Common errors – fixed!

A language is like a living thing, it is on everybody’s tongues, used all the time whether accurately or not.

Here are 10 of the most commonly mistaken pairs of words and mini explanations for each:

 

1. Then vs than

It is very common to confuse the these two in writing.

✘“England is bigger then Malta.

✓“England is bigger than Malta.”

Then: used for sequence; one thing that happens after another.

e.g. Every morning, I wake up, have a shower and then brush my teeth. In    this sentence I want to say that I brush my teeth after I have a shower.

Than: used to compare two things.

e.g. Pasta is cheaper than steak. The above sentence is comparing the price of pasta and steak.

 

 

2. Lend vs borrow

✘“Can you borrow me a pen, please?

✓“Can you lend me a pen, please?”

Lend: used instead of “give for a short period of time, as a loan”

e.g. My mother agreed to lend me some money to buy a new car. My mother will give me some money on loan, then I will return it.

Borrow: used instead of “take temporarily then giving it back”

e.g. I will borrow some money from my mother and pay it back at the end of next month. I will take some money and pay it back.

 

3. Stationary vs stationery

Both are confused in writing, (because yes, the pronunciation is the same).

✘“I bought a pen from the stationary shop.

✓“I bought a pen from the stationery shop.”

Stationary: used to describe when something is not moving. e.g. I got off the bus when it was stationary. The bus wasn’t moving when I got off it.

Stationery: used to talk about writing and office items. e.g. Teachers are known to love stationery. Teachers love pens, paper, ink, markers etc.

PRO TIP: remember the difference between stationary and stationery: StationEry – E is for Envelope.

 

 

4. Been vs gone

Both are used with the perfect tenses.

✘“I have never gone to France.

✓“I have never been to France.”

Been: in the perfect tenses, been is used to talk about going to a place and coming back.

e.g. I have been to Italy many times. I am not in Italy now. I visited Italy many times.

Gone: when we use gone in perfect tenses, it means that the person who has gone to a place is still there at the moment.

e.g. Laura isn’t at home at the moment. She’s gone to the doctor. Laura is at the doctor at the moment of speaking.

 

5. Advice vs advise

These two are confused in writing.

✘“My advise is to speak to your boss in confidence.

✓“My advice is to speak to your boss in confidence.”

Advice: uncountable noun

e.g. I need some professional advice from a lawyer about a problem I have with my neighbour.

Advise: verb, action.

e.g. I asked my lawyer to advise me about the problem I have with my neighbour.

PRO TIP: there is a slight difference in pronunciation of the two:

Advice: /ədˈvʌɪs/ – Advice ends with a /s/ sound

Advise: /ədˈvʌɪz/ – Advise ends with a /z/ sound

 

 

6. Practice vs practise

Another common written error.

✘“I cannot go out tomorrow, I have football practise.

✓“I cannot go out tomorrow, I have football practice.”

Practice: noun

e.g. Your English skills are getting better, but you need more practice before you take the test.

Practise: verb, action

e.g. Your English skills are getting better, but you need to practise more before you take the test.

 

7. CDs vs CD’s

An error that everyone has come across at least once in their life, all over the world.

✘“We have all types of CD’s for sale.

✓“We have all types of CDs for sale.”

CDs: plural of CD.

e.g. My mother has a collection of original CDs.

  : belonging to the CD.

e.g. Isn’t this the new CD’s box?

 

8. Affect vs effect

Another writing error.

✘“The weather will effect how many people attend the concert.

✓“The weather will affect how many people attend the concert.”

Affect: verb

e.g. This medicine might negatively affect your concentration skills.

Effect: noun

e.g. This medicine may cause a negative effect on your concentration skills.

 

9. Who vs whom

This is a very common error, especially in formal writing.

✘“To who it may concern.”

✓“To whom it may concern.”

Who: subject

e.g. Who is that person? We need to identify the person.

Whom: object

e.g. To whom do you want to send this email? You are sending the email to someone. That someone is being referred to as whom.

 

10. Less vs fewer

It is very common to confuse the these two in writing.

✘“There are less men than women working as nurses.

✓“There are fewer men than women working as nurses.”

Less: used with uncountable nouns

e.g. Women earn less money than men.

Fewer: used with countable nouns

e.g. Women commit fewer crimes than men.

 

Join Berlitz Language Academy and take the first step toward fluency Contact us for more information or visit www.elamalta.com