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Adjective for Adverb: IF a word is modifying a verb, it should as a general rule be an adverb rather than an adjective. This is normally the case when the descriptive word comes directly after the verb. We say, “The boy laughed quietly”, for example (rather than “The boy laughed quiet”), because the descriptive word quietly refers to the verb laughed, not the noun boy. Similarly, in the sentence “The quiet boy laughed” We use the adjective quiet to refer to the noun boy. The verb to be, however, which of course does not name an action in the way that other verbs do, is normally followed by adjectives rather than adverbs. (Verbs such as taste, smell and feel resemble be in the respect.) Thus we say “The boy is quiet”, not “The boy is quietly”; we use the adjective rather than the adverb because we are again describing the boy, not the action of being. Very few would make the mistake of saying “He laughed quiet”, but almost everyone occasionally chooses an adjective where the adverb should be used.
Wrong I did good on the test yesterday. Right I did well on the test yesterday. Wrong She asked us not to talk so loud. Right She asked us not to talk so loudly. Wrong The lawyer thinks it should be worded different. Right The lawyer thinks it should be worded differently.
Wrong According to Mr. Adams, “most books will go heavier into evolution, which is a good thing.” (Washington Post, June 1987) Right According to Mr. Adams, “most books will go more heavily into evolution, which is a good thing.” Wrong The purpose of desktop publishing is to do the same old thing cheaper, easier, and quicker. (The Globe and Mail, July 1987) Right The purpose of desktop publishing is to do the same old thing more cheaply, more easily, and more quickly. Wrong He performs bad whenever he is under pressure. Right He performs badly whenever he is under pressure.
2. Advice/Advise: Advice is the noun, advise is the verb. Wrong They refused to take our advise. Right They refused to take our advice. 3. Author: a noun, not a verb Wrong Smith is a member of the Appeals Court, and has authored two books on the judicial system. Right Smith is a member of the Appeals Court, and has written two books on the judicial system. 4. Critique: a noun, not a verb Wrong We were asked to critique an essay by Tom Wolfe. Right We were asked to write a critique an essay by Tom Wolfe.
5. Dependent/Dependant: Dependent is the adjective, dependant the noun. You are dependent on someone or something, and your young children are your dependants; they are dependent on you. Wrong Emily is still dependant on her parents for financial support. Right Emily is still dependant on her parents for financial support. 6. Dialogue: a noun, not a verb Wrong The two department heads should dialogue with each other more frequently. Right The two department heads should talk more frequently.
7. First/Firstly: Firstly is now generally thought of as archaic, though it is not incorrect. Be sure to be consistent, though, in your use of first, second, etc. in lists. Wrong There were several reasons for France’s reluctance to commit more resources to the New World. First, she was consumed with the battle for supremacy in Europe. Secondly, the returns on previous investments had been minimal. Right There were several reasons for France’s reluctance to commit more resources to the New World. First, she was consumed with the battle for supremacy in Europe. Second, the returns on previous investments had been minimal.
8. Like/As: Like is a preposition, not a conjunction. If you are introducing a clause, use as. He looks like his father. (Like introduces the noun father.) He looks as his father did at his age. (As introduces the clause as his father did at his age.) He is acting like a drunkard. (Like introduces the noun drunkard.) He is acting as if he were drunk. (As introduces the clause as if he were drunk.) Wrong Like I said before, smoking is forbidden. Right As I said before, smoking is forbidden. Wrong He runs like I do- with short, choppy strides. Right He runs as I do- with short, choppy strides. Or He runs like me- We both take short, choppy strides.
9. Its/It’s: Its is an adjective meaning belonging to it. It’s is a contradiction of it is- a pronoun plus a verb. The confusion of the two is a mistake that should never survive the rewriting and correction process, particularly since contradictions should not be used in formal writing. Wrong Its important to remember that the population of North America in this period was less than 10 million. Right It is important to remember that the population of North America in this period was less than 10 million. Wrong A coniferous tree continually sheds it’s leaves. Right A coniferous tree continually sheds its leaves.
10. Loose/Lose: Loose is normally used as an adjective meaning not tight; as a verb it meansto make loose (e.g., He loosed the reins). Lose is of course always a verb. Wrong As soon as it became dark she began to loose control of herself. Right As soon as it became dark she began to lose control of herself. 11. Mandate: a noun, not a verb Wrong The report stated that PBS should be properly mandated to provide a full range of entertainment programming. (Daily Star, Sept. 2, 1987) Right The report stated that PBS should be given a mandate to provide a full range of entertainment programming.
12. Maybe/May be: Maybe is an adverb that should be replaced by perhaps in formal writing. May be is a compound verb. Wrong May be he will come, but I doubt it. Right Maybe he will come, but I doubt it. Or Perhaps he will come, but I doubt it. Wrong The prototype maybe ready by Thursday. Right The prototype may be ready by Thursday. 13. Meantime/Meanwhile: Meantime is a noun, used most frequently in the phrase in the meantime. Meanwhile is an adverb. Wrong The Germans were preparing for an attack near Calals. Meantime, the Allies were readying themselves for the invasion of Normandy. Right The Germans were preparing for an attack near Calals. Meanwhile, the Allies were readying themselves for the invasion of Normandy.
14. Prophecy/Prophesy: Prophecy is the noun, prophesy the verb. Wrong His comment should be regarded as a prediction, not a prophesy. Right His comment should be regarded as a prediction, not a prophecy. 15. Quality: a noun, not an adjective Wrong The salesman claims that this is a quality product. Right The salesman claims that this is a product of high quality. Or The salesman claims that this is good product. 16. Good/Well: the most common of the adjective-for-adverb mistakes Wrong Manager Jimy Williams said of Stieb, “He pitched good, but not real good.” (The Toronto Star, August 11, 1987) Fair He pitched well, but not really well. Better He did not pitch very well.
17. Quote/Quotation: Quote is the verb, quotation the noun. Wrong The following quote shows just how determined Roosevelt was in a crisis. Right The following quotation shows just how determined Roosevelt was in a crisis. 18. Real/Really: One of the most commonly made adjective-for-adverb mistakes. Wrong Some of the fish we caught were real big. Right Some of the fish we caught were really big.
19. Whose/Who’s: Whose is a relative pronoun meaning belonging to whom; who’s is a contraction of who is. Wrong Kennedy is not normally remembered as the President who’s policies embroiled the US in the Vietnam conflict, but several scholars have suggested that he was as much responsible as was Johnson. Right Kennedy is not normally remembered as the President whose policies embroiled the US in the Vietnam conflict, but several scholars have suggested that he was as much responsible as was Johnson. 20. Predominate/Predominant: Predominate is the verb, predominant the adjective. Wrong This theory was predominate in the nineteenth century. Right This theory was predominant in the nineteenth century.
