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TOP TEN+ MISUSED WORDS

TOP TEN+ MISUSED WORDS. These common errors should be avoided in ALL writing! Points will be deducted for each error. ERROR #1. THEY’RE THEIR THERE. They’re. This is a contraction of “they are”. It should only be used when expressing they are. Example: They’re gone. THEIR.

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TOP TEN+ MISUSED WORDS

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  1. TOP TEN+ MISUSED WORDS These common errors should be avoided in ALL writing! Points will be deducted for each error.

  2. ERROR #1 THEY’RE THEIR THERE

  3. They’re • This is a contraction of “they are”. It should only be used when expressing they are. Example: They’re gone.

  4. THEIR • This is a possessive word. It is only used to express ownership. • Example: their books

  5. THERE • This is the most commonly used form. It expresses location. • Example: There are some students. Go there.

  6. ERROR #2 YOUR YOU’RE

  7. YOUR • This is a possessive word. It is only used to express ownership. • Example: Your books. • WARNING: Be careful when typing that you do not type you when you mean your. • Example: Be sure to bring you book to class.

  8. YOU’RE • This is a contraction of you are. It should only be used when expressing you are. • Example: You’re friendly.

  9. ERROR #3 TO TWO TOO

  10. TO • This word is a preposition. It expresses direction. • Examples: Go to the store. • Whom did you talk to?

  11. TWO • This word expresses the number two (2). It should only be used to express the number two. • Example: Pick up two cases of pop.

  12. TOO • This word is an adverb. It expresses also,sufficiently, or extremely. It should only be used when these words could be substituted. • Examples: I am going too. • One can never have too much chocolate. • I am too tired.

  13. ERROR #4 A LOT ALOT

  14. A LOT • If you wish to express a lot, write it as two SEPARATE words. • Example: I have a lot of homework tonight. • Alot This is not a standard English word. • DO NOT USE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

  15. ERROR #5 IT’S ITS

  16. IT’S • This word is a contraction of it is. It should only be used when expressing it is. • Example: It’s cold outside.

  17. ITS • This is a possessive word. It is only used to express ownership by something that is singular, and neither male nor female. • Example: Its cord is not plugged in.

  18. ERROR #6 S ‘S S’

  19. S • The letter s is the most common way to make words plural. It should be added to most words to indicate more than one. • Examples: schools, books, desks, teachers

  20. ‘S • The ‘s is the most common method for showing possession. It MUST be used to make a singular noun show ownership. • Examples: The school’s policies. • Jim’s car, America’s flag

  21. S’ • The s’ is used to show that the word is plural AND possessive. The s makes the word plural, and the apostrophe makes it possessive. • Examples: two schools’ policies, three teachers’ desks

  22. ERROR #7 THAN THEN

  23. THAN • This word is used for comparisons. It should be used to show a difference between two or more items. • Examples: He is taller than the door. • I did more work than they did. • Jim is smarter than Sam.

  24. THEN • This word is used to express time or next in order of sequence or place. It cannot be used to compare in any circumstance. • Example: I went to English class, then math.

  25. ERROR #8 COULD OF MUST OF SHOULD OF WOULD OF

  26. These are not standard English. • DO NOT EVER USE! • All should be expressed with the helping verb have. • Could have • Must have • Should have • Would have

  27. ERROR #9 EVERYDAY vs EVERY DAY

  28. EVERYDAY • This word is an adjective. It describes a noun. • Example: I wear my everyday jacket to school.

  29. EVERY DAY • These words are an expression of time. • Example: She wears the blue jacket every day.

  30. ERROR #10 ALL READY vs ALREADY

  31. ALL READY • All ready means prepared. • Example: John is all ready to go to school.

  32. ALREADY • Already means previously. • Example: Mom was going to clean the house, but Dad already did it.

  33. PRACTICE • You are to write either a poem or a short story that incorporates all of the items from the error list. • You are to use the words CORRECTLY. • Please underline each of the words and write the error # it matches.

  34. TOP TEN PLUS! Now let’s go further! 45 and counting!

  35. #11. SINGULAR VS. PLURAL PRONOUN USAGE • Anyone, Everyone, Someone, Anybody, Everybody. Most often people use “their” as the associated pronoun. For example, Everyone needs to bring their book to class. This is incorrect.

  36. POSSESSIVE PRONOUN • The correct pronoun(s) to use with anyone, everyone, someone, anybody, everybody, is his/her. • Everyone needs to bring his/her book to class.

  37. #12. ACCEPT vs. EXCEPT Accept means “to agree to” Except means “with the exclusion of” • I will accept all the recommendations except the last one.

  38. #13. ADVICE vs. ADVISE ADVICE (noun): counsel ADVISE (verb): to recommend If I ask for her advice, she may advise me to quit.

  39. #14. AFFECT vs. EFFECT AFFECT (verb): to influence His performance affected me. EFFECT (noun): the result That drug has dangerous effects. (verb) to bring about The teacher effected certain changes.

  40. #15. AISLE vs. ISLE • AISLE: a passage between sections of seats. The bride walked down the aisle. • ISLE: a small island He was stranded on the isle for 7 days before a plane rescued him.

  41. #16. All Right vs. Alright • NEVER USE ALRIGHT it is not standard English. • ALWAYS use ALL RIGHT.

  42. #17. Altogether vs. All together • Altogether means “entirely” or “on the whole” • All together means that all parts of a group are considered at once.

  43. #18. AMONG vs. BETWEEN AMONG: use when referring to THREE or more. BETWEEN: use when referring to TWO.

  44. #19. AMOUNT vs. NUMBER AMOUNT: use to refer to money or to things that cannot be counted. NUMBER: use to refer to things that can be counted. The amount of student interest was measured by the number of homework assignments turned in.

  45. #20. ANY ONE vs. ANYONE • Spell as two words when followed by “of” • Spell as one word when the accent is on “any” • Example: Anyone is allowed to attend any one of the classes.

  46. #21. BECAUSE • Because and cause are two different words. • Because (conjunction): for the reason that • Cause: reason, motive • NEVER USE CUZ.

  47. #22. CAN vs. MAY Can indicates ability May indicates permission Example: I can finish the project on time if I may have someone help me.

  48. #23. COMPLEMENT vs. COMPLIMENT COMPLEMENT (noun): something that completes Example: A direct object is a sentence complement. Also a (verb) to make whole or bring to perfection. Example: That color complements your eyes COMPLIMENT (noun): Expression of praise. Example: Her hair receives many compliments.

  49. #24. DESSERT vs. DESERT • I’d rather have two s’s in dessert, sugar and sweets, than one s in desert, sand!

  50. #25. DEFINITELY vs. DEFIANTLY • DEFINITELY: having distinct limits, fixed, clear in meaning • DEFIANTLY: bold, impudent, challenge, a disposition to resist.

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