100 Common Word Usage Problems

1. 100 Common Word Usage Problems Rules 21-40

2. Do not use at after “where.” Simply eliminate it. INCORRECT: Do the guests know where the train station is at? CORRECT: Do the guests know where the train station is? ( 21 ) At

3. Avoid using at with about. Simply eliminate at or about. INCORRECT: The delegates arrived at about noon. CORRECT: The delegates arrived at noon. ( 22 ) At About

4. Awful is used informally to imply “extremely bad.” Awfullyis used informally to mean “very.” Both modifiers are overused and must be replaced with more descriptive words. In formal writing, awful must be used only to mean “inspiring fear.” INFORMAL: Mary looked awful when she was hospitalized.BETTER: Mary seemed pale and weak when she was hospitalized. INFORMAL: Mary was awfully weak. BETTER: Mary was exhausted. ( 23 ) Awful, Awfully

5. Awhileis an adverb, which in itself means “for a while.” A while is an article and a noun, and is normally used after the preposition “for.” Stay for awhile/a while and keep me company. Stay for a while and keep me company. Rest awhile/a while before you leave. Rest awhilebefore you leave. ( 24 ) A While, Awhile

6. Beat means “to overcome (an opponent).” Winmeans “to obtain victory in.” Do not use win instead of beat. INCORRECT: The Dodgers won the Yankees in the World Series. CORRECT: The Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series. ( 25 ) Beat, Win

7. Do not use because after “the reason.” Rephrase the sentence using one or the other. INCORRECT: The reason we are late is because our car broke down. CORRECT: We are late because our car broke down. CORRECT: The reason we are late is that our car broke down. ( 26 ) Because

8. Avoid using the expressions being as and being that. Use “since” or “because” instead. INCORRECT: Being that it was raining outside, we cancelled the baseball game. CORRECT: Because it was raining outside, we cancelled the baseball game. ( 27 ) Being That, Being As

9. Besidemeans “next to” or “close to.” Besidesmeans “in addition to” and “except for” or “apart from.” Linda was beside/besidesme during the interview. Linda was beside me during the interview. Who beside/besides you will come to the game? Who besides you will come to the game? ( 28 ) Beside, Besides

10. Blond and blonde. These two words mean exactly the same thing, but… • Blonde describes only females. • Blondcan be used to describe males or females. My brother is blond/blonde. My brother is blond. Harriet is the only blond/blonde girl in our family. Harriet is the only blond/blonde girl in our family. ( 29 ) Blond, Blonde

11. Bring means “to carry from a distant place to a nearer one.” Take means the opposite: “to carry from a close to place to a more distant one.” Please bring/take your paper to me. Please bring your paper to me. Will you bring/take the dang dog for a walk? Will you take the dang dog for a walk? ( 30 ) Bring, Take

12. Bunch means “a variety of things of the identical kind.” Avoid using this word to mean “group.” She bought a group/bunch of grapes. She bought a bunch of grapes. A group/bunch of us went downtown to see the play. A group of us went downtown to see the play. ( 31 ) Bunch

13. Burst is the usual present, past, and past participle of the verb burst. Bustand busted are nonstandard forms. Marco will burst/bustif he takes one more bite! Marco will burst if he takes one more bite! ( 32 ) Burst, Bust, Busted

14. Do not use but what. Instead, use that. I don’t doubt (but what/that) I will succeed. I don’t doubt that I will succeed. ( 33 ) But what

15. Use can to imply “to have the ability to.” Use mayto imply “to have permission to” or “to be possible or likely to.” Can/may I go to the restroom? May I go to the restroom? ( 34 ) Can, May

16. Can’t help but is a nonstandard expression. Use can’t help plus a gerund instead. INCORRECT: I can’t help but consider all the pain. CORRECT: I can’t help considering all the pain. ( 35 ) Can’t Help But

17. Avoid clipped or shortened words, equivalent to gym, phone, and photo in formal writing. INFORMAL: I kept a photo of you on the wall of my closet. FORMAL: I kept a photograph of you on the wall of my closet. ( 36 ) Clipped Words

18. Condemn means “to express strong disapproval of.” Condonemeans “to pardon or overlook.” They condoned/condemned him for his cruelty to animals. They condemned him for his cruelty to animals. I cannot condone/condemn such cruelty. I cannot condone/ condemn such cruelty. ( 37 ) Condemn, Condone

19. Continual means “occurring many times in succession.” Continuous means “occurring without interruption.” His continuous/continual tardiness caused him to be fired. His continual tardiness caused him to be fired. I thought the continual/continuous music would never stop. I thought the continuous music would never stop. ( 38 ) Continual, Continuous

20. Different from is preferable to different than. Her idea of entertainment is different from/than mine.Her idea of entertainment is different from mine. ( 39 ) Different From/Than

21. Do not use don’t with third-person singular nouns. Use doesn’t instead. She don’t/doesn’t know where she’s heading.She doesn’t know where she’s heading. ( 40 ) Doesn’t, Don’t

22. Review usage problems #21-40 Download from NetMoeller: 100 Common Usage Problems Complete questions: Exercises C-D Record your answers on the answer sheet given to you. In class assignment