Rules 2140 21 At 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 ID: 169793
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Slide1
100 Common Word Usage Problems
Rules 21-40Slide2
( 21 ) At
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? Slide3
( 22 ) At About
Avoid using
at
with about
. Simply eliminate at or about.INCORRECT: The delegates arrived at about noon. CORRECT: The delegates arrived at noon.Slide4
( 23 ) Awful, Awfully
Awful
is used informally to imply “extremely bad.”
Awfully
is 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.Slide5
( 24 ) A While, Awhile
Awhile
is 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
awhile
before you leave
.Slide6
( 25 ) Beat, Win
Beat
means “to overcome (an opponent).”
Win
means “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.Slide7
( 26 ) Because
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.Slide8
( 27 ) Being That, Being As
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.Slide9
( 28 ) Beside, Besides
Beside
means
“next to” or “close to.” Besides means “in addition to” and “except for” or “apart from.”Linda was beside/besides me during the interview.Linda was beside me during the interview. W
ho beside/besides you will come to the game?
Who
besides
you will come to the game?Slide10
( 29 ) Blond, Blonde
Blond
and
blonde
. These two words mean exactly the same thing, but…Blonde describes only females.Blond can 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
.Slide11
( 30 ) Bring, Take
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?Slide12
( 31 ) Bunch
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
.Slide13
( 32 ) Burst, Bust, Busted
Burst
is the usual present, past, and past participle of the verb burst.
Bust
and busted are nonstandard forms.Marco will burst/bust if he takes one more bite! Marco will burst if he takes one more bite!Slide14
( 33 ) But what
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. Slide15
( 34 ) Can, May
Use
can
to imply “to have the ability to.”
Use may to 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?Slide16
( 35 ) Can’t Help But
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. Slide17
( 36 ) Clipped Words
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.Slide18
( 37 ) Condemn, Condone
Condemn
means “to express
strong
disapproval of.” Condone means “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.Slide19
( 38 ) Continual, Continuous
Continua
l 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
.Slide20
( 39 ) Different From/Than
Different from
is preferable to
different than
.Her idea of entertainment is different from/than mine.Her idea of entertainment is different from mine.Slide21
( 40 ) Doesn’t, Don’t
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.Slide22
In class assignment
Review
usage problems
#21-40
Download from NetMoeller:100 Common Usage Problems Complete questions: Exercises C-DRecord your answers on the answer sheet given to you.