How to Prevent Top 7 Errors in Written English
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Here are top seven errors in English that both the native speakers/writers and those who are learning ESL (English as a Second Language) commit all the time: 1) It’s vs. Its “It’s” is the abbreviated form of “it is” whereas “its” denotes a possessive qualifier.INCORRECT: Its not clear.
CORRECT: It’s not clear. INCORRECT: It’s color was blue.
CORRECT: Its color was blue. 2) Their vs. There “Their” is a possessive pronoun whereas “there” denotes location.INCORRECT: I don’t know there address.
CORRECT: I don’t know their address. INCORRECT: Their is someone over there.
CORRECT: There is someone over there. 3) Farther vs. Further “Farther” denotes distance; a spatial relationship. “Further”, on the other hand, points to a relationship in time or intensity.INCORRECT: She ran further than she ever did.
CORRECT: She ran farther than she ever did. INCORRECT: The latest scandal farther damaged the company’s reputation.
CORRECT: The latest scandal further damaged the company’s reputation.
4) Then vs. Than“Then” denotes what comes after in time dimension. “Than” is used to compare two objects, concepts or entities.INCORRECT: He stopped at the intersection; than turned left.
CORRECT: He stopped at the intersection; then turned left. INCORRECT: The apples were cheaper then the oranges.
CORRECT: The apples were cheaper than the oranges. 5) e.g. vs. i.e. “e.g.” (the abbreviated form of the Latin phrase exempli gratia) simply means “for example.” “i.e.” on the other hand (which is the short form of Latin phrase id est) literally means “that is.”INCORRECT: Some of the most important physicists in history were British. I.e., Sir Isaac Newton.
CORRECT: Some of the most important physicists in history were British. E.g., Sir Isaac Newton. INCORRECT: The team was downgraded , e.g., their budget was cut by 25% and they couldn’t handle sensitive cases anymore.
CORRECT: The team was downgraded , i.e., their budget was cut by 25% and they couldn’t handle sensitive cases anymore. 6) Literally vs. Literary (and Literarily) “Literally” means in a literal (and not figurative) manner. “Literary,” on the other hand, means something related to literature. “Literarily” means in a literary manner.INCORRECT: The music was so beautiful he literarily passed out.
CORRECT: The music was so beautiful he literally passed out. INCORRECT: A literally puzzle was solved when Mark Twain’s lost manuscript was found in the basement of a university library.
CORRECT: A literary puzzle was solved when Mark Twain’s lost manuscript was found in the basement of a university library. 7) Conscious vs. Conscience “Conscious” means to be awake and aware. “Conscience” is the set of moral and ethic principles that guide our behavior.INCORRECT: Although the car was crushed she was still conscience behind the steering wheel.
CORRECT: Although the car was crushed she was still conscious behind the steering wheel. INCORRECT: My conscious did not allow me to do that.
CORRECT: My conscience did not allow me to do that.
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