Common Errors

#1: AFFECT vs. EFFECT

Generally, AFFECT is the verb; EFFECT is the noun. However, EFFECT is also a verb meaning to bring about (see c.)

• The letter did not AFFECT the outcome.
• The letter had a significant EFFECT. 
•  It is almost impossible to EFFECT change.

#2: ALOT vs. A LOT vs. ALLOT

A LOT is an informal term for much or many. ALOT is not a word. ALLOT means to give out, apportion, or divide.

• Wrong: I have alot of friends.

• Right: I have a lot of friends. (Informal)
• Right: I have many friends. (Formal)
• Right: I allot my friends 1 hour of time per week.

#3: Different FROM vs.

 Different THAN

Things and people are different FROM each other. Don’t write that they are different THAN each other

• Wrong: I have many friends who are different than me.

• Right: I have many friends who are different FROM me.

#4: IT’S vs. ITS

ITS is the possessive (meaning something belongs to someone).  IT’S is the contraction of IT IS.

• Wrong: What is IT’S NAME?

• Right: What is ITS name? ITS name is Fido.
• Right: IT’S the first time he’s scored tonight.
• Right: IT’S my coat. (It IS my coat).

#5: LESS vs. FEWER

If you can separate items in the quantities being compared, use FEWER. If not, use LESS.

• Wrong: The Rams are inferior to the Vikings because they have LESS good linemen.

• Right: The Rams are inferior to the Vikings because they have FEWER good linemen.

• Right: The Rams are inferior to the Vikings because they have LESS experience.

#6: SLANG

Don’t try to use “hip” slang. Usually a term is on the way out by the time we get it in print.

• Wrong: The police busted the perp.

• Right: The police arrested the perpetrator.

#7: LAY vs. LIE

LAY is the action word; LIE is the state of being.

• Wrong: The body will LAY in state until Wednesday.

• Right: The body will LIE in state until Wednesday.
• Right: The prosecutor tried to LAY the blame on him.

However, the past tense of LIE is LAY.

• Right: The body LAY in state from Tuesday until Wednesday.

• Wrong: The body LAID in state from Tuesday until Wednesday.

The past participle and the plain past tense of LAY is LAID.

• Right: He LAID the pencil on the pad.
• Right: He HAD LAID the pencil on the pad.
• Right: The hen LAID an egg.

#8: WOULD

Be careful about using WOULD when constructing a conditional past tense.

• Wrong: If Jones WOULD NOT OF HAD an injured foot, Thompson wouldn’t have been in the lineup.
• Wrong: If Jones WOULD NOT HAVE HAD an injured foot, Thompson wouldn’t have been in the lineup.

• Right: If Jones HAD NOT had an injured foot, Thompson wouldn’t have been in the lineup.
   

#9: WHO’S vs. WHOSE

Though it incorporates an apostrophe, WHO’S is not a possessive. It’s a contraction for WHO IS. WHOSE is the possessive.

• Wrong: I don’t know WHO’S coat it is.

• Right: I don’t know WHOSE coat It IS.
• Right: Find out WHO’S there.

#10: THAT vs. WHICH

THAT tends to restrict the reader’s thought and direct it to the way you want it to go; WHICH is nonrestrictive, introducing a bit of subsidiary information.

The lawnmower THAT is in the garage needs sharpening. -> Meaning: We have more than one lawnmower. The one in the garage needs sharpening.

The lawnmower, WHICH is in the garage, needs sharpening. -> Meaning: Our lawnmower needs sharpening. It is in the garage.

The statue THAT graces our entry hall is on loan from the museum. -> Meaning: Of all the statues around here, the one in the entry hall is on loan.

The statue, WHICH graces our entry hall, is on loan. àMeaning: Our statue is on loan. It happens to be in the entry hall.)

Note that “which” clauses take commas, signaling they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

#11: THEN vs. THAN

THEN is for time. THAN is for comparisons.

• Wrong: He is taller THEN I am.

• Right: He is taller THAN I am.

• Wrong: She went to school, and THAN she went to the store.

• Right: She went to school, and THEN she went to the store.

#12: USE TO vs. USED TO

USED TO refers to something someone did in the past.

• Wrong: I use to run every morning.

• Right: I used to run every morning

#13: NOWADAYS vs. NOT NOW IN DAYS OR NOW DAYS

But don’t refer to something as happening nowadays. Say it happens CURRENTLY or RECENTLY.

#14: WHO vs. WHOM

A tough one, but generally you’re safe to use WHOM to refer to someone who has been the object of an action. WHO is the word when the somebody has been the actor.

• A 19-year-old woman, to WHOM the room was rented, left the window open. -> Meaning: The particular room was rented to the woman, and she left the window open. The emphasis is on the room, not the person.
• A 19-year-old woman, WHO rented the room, left the window open. -> Meaning: The woman left the window open…and OH…the room happened to be rented to her. The emphasis is on the woman, not the room.

#15: LIKE vs. AS

Don’t use LIKE for AS or AS IF. In general, use LIKE to compare with nouns and pronouns; use AS when comparing with phrases and clauses that contain a verb.

• Wrong: Jim does his homework LIKE he should.

• Right: Jim does his homework AS he should.
• Right: Jim writes LIKE a pro.