Common Usage Errors

1. Common Usage Errors By: Colleen Noll and Cassie Diehl

2. Fewer/ Less • Use fewer with objects that can be counted. • Use less with qualities and quantities that cannot be counted. • Examples: • Fewer: • fewer calories, fewer students, fewer dependents • Less: • less gravel, less misery, less light

3. How to Remember • Few rhymes with two so you count fewer. • Less doesn’t rhyme with two so you can’t count less.

4. Healthful/ Healthy • Things are healthful. • People are healthy. • Examples: • Less Acceptable: • A healthy diet includes vegetables. • Preferred: • A healthful diet includes vegetables.

5. How to Remember • Healthful has a F so food is healthful. • Healthy does not have a F so people are healthy.

6. Former/ Latter • Former refers to the first of two previously mentioned items. • Latter refers to the second. • Examples: • Bert brought me a bracelet and a stuffed iguana from Mexico. The former I wore gladly; the latter was consigned to the attic.

7. How to Remember • First and Former start with F. • Last and Latter start with L.

8. In/ Into • In refers to position. • Into suggests motion. • Examples: • Position: • The letter is in the mailbox. • Motion: • She walked into the room.

9. How to Remember • The bunny put the carrot into his mouth. Refers to motion so use into. • The bunny is in the hole. Refers to position so use in.