast is all ready. Incorrect: The feast is all ready prepared. Correct: The feast is already prepared.

Alright is not all right Alright is not a real word. It doesn’t

matter how many times you have seen it used and in how many places. What you are looking for is all right. Incorrect: The kids will be alright without us

for a few days. Correct: The kids will be all right without us

for a few days.

All together vs. Altogether All together is a combination of an indefinite

pronoun and an adjective to indicate everyone in a group. Altogether is an adverb that is synonymous with “completely.” Incorrect: The pie is all together ruined. Correct: The pie is altogether ruined. Incorrect: We accomplished this altogether. Correct: We accomplished this all together.

Amount vs. Number Amount should be used to refer to nouns or pronouns

that cannot be counted, while number should be used to refer to nouns or pronouns that can be counted. Incorrect: A great number of rain fell on New York this

weekend. Correct: A great amount of rain fell on New York this

weekend. Incorrect: A great amount of people had their umbrellas with

them this weekend. Correct: A great number of people had their umbrellas with

them this weekend.

At and Where The word at is a preposition meaning

something like “in the direction of.” Where is an interrogative or relative pronoun also indicating direction. These two words should never be used together, as to do so would be redundant. Incorrect: Where are you at? Correct: Where are you? Correct: I am at the zoo.

Being as and being that are stupid

Neither being as nor being that should ever be used in formal writing. Instead, you should use either because or since. Incorrect: Being as I got here before you, I should have my

choice of drink. Correct: Since I got here before you, I should have my

choice of drink. Incorrect: Being that you are annoying, I am going to go

home. Correct: Because you are annoying, I am going to go home.

Beside vs. Besides Beside is a preposition meaning “by the side of”

someone or something. Example: Samantha is standing beside the pool.

Besides may be used as a preposition or as an adverb. As a preposition, it means “in addition to” or “aside from.” Example: Besides being practical, he is also friendly.

As an adverb, besides means “moreover” or “anyway.” Example: Besides, I don’t have any money.

Between vs. Among Between is a preposition used to refer to two

things or individuals at a time, even if they are part of a larger group. Example: The crowd noise created confusion

between the center and quarterback. Among is a preposition used to discuss a group

instead of individuals. Example: The crowd noise created confusion among

the members of the opposing team.

Bring vs. Take Bring means “to come carrying something,”

while take means “to go carrying something.” They are not interchangeable! Incorrect: Bring that hat in my closet to my aunt’s house. Correct: Take that hat in my closet to my aunt’s house. Incorrect: Take that hat in my aunt’s house to me. Correct: Bring that hat in my aunt’s house to me.

We will work together on Exercise 1 on textbook pages 699-700.

Borrow, lend, and loan Borrow is a verb indicating taking something

for a limited time. Lend is a verb indicating giving something away for a limited time. Loan is a noun indicating the thing exchanged in the lending process. Example: I need to borrow money from you. Will

you lend me some? Example: I was unable to pay back the loan in full.

Can vs. May Can indicates the ability to do something.

May indicates permission to do something. Incorrect: Can I use the bathroom? Correct: May I use the bathroom? Incorrect: Even though Spud Webb is short, he

may dunk a basketball. Correct: Even though Spud Webb is short, he

can dunk a basketball.

“Could of” Follow along on textbook page 701. Could of is not real. Avoid it. What you

mean is could have. Use that instead. Incorrect: I could of gone, but chose not to. Correct: I could have gone, but chose not to.

The same is true for should of, would of, might of, etc.

Different from vs. different than

While both different from and different than are grammatically acceptable phrases, different from is preferred and should thus be used as often as possible. Incorrect: My socks’ colors are different than

each other. Correct: My socks’ colors are different from

each other.

Discover vs. Invent To discover something means that you are the first to see

or learn about something that already exists. To invent something means that you are the first to do or make something that did not previously exist. These words are not interchangeable and should not be treated as such. Incorrect: Galileo Galilei discovered the telescope. Correct: Galileo Galilei invented the telescope. Incorrect: Scientists recently invented many medicinal uses for

marijuana. Correct: Scientists recently discovered many medicinal uses for

marijuana.

Doesn’t and Don’t Doesn’t is the contraction of “does not,” while

don’t is the contraction of “do not.” Doesn’t should therefore be used with singular subjects, while don’t should be used with plural subjects. Incorrect: Jamie don’t like you. Correct: Jamie doesn’t like you. Incorrect: Jamie’s friends doesn’t like you. Correct: Jamie’s friends don’t like you.

