Common Mistakes And Tricky Choices

Definite or Definitive?

Definite means "clear, precise, known with exactness." The adverb form is definitely.

Definitive means "explicit, sharply defining" or "conclusive." It can also be a noun meaning "something definitive."



Different From or Different Than?

Different from is standard English.

Different than is nonstandard.

Than is used with the comparative or superlative degrees.


Disinterested or Uninterested?

Disinterested means "impartial" or "not taking sides." (In other words, not having a personal interest at stake.)

Uninterested means "not interested." (In other words, not showing any interest.)

Correct: A good referee should be disinterested.
(He does not take sides.)

Incorrect: He was disinterested in Jill's hobby.

Correct: He was uninterested in Jill's hobby.
(He shows no interest.)


Done as a Verb

Done should not be used alone as the verb of a sentence. It is a past participle.

It must always follow an auxiliary verb like has, have, am, is, are, was, were, or one of their contractions.

Incorrect: I done what I was supposed to do.

Correct: I have done what I was supposed to do.

Correct (with contraction): I've done what I was supposed to do.


Due To

Due to means "caused by." It should be used only if it can be substituted with "caused by."

It does not mean the same as "because of."

Incorrect: The game was postponed due to rain.

Correct: The game was postponed because of rain.

Correct: The game's postponement was due to rain.

The wordy expression due to the fact that should be replaced by because or since.


Accept or Except ?

Accept means "to receive."

Except is usually a preposition meaning "but" or "leaving out." However, except can also be a verb meaning "to leave out."

As verbs, accept and except are nearly antonyms, so the difference is important!

Examples: He accepted the gift. (He received it.)

He excepted the twins. (He did not include them.)

Everyone except Bill. (All but Bill.)


Farther or Further?

Farther refers to length or distance. It is the comparative form of the word far when referring to distance.

Further means "to a greater degree," "additional," or "additionally." It refers to time or amount. It is the comparative form of the word far when meaning "much."

Correct: London is farther north than Juneau.
(Refers to distance)

Correct: This plan requires further study.
(Meaning "additional study," refers to amount)

Correct: According to my timetable, we should be further along.
(Refers to time)


Good or Well?

Good is an adjective. It describes nouns or pronouns. It may be used with descriptive linking verbs like look, feel, sound, taste, or be to describe the subject.

Incorrect: The coffee tasted well this morning.

Correct: The coffee tasted good this morning.

Correct: The pitcher is looking good today.

Well is normally an adverb. It describes verbs (sometimes adjectives) and is used with most other verbs.

Well as an adjective means "healthy."

Incorrect: He pitches good.

Correct: He pitches well.

Incorrect: I do not feel very good.

Correct: I do not feel very well. (healthy)


To Have Plus Ought

The expressions have ought, has ought, and had ought are nonstandard.

To correct it, simply remove the have, has, or had.

Incorrect: You had ought to have been there.

Correct: You ought to have been there.


Could Of or Could Have?

Could of does not exist. Neither do should of, will of, or would of as verbs.

Write could have, should have, will have, or would have.

If you want to emphasize the pronunciation, write it as a verb contraction: could've, should've, will've, or would've.



Healthy or Healthful?

In formal English, things are healthful (i.e., good for one's health). People or other creatures are healthy (i.e., in a state of good health).

Incorrect: Eat a healthy breakfast.

Correct: Eat a healthful breakfast.

Correct: You look healthy today.


Hopefully or I Hope?

Hopefully is an adverb which means what it ought to--"full of hope" or "characterized by hope." It normally modifies verbs.

Nonstandard English sometimes substitutes the word hopefully for I hope (or some other subject with the verb hope).

Correct: They listened hopefully for the sound of the rescue party.
(They listened with hope)

Incorrect: Hopefully, they will come in time.

Correct: I hope they will come in time.


Hyper- or Hypo-?

The prefix hyper- means "above," "beyond," or "excessively."

The prefix hypo- means "under" or "below normal."

Examples: Hypodermic needle (under the dermis)

Hyperactive child (excessively active)




Its or It's?

Its is the possessive pronoun; it modifies a noun.

It's is a contraction of it is or it has.

Incorrect: The mother cat carried it's kitten in it's mouth.
(Possessive pronoun, no apostrophe)

Correct: The mother cat carried its kitten in its mouth.

Correct: I think it's going to rain today.
(Contraction of it is)

Correct: It's been a very long time.
(Contraction of it has)




To be continued...

very useful ..

but difference of due to and beacause of is lil unclear ..
.

plus what is meant by the sentence "i ought to have been there?"

"Due to" functions as an adjectival phrase and is used to modify a noun (e.g., His failure was due to his laziness). "Because of" functions as an adverbial phrase and is used to modify a verb or verb phrase (e.g., He failed because of his laziness).

"Due to" is a phrase that must describe a noun. "The fire was due to drought" is correct, but "There was a fire due to drought" is not. When describing a verb phrase, "because of" is preferable: "There was a fire because of drought."

QUOTE(Uncertainty @ Dec 11 2007, 10:37 AM) [snapback]2620525[/snapback]

Means "I should have been there"

"ought"

>>> indicates what somebody should do.

By telling "ought to" you suggest someone what is one of the last options one has or something that one can't easily avoid, for example, any longer.

We could say that there are situations when "ought to" and "should" mean almost the same, but the intention of a speaker or writer is different: to indicate a solution or to give a suggestion, respectively.

If someone cannot feel the difference between "ought to" and "should", it is safe to always use "should". Actually, people or learner of English tend to do so, thus it looks that "ought to" is rare. It is not rare, it only has a more specific usage than "should".

"Ought to" almost always holds a strong warning about the consequences, or emphasizes good features of consequences if it is something positive.

hmm .. can i have few example sentences of "ought to"?

[/b]

.. thx

Examples:

You ought to try this cake.

You ought to visit us again.

That ought to be easy.

You ought to come to the party tomorrow.

You ought to write to your friend.

Ought I to go now?

Young people ought to help the old.

You oughtn't to tell a lie.

You ought to have gone to the tailor yesterday.

You ought to stop smoking.

This stock ought to increase in value.

You're Welcome Dear.