Common Usage Common Usage ErrorsErrors

61-8061-80

61. 61. THEY’RE/THEIR/THERETHEY’RE/THEIR/THERE Many people are so spooked by apostrophes that a word Many people are so spooked by apostrophes that a word

like “they’re” seems to them as if it might mean almost like “they’re” seems to them as if it might mean almost anything. In fact, it’s always a contraction of “they are.” anything. In fact, it’s always a contraction of “they are.” If you’ve written “they’re,” ask yourself whether you can If you’ve written “they’re,” ask yourself whether you can substitute “they are.” If not, you’ve made a mistake. substitute “they are.” If not, you’ve made a mistake. “Their” is a possessive pronoun like “her” or “our” “Their” is a possessive pronoun like “her” or “our” “They eat their hotdogs with sauerkraut.” Everything “They eat their hotdogs with sauerkraut.” Everything else is “there.” “else is “there.” “ThereThere goes the ball, out of the park! goes the ball, out of the park! See it? Right See it? Right there!there! ThereThere aren’t very many home runs aren’t very many home runs like that.” “Thier” is a common misspelling, but you can like that.” “Thier” is a common misspelling, but you can avoid it by remembering that “they” and “their” begin avoid it by remembering that “they” and “their” begin with the same three letters. Another hint: “there” has with the same three letters. Another hint: “there” has “here” buried inside it to remind you it refers to place, “here” buried inside it to remind you it refers to place, while “their” has “heir” buried in it to remind you that it while “their” has “heir” buried in it to remind you that it has to do with possession. has to do with possession.

62. THRONE/THROWN62. THRONE/THROWN

A A thronethrone is that chair a king sits on, is that chair a king sits on, at least until he gets thrown out of at least until he gets thrown out of office. office.

63. TO/TOO/TWO63. TO/TOO/TWO

People seldom mix “two” up with the other two; People seldom mix “two” up with the other two; it obviously belongs with words that also begin it obviously belongs with words that also begin with with TW,TW, like “twice” and “twenty” that involve like “twice” and “twenty” that involve the number 2. But the other two are confused the number 2. But the other two are confused all the time. Just remember that the only all the time. Just remember that the only meanings of “too” are “also” ("I want some ice meanings of “too” are “also” ("I want some ice cream too.") and “in excess” ("Your walkman is cream too.") and “in excess” ("Your walkman is playing too loudly.") Note that extra playing too loudly.") Note that extra O.O. It It should remind you that this word has to do with should remind you that this word has to do with adding more on to something. “To” is the adding more on to something. “To” is the proper spelling for all the other uses. proper spelling for all the other uses.

64. 64. SPECIALLY/ESPECIALLYSPECIALLY/ESPECIALLY In most contexts “specially” is more In most contexts “specially” is more

common than “especially,” but when common than “especially,” but when you mean “particularly” “especially” you mean “particularly” “especially” works better: “I am not especially works better: “I am not especially excited about inheriting my excited about inheriting my grandmother’s neurotic Siamese grandmother’s neurotic Siamese cat.” “Especial” in the place of cat.” “Especial” in the place of “special” is very formal and rather “special” is very formal and rather old-fashioned. old-fashioned.

65. SAW/SEEN65. SAW/SEEN

In standard English, it’s “I” ve seen” In standard English, it’s “I” ve seen” not “I” ve saw.” The helping verb not “I” ve saw.” The helping verb "have” (abbreviated here to “” ve” ) "have” (abbreviated here to “” ve” ) requires “seen.” In the simple past requires “seen.” In the simple past (no helping verb), the expression is (no helping verb), the expression is “I saw,” not “I seen.” “I” ve seen a “I saw,” not “I seen.” “I” ve seen a lot of ugly cars, but when I saw that lot of ugly cars, but when I saw that old beat-up Rambler I couldn’t old beat-up Rambler I couldn’t believe my eyes." believe my eyes."

66. VAIN/VANE/VEIN66. VAIN/VANE/VEIN When you have vanity you are conceited: you are When you have vanity you are conceited: you are

vain. “You’re so vain you probably think this song vain. “You’re so vain you probably think this song is about you.” This spelling can also mean “futile,” is about you.” This spelling can also mean “futile,” as in “All my love’s in vain” (fruitless). Note that as in “All my love’s in vain” (fruitless). Note that when Ecclesiastes says that “all is vanity” it when Ecclesiastes says that “all is vanity” it doesn’t mean that everything is conceited, but that doesn’t mean that everything is conceited, but that everything is pointless. everything is pointless.

A vane is a blade designed to move or be moved by A vane is a blade designed to move or be moved by gases or liquid, like a weathervane. gases or liquid, like a weathervane.

A vein is a slender thread of something, like blood A vein is a slender thread of something, like blood in a body or gold in a mine. It can also be a line of in a body or gold in a mine. It can also be a line of thought, as in “After describing his dog’s habit of thought, as in “After describing his dog’s habit of chewing on the sofa, Carlos went on in the same chewing on the sofa, Carlos went on in the same vein for several minutes.” vein for several minutes.”

67. VARY/VERY67. VARY/VERY

““Vary” means “to change.” Don’t Vary” means “to change.” Don’t substitute it for “very” in phrases substitute it for “very” in phrases like "very nice” or “very happy." like "very nice” or “very happy."

68. VERSES/VERSUS68. VERSES/VERSUS

The “vs.” in a law case like “Brown vs. The “vs.” in a law case like “Brown vs. The Board of Education” stands for Latin The Board of Education” stands for Latin versusversus (meaning “against” ). Don’t (meaning “against” ). Don’t confuse it with the word for lines of confuse it with the word for lines of poetry—“verses”—when describing other poetry—“verses”—when describing other conflicts, like the upcoming football game conflicts, like the upcoming football game featuring Oakesdale versus Pinewood. featuring Oakesdale versus Pinewood.

Note that in formal legal contexts the Note that in formal legal contexts the usual abbreviation is usually just “v.”, as usual abbreviation is usually just “v.”, as in “Brown v. The Board of Education.” in “Brown v. The Board of Education.”

69. VIOLA/VOILA69. VIOLA/VOILA A A violaviola is a flower or a musical instrument. is a flower or a musical instrument.

The expression which means “behold!” is The expression which means “behold!” is voila.voila. It comes from a French expression It comes from a French expression literally meaning “look there!” In French it literally meaning “look there!” In French it is spelled with a grave accent over the is spelled with a grave accent over the A,A, as as voilà,voilà, but when it was adopted into English, but when it was adopted into English, it lost its accent. Such barbarous it lost its accent. Such barbarous misspellings as “vwala” are even worse, misspellings as “vwala” are even worse, caused by the reluctance of English caused by the reluctance of English speakers to believe that speakers to believe that OIOI can represent can represent the sound “wah,” as it usually does in the sound “wah,” as it usually does in French. French.

70. WANDER/WONDER70. WANDER/WONDER

If you idly travel around, you If you idly travel around, you wander. If you realize you’re lost, wander. If you realize you’re lost, you wonder where you are. you wonder where you are.

71. 71. WARRANTEE/WARRANTWARRANTEE/WARRANTYY Confused by the spelling of Confused by the spelling of

“guarantee,” people often misspell the “guarantee,” people often misspell the related word “warrantee” rather than related word “warrantee” rather than the correct “warranty.” “Warrantee” is the correct “warranty.” “Warrantee” is a rare legal term that means “the a rare legal term that means “the person to whom a warrant is made.” person to whom a warrant is made.” Although “guarantee” can be a verb Although “guarantee” can be a verb (“we guarantee your satisfaction”), (“we guarantee your satisfaction”), “warranty” is not. The rarely used verb “warranty” is not. The rarely used verb form is “to warrant.” form is “to warrant.”

72. WAS/WERE72. WAS/WERE

In phrases beginning with “there” In phrases beginning with “there” many people overlook the need to many people overlook the need to choose a plural or singular form of choose a plural or singular form of the verb “to be” depending on what the verb “to be” depending on what follows. ”There follows. ”There werewere several good- several good-looking guys at the party” [plural]. looking guys at the party” [plural]. “There “There waswas one of them who asked one of them who asked for my phone number” [singular]. for my phone number” [singular].

73. WEATHER/WETHER/73. WEATHER/WETHER/WHETHERWHETHER The climate is made up of “weather”; The climate is made up of “weather”;

whether whether it is nice out depends on it is nice out depends on whether whether it is raining or not. A it is raining or not. A wetherwether is just a castrated sheep. is just a castrated sheep.

74. WHILST/WHILE74. WHILST/WHILE

Although “whilst” is a perfectly good Although “whilst” is a perfectly good traditional synonym of “while,” in traditional synonym of “while,” in American usage it is considered American usage it is considered pretentious and old-fashioned. pretentious and old-fashioned.

75. WHO’S/WHOSE75. WHO’S/WHOSE This is one of those cases where it is This is one of those cases where it is

important to remember that possessive important to remember that possessive pronouns never take apostrophes, even pronouns never take apostrophes, even though possessive nouns do (see though possessive nouns do (see it’s/itsit’s/its). ). “Who’s” always and forever means only “Who’s” always and forever means only “who is,” as in “Who’s that guy with the “who is,” as in “Who’s that guy with the droopy mustache?” or “who has,” as in droopy mustache?” or “who has,” as in “Who’s been eating my porridge?” “Who’s been eating my porridge?” “Whose” is the possessive form of “who” “Whose” is the possessive form of “who” and is used as follows: “Whose dirty and is used as follows: “Whose dirty socks are these on the breakfast table?” socks are these on the breakfast table?”

76. WOMAN/WOMEN76. WOMAN/WOMEN

The singular “woman” probably gets The singular “woman” probably gets mixed up with the plural “women” mixed up with the plural “women” because although both are spelled with because although both are spelled with an an OO in the first syllable; only the in the first syllable; only the pronunciation of the pronunciation of the OO really really differentiates them. Just remember that differentiates them. Just remember that this word is treated no differently than this word is treated no differently than “man” (one person) and “men” (more “man” (one person) and “men” (more than one person). A woman is a womanthan one person). A woman is a woman—never a —never a women.women.

77. YOKE/YOLK77. YOKE/YOLK

The yellow center of an egg is its The yellow center of an egg is its yolk. The link that holds two oxen yolk. The link that holds two oxen together is a yoke; they are yoked. together is a yoke; they are yoked.

78. YEA/YEAH/YAY78. YEA/YEAH/YAY

““Yea” is a very old-fashioned formal way Yea” is a very old-fashioned formal way of saying “yes,” used mainly in voting. of saying “yes,” used mainly in voting. It’s the opposite of—and rhymes withIt’s the opposite of—and rhymes with—“nay.” When you want to write the —“nay.” When you want to write the common casual version of “yes,” the common casual version of “yes,” the correct spelling is “yeah” (sounds like correct spelling is “yeah” (sounds like “yeh” ). When the third grade teacher “yeh” ). When the third grade teacher announced a class trip to the zoo, we all announced a class trip to the zoo, we all yelled “yay!” (the opposite of “boo”!). yelled “yay!” (the opposite of “boo”!). That was back when I was only That was back when I was only yayyay big. big.

79. YOUR/YOU79. YOUR/YOU

““I appreciate your cleaning the I appreciate your cleaning the toilet” is more formal than “I toilet” is more formal than “I appreciate you cleaning the toilet.” appreciate you cleaning the toilet.”

80. YOUR/YOU’RE80. YOUR/YOU’RE

““You’re” is always a contraction of You’re” is always a contraction of “you are.” If you’ve written “you’re,” “you are.” If you’ve written “you’re,” try substituting “you are.” If it try substituting “you are.” If it doesn’t work, the word you want is doesn’t work, the word you want is “your.” Your writing will improve if “your.” Your writing will improve if you’re careful about this. you’re careful about this.

If someone thanks you, write back If someone thanks you, write back “you’re welcome” for “you are “you’re welcome” for “you are welcome.”welcome.”