Emigrate vs. Immigrate Emigrate indicates that one has left a certain

country to live elsewhere. Immigrate indicates that one has come to a certain country to live there. Incorrect: Albert Einstein immigrated from

Germany. Correct: Albert Einstein emigrated from Germany. Incorrect: Albert Einstein emigrated to America. Correct: Albert Einstein immigrated to America.

Et cetera (etc.) The phrase et cetera is a Latin

phrase meaning “and other things.” It is abbreviated etc. It should never be preceded by a conjunction, including and especially and, since this would be redundant. Incorrect: I own cars, houses, parks, and etc. Correct: I own cars, houses, parks, etc.

Farther vs. Further Farther should be used in order to describe

physical distances. Further should be used to describe degree or time. Incorrect: I drove further than I ever had. Correct: I drove farther than I ever had. Incorrect: We need to delve farther into the

problem to find a solution. Correct: We need to delve further into the problem

to find a solution.

Fewer vs. Less Fewer is used in reference to plural words to

describe how many of a particular item there are. Less is used in reference to singular words to describe how much of a particular item is being discussed. Incorrect: I had fewer of the pizza than you. Correct: I had less of the pizza than you. Incorrect: I had less slices of the pizza than you. Correct: I had fewer slices of the pizza than you.

Good vs. Well Good is an adjective and should thus only be used to

modify nouns and pronouns. Well is an adverb and should thus only be used to modify adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. Incorrect: He plays good when he chooses to focus. Correct: He plays well when he chooses to focus. Incorrect: He is well at basketball. Correct: He is good at basketball.

We will work together on Exercise 3 on textbook page 702.

Had and hadn’t ought Follow along on textbook pages 704-705. Ought is basically synonymous with should. Ought

should never be used in combination with had or hadn’t in a verb phrase. Incorrect: He had ought to find a more productive hobby. Correct: He ought to find a more productive hobby. Incorrect: She hadn’t ought to distract me when I am trying

to study. Correct: She ought not to distract me when I am trying to

study.

Hanged vs. Hung Hanged is a word that is used only to refer to

death by hanging. Hung is used in all other instances in question. Incorrect: They hung the criminal at dusk. Correct: They hanged the criminal at dusk. Incorrect: Last night, I hanged my photographs on

the wall. Correct: Last night, I hung my photographs on the

wall.

In vs. Into In is a preposition or adverb that should

really be used only synonymously with “inside.” Into is a preposition that should indicate movement from outside to inside. Incorrect: Meet me into the gym. Correct: Meet me in the gym. Incorrect: Follow me in the car. Correct: Follow me into the car.

Lay vs. Lie Follow along on textbook pages 637-639. Lay means “to put” or “to place” and usually

has a direct object. It is usually transitive, passing action from a subject to a receiver.

Lie means “to rest” or “to recline” and never has a direct object. The action is intransitive, as the doer of the action is also the receiver. Example: Lay the brush on the dresser. Example: Lie in the bushes over there.

Lay and Lie Principal Parts The principal parts of a verb are its main conjugations. In

the English language, these are the present tense, the present participle (used to indicate ongoing action), the past tense, and the past participle (used to indicate completed action).

The principal parts of lay are lay, is laying, laid, has laid. The principal parts of lie are lie, is lying, lay, has lain. As you can see, the past tense of lie is lay, which can

obviously cause some confusion. We will work together on Exercise 8 on textbook page 639.

Leave vs. Let Leave is a verb that means something like “to

go away.” Let is a verb that means “to permit.” Incorrect: Leave me be! Correct: Let me be! Incorrect: Let the auditorium and meet him in the

classroom. Correct: Leave the auditorium and meet him in the

classroom.

Like vs. As, As If, and As Though

Like is a preposition used to introduce prepositional phrases. As, as if, and as though are subordinating conjunctions that introduce subordinate clauses. In formal writing, these should not be used interchangeably. Incorrect: You look like you have seen a ghost. Correct: You look as if you have seen a ghost. Incorrect: The child drove as a professional. Correct: The child drove like a professional.

Loose vs. Lose Loose is an adjective that means free or not

fitting tightly. Lose is a verb that can be used to indicate a failure to win or the process of no longer having something. Incorrect: There is no way that we can loose to

them. Correct: There is no way that we can lose to them. Incorrect: There is no way that my jersey is too lose. Correct: There is no way that my jersey is too loose.

Of Of is a preposition that is to be used

independent of other prepositions such as inside, outside, and off. You basically never want to say something is inside of something else. Incorrect: I will meet you outside of the store. Correct: I will meet you outside the store.

Complete Exercise 4 on textbook pages 705-706.

Passed vs. Past Passed and past are homonyms, but that is

really all they have in common. Passed is the past tense of “pass.” Past is a noun, preposition, adjective, or adverb meant to indicate a time frame. Incorrect: I past you on the road today. Correct: I passed you on the road today. Incorrect: That relationship is in the passed. Correct: That relationship is in the past.

Precede vs. Proceed Precede is a verb that means “to go or come

before.” Proceed is either a verb that means “to continue” or a noun that equates to a result. Incorrect: Intelligence proceeds desirable results. Correct: Intelligence precedes desirable results. Incorrect: Precede from your front door to the bank. Correct: Proceed from your front door to the bank.

Reason is because = Frustration and Anger

This is without question my biggest pet peeve: there is NEVER a reason to say the reason is because. Ever. It is redundant and stupid. Instead, say the reason is that. Incorrect: The reason he

left is because he was tired.

Correct: The reason he left is that he was tired.

Respectfully vs. Respectively Respectfully is an adverb that means “with

respect.” Respectively is an adverb that means that things correspond to a certain named order. Incorrect: I walked into the room respectively. Correct: I walked into the room respectfully. Incorrect: My cousin and I dated Sarah and Jenna,

respectfully. Correct: My cousin and I dated Sarah and Jenna,

respectively.

Raise vs. Rise Follow along on textbook pages 641-642. Raise means “to move something up” and usually has a

direct object. Rise means “to go in an upward direction” and never has a direct object. Example: Raise your glasses in salute. Example: Rise from your grave, corpse.

The principal parts of raise are raise, is raising, raised, has raised. The principal parts of rise are rise, is rising, rose, has risen.

We will work together on Exercise 10 on textbook page 642.

Set vs. Sit Follow along on textbook pages 639-644. Set means “to put or place” and usually has a direct object. Sit

means “to rest in an upright, seated position” and almost never has a direct object. Example: Set the brush on the dresser. Example: Sit on the couch.

The principal parts of set are set, is setting, set, has set. The principal parts of sit are sit, is sitting, sat, has sat.

We will work together on Exercise 9 on textbook pages 640-641. We will work together on Review H and Review I on textbook

pages 642-644.

Some vs. Somewhat Some is either an indefinite pronoun or adjective

referring to an amount. Somewhat is an adverb referring to the same idea. They are not to be used interchangeably, as they have different parts of speech. Incorrect: Somewhat of the men died in battle. Correct: Some of the men died in battle. Incorrect: My shooting has improved some. Correct: My shooting has improved somewhat.

Than vs. Then Do not use these interchangeably. Than is a

conjunction that is often used in a comparative way. Then is an adverb to indicate when an event happened. Incorrect: He is a better point guard then I am. Correct: He is a better point guard than I am. Incorrect: If he wins the starting job, than I will switch

schools. Correct: If he wins the starting job, then I will switch

schools.

This here, that there Life is not a bad hip hop song. Please

never say this here or that there. It sounds ridiculous and is redundant. Simply use this or that instead. Incorrect: This here is my house. Correct: This is my house. Incorrect: That there is my car. Correct: That is my car.

When and where Do not use when or where in sentences where

something is being defined or identified, no matter how tempted you might be to do so. Just rephrase and move on. Incorrect: An assist is when a pass leads directly to a basket. Correct: An assist is a pass that leads directly to a basket. Incorrect: A touchdown is where a player possesses the ball

in the end zone of the opposing team. Correct: A touchdown is being in possession of the ball in

the end zone of the opposing team.

Which, that, and who Which is a relative or interrogative pronoun that refers only to

inanimate objects. Who is a relative or interrogative pronoun that refers only to a person or people. That is a relative or demonstrative pronoun that can be used to refer to either people or things. Incorrect: There is the man which stole my coat! Correct: There is the man who stole my coat! Correct: There is the man that stole my coat! Incorrect: There is the coat who had been stolen! Correct: There is the coat which had been stolen! Correct: There is the coat that had been stolen!

We will work on Exercise 5 and Review D on Textbook pages 710 and 711, respectively.

So much stuff. But it’s done for now. Except for the test on all of it. Yikes. Better study!

Don’t act like you’re not impressed…