English 10 Selected Common Usage Problems (Notes 1-65)

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering the 65 common usage problems from the notes.

What is the difference between 'accuse' and 'allege'?

Accuse means 'to blame' or 'to bring a charge against'; allege means 'to claim something that has not been proved.'

What is the difference between adapt and adopt?

Adapt means 'to change'; adopt means 'to take as one's own.'

Differentiate the words 'advice' and 'advise'.

Advice is a noun meaning an opinion; advise is a verb meaning to give an opinion.

Differentiate 'affect' and 'effect'.

Affect is almost always a verb meaning to influence; effect is usually a noun meaning a result; occasionally, effect can be a verb meaning to bring about.

What does 'aggravate' mean and its common misuse?

Aggravate means 'to make worse'; avoid using it to mean 'to annoy.'

Explain 'allot', 'a lot', and 'alot'.

Allot is a verb meaning to divide or give out; 'a lot' is informal meaning a great amount; 'alot' is nonstandard and should never be used.

Difference between 'all ready' and 'already'.

All ready is an adjective meaning ready; already is an adverb meaning by this time.

Difference between 'all together' and 'altogether'.

All together means all at once; altogether means completely or in total.

When to use 'among' versus 'between'.

Among implies three or more; between is generally used with just two things.

Use of 'amount' vs 'number'.

Use amount with quantities that cannot be counted; use number with things that can be counted.

Meaning of 'anxious' and common misuse.

Anxious means 'worried,' 'uneasy,' or 'fearful'; do not use it as a substitute for eager.

Usage of anyone, any one, everyone, every one.

Anyone and everyone mean 'any person' and 'every person'; any one and every one mean 'any single person (or thing)'.

Do not use 'as' to mean 'because' or 'since'.

Do not use as to mean 'because' or 'since'; prefer 'since'.

Replace 'as to' with another preposition.

Replace 'as to' with 'about'.

Using 'at about' is discouraged.

Avoid using 'at about'; simply say 'about'.

Difference between 'awhile' and 'a while'.

Awhile is an adverb meaning 'for a while'; a while is a noun phrase usually used after a preposition.

Difference between 'beat' and 'win'.

'Beat' means to overcome; 'win' means to achieve victory; do not use 'win' to mean 'beat.'

Do not use 'because' after the reason.

Avoid 'because' after stating a reason; say 'the reason is … that' or rewrite (e.g., 'We left because we got tired').

Difference between 'beside' and 'besides'.

Beside means 'at the side of'; besides means 'in addition to.'

Difference between 'bring' and 'take'.

'Bring' means to carry from a distant place to a nearer one; 'take' means to carry from a near place to a more distant place.

Meaning and usage of 'bunch'.

Bunch means 'a number of things of the same kind'; avoid using it to mean 'group'; preferred: 'group'.

Correct forms: burst, bust, busted.

Burst is the standard form; bust and busted are non-standard.

Difference between 'can' and 'may'.

'Can' = ability; 'may' = permission or possibility.

Nonstandard usage: 'can’t help but'.

Non-standard; use 'can’t help + gerund' (e.g., 'can’t help wondering').

Clipped words in formal writing.

Avoid clipped forms like 'gym', 'phone', 'photo'; use full forms (gymnasium, telephone, photograph).

Difference between 'condemn' and 'condone'.

Condemn = express strong disapproval; condone = pardon or overlook.

Difference between 'continual' and 'continuous'.

Continual = occurring again and again; continuous = occurring without interruption.

Difference: 'different from' vs 'different than'.

Prefer 'different from'; 'different than' is less acceptable.

Usage of 'due to'.

'Due to' means 'caused by' and should be used only when 'caused by' can be substituted.

Replace 'due to the fact that' with simpler phrasing.

Replace with 'since' or 'because'.

Difference between 'emigrate' and 'immigrate'.

Emigrate = leave a country; immigrate = enter a country.

Difference between 'farther' and 'further'.

Farther = distance; further = additional or greater extent.

Difference between 'fewer' and 'less'.

Fewer with countable; less with uncountable.

Difference between 'former' and 'latter'.

Former = first of two; latter = second of the two.

Guidance on using 'good', 'lovely', 'nice'.

Replace with more specific adjectives (e.g., 'clear' instead of 'good'; 'exotic' instead of 'lovely'; 'refined' instead of 'nice').

Difference between 'hanged' and 'hung'.

Hanged means executed; hung means suspended.

Difference between 'in' and 'into'.

In = position; into = motion.

Usage of 'irregardless'.

Avoid; use 'regardless'.

Difference between 'judicial' and 'judicious'.

Judicial relates to the administration of justice; judicious means showing wisdom.

Placement of 'just' when meaning 'no more than'.

Just should be placed immediately before the word it modifies.

Difference between 'kind of' and 'sort of'.

Do not use these to mean 'rather' or 'somewhat'; use 'somewhat'.

Difference between 'lay' and 'lie'.

'Lay' means to put something and requires a direct object; 'lie' means to recline and has no direct object.

Difference between 'leave' and 'let'.

Leave = allow to remain; let = permit.

Usage of 'like' in comparisons.

Like is a preposition; should not replace 'as' as a conjunction; use 'as' for comparisons.

Difference between 'loose' and 'lose'.

'Loose' = adjective; 'lose' = verb.

Usage of 'mad'.

In formal usage, 'mad' means insane; informally it means angry.

Difference between 'maybe' and 'may be'.

'Maybe' = adverb meaning 'perhaps'; 'may be' = helping verb + verb.

Placement of 'only'.

'Only' should be placed directly before the word it modifies.

Usage of 'outside of'.

Do not mean 'besides' or 'except'; use 'besides' or 'except'.

Proper usage of 'parameter'.

Used only in mathematical contexts to designate a variable; not for boundary/limit/scope.

Difference between 'persecute' and 'prosecute'.

Persecute = ill-treat; prosecute = bring a lawsuit.

Plurals that do not end in -s.

Some Latin/Greek plurals are still plural in form (e.g., criteria, media, phenomena); treat as plural.

Difference between 'precede' and 'proceed'.

Precede = go before; proceed = move forward.

Difference between 'principal' and 'principle'.

Principal (adjective) means main or head; principal (noun) means a person in authority; principle is a fundamental law.

Difference between 'raise' and 'rise'.

Raise takes a direct object; rise does not.

Usage of 'real'.

Real means authentic; avoid using it to mean very/really in formal writing.

Difference between 'set' and 'sit'.

Set = to put something in a place; takes a direct object; sit = to be seated; does not take a direct object.

Meaning of 'shape' in formal writing.

Shape means spatial form; avoid using it to mean 'condition'.

Difference between 'slow' and 'slowly'.

Slow is an adjective; slowly is the adverb.

Usage of 'so' as a conjunction.

'So' should be used to mean 'so that' rather than simply 'thus' or for emphasis.

Difference between 'that', 'which', and 'who'.

That refers to people or things; which refers to things; who refers to people.

Difference between 'till' and 'until'.

These are interchangeable; 'til' is often considered nonstandard; 'until' ends with one l.

Usage of 'unique'.

Unique means one of a kind; avoid 'most unique' or 'very unique' as illogical.

Use of 'when' and 'where' after a linking verb.

Do not use 'when' or 'where' directly after a linking verb; provide correct constructions (e.g., 'A good memory is of being given a pony' or 'an automat is a cafeteria where food is dispensed by machines').

Suffix '-wise' usage.

Avoid creating new words with the suffix '-wise'; prefer more precise phrasing (e.g., 'energy-efficient' instead of 'energywise').