Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Vocabulary/Common-Mistakes"
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If you want to improve your English, here are some common mistakes you should look out for. I’ve seen these numerous times posted on this website (and sometimes in the corrections). If you’re having trouble getting these words right, don’t worry, it’s easy for even native speakers to mix up. | If you want to improve your English, here are some common mistakes you should look out for. I’ve seen these numerous times posted on this website (and sometimes in the corrections). If you’re having trouble getting these words right, don’t worry, it’s easy for even native speakers to mix up. | ||
If you are a beginner, don’t worry about getting these right, focus on the larger picture. People will still understand what you are saying if you use the wrong word. This article is mostly for advanced learners and those being tested. By the way, it's really awesome of you to take an interest in the intricacies of the language, as many native speakers don't even care to learn the difference between these words. | If you are a beginner, don’t worry about getting these right, focus on the larger picture. People will still understand what you are saying if you use the wrong word. This article is mostly for advanced learners and those being tested. By the way, it's really awesome of you to take an interest in the intricacies of the language, as many native speakers don't even care to learn the difference between these words. | ||
What vs Which? | ==What vs Which?== | ||
(This is the most common mix-up I have seen on this website). | (This is the most common mix-up I have seen on this website). | ||
What is used for an undefined number of things. | *What is used for an undefined number of things. | ||
“What color dress should I wear?” (there could be millions of different colors) | “What color dress should I wear?” (there could be millions of different colors) | ||
Which refers to a defined number of things. | *Which refers to a defined number of things. | ||
If you were choosing between three different colored dresses in your closet, you would use which. | If you were choosing between three different colored dresses in your closet, you would use which. | ||
“Which color dress should I wear?” | “Which color dress should I wear?” | ||
Who vs. Whom? | ==Who vs. Whom?== | ||
If in doubt, choose “who.” I’m not sure how strict other countries are on this rule, but most Americans don’t care. | If in doubt, choose “who.” I’m not sure how strict other countries are on this rule, but most Americans don’t care. | ||
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“I don’t know how much farther I can walk.” | “I don’t know how much farther I can walk.” | ||
“You shouldn’t need any further explanation after you read this article.” | “You shouldn’t need any further explanation after you read this article.” | ||
Loose vs. Lose | ==Loose vs. Lose== | ||
Loose is an adjective. | Loose is an adjective. | ||
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“You always lose when you play Monopoly.” | “You always lose when you play Monopoly.” | ||
“Did you lose your ring again?” | “Did you lose your ring again?” | ||
Affect vs. Effect | ==Affect vs. Effect== | ||
Affect is a verb. | Affect is a verb. | ||
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Effect is a noun. | Effect is a noun. | ||
“Studying has a profound effect on test scores.” | “Studying has a profound effect on test scores.” | ||
Accept vs. Except | ==Accept vs. Except== | ||
Accept means to agree or receive something. | Accept means to agree or receive something. | ||
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Except means aside from, as a way of excluding things. | Except means aside from, as a way of excluding things. | ||
“I’d be happy with any color except pink.” | “I’d be happy with any color except pink.” | ||
Few vs. Less | ==Few vs. Less == | ||
Few means small in number, and is used with something that can be counted. You can also use “fewer” to compare things. | Few means small in number, and is used with something that can be counted. You can also use “fewer” to compare things. | ||
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Less means smaller in amount, and is used with something that can be measured, but not definitively counted. | Less means smaller in amount, and is used with something that can be measured, but not definitively counted. | ||
“After he drank water, there was less of it in the bottle.” | “After he drank water, there was less of it in the bottle.” | ||
Then vs. Than | ==Then vs. Than== | ||
Then is used as a transition in time. | Then is used as a transition in time. | ||
Revision as of 00:55, 1 January 2017
If you want to improve your English, here are some common mistakes you should look out for. I’ve seen these numerous times posted on this website (and sometimes in the corrections). If you’re having trouble getting these words right, don’t worry, it’s easy for even native speakers to mix up. If you are a beginner, don’t worry about getting these right, focus on the larger picture. People will still understand what you are saying if you use the wrong word. This article is mostly for advanced learners and those being tested. By the way, it's really awesome of you to take an interest in the intricacies of the language, as many native speakers don't even care to learn the difference between these words.
What vs Which?
(This is the most common mix-up I have seen on this website).
- What is used for an undefined number of things.
“What color dress should I wear?” (there could be millions of different colors)
- Which refers to a defined number of things.
If you were choosing between three different colored dresses in your closet, you would use which. “Which color dress should I wear?”
Who vs. Whom?
If in doubt, choose “who.” I’m not sure how strict other countries are on this rule, but most Americans don’t care.
The general rule is, if you can substitute “he” into the sentence, then the correct word is “who.” If you can substitute “him” into the sentence, the correct word is “whom.”
“I know whom the story was about.” (Using the substitution, “The story was about him.”) “I know who wrote the story.” (Using the substitution, “I know he wrote the story.”) Further vs. Farther
Farther refers to physical distance, while further means to a greater degree.
“I don’t know how much farther I can walk.” “You shouldn’t need any further explanation after you read this article.”
Loose vs. Lose
Loose is an adjective. “That screw is loose.”
Lose is a verb, meaning to not win something or to misplace/not be able to find something. “You always lose when you play Monopoly.” “Did you lose your ring again?”
Affect vs. Effect
Affect is a verb. “Your sadness affects other people.”
Effect is a noun. “Studying has a profound effect on test scores.”
Accept vs. Except
Accept means to agree or receive something. “I accept your apology.” “In 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio finally accepted his first Oscar.”
Except means aside from, as a way of excluding things. “I’d be happy with any color except pink.”
Few vs. Less
Few means small in number, and is used with something that can be counted. You can also use “fewer” to compare things. “There were few reasons why I hated him, but they were strong ones.” “After he ate a jelly bean, there were fewer in the jar.”
Less means smaller in amount, and is used with something that can be measured, but not definitively counted. “After he drank water, there was less of it in the bottle.”
Then vs. Than
Then is used as a transition in time. “I went to the mall, then I went to the park.”
Than is used to compare things to one another. “My brother has more money than me.” English is a pretty complicated language when you put all these similar words next to each other. They look virtually the same, but have different meanings. Don't worry if it takes a while to get the hang of these words!
Good luck with your English!