THINGS WE SAY WRONG

http://www.neatorama.com/2010/09/17/things-we-say-wrong/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Neatorama+%28Neatorama%29

University of West FloridaWriting Lab

Created by Mamie Webb HixonWriting Lab Director

PowerPoint by Lindsey ManningGraduate Assistant

©Mamie Webb HixonJuly 10, 2008

Revised June 15, 2010

a n b o c p d q e r f s g t h u I v j w k x l y m z

“May I have (a, an) , please.”

a n b o c p d q e r f s g t h u I v j w k x l y m z

“May I have (a, an) , please.”

an an a an a a a aan anan an a aan aan a a a a anan aan a

Aa URL addressan e-mail address

a one-hundred-dollar billa university

a historic occasion an historic occasiona history class

a Hispanic malean Hispanic male

READ THESE STATEMENTS ALOUD

Which one is correct?

a UPS guyan UPS guy

BOTH ARE CORRECT.It’s not the initial letter of a word that determines whether to

use “a” or “an” preceding it; it’s the initial sound.

a UPS guya U-P-S guy

Use “a” before an initial consonant sound.

an UPS guyAn “ups” guy

Use “an” before an initial vowel sound.

a PR glitchan ER glitchan HR glitchan OR glitch

a standing room only crowdan SRO crowd

a Master of Business Administration degree an MBA degree

an STDan NBC specialan MTV awarda European touran electronic device

good adviceadvise students

Eat alot for a little.Eat a lot for a little.

It’s alright.It’s all right.

Accept my apology.Everyone except me

Real-World GrammarKrystal Marquee,

1980:

EAT ALOT FOR A LITTLE

?Is this sign correct, or should it

readNO CHECKS

Excepted

Real-world GrammarSign in local

businessSorry, weno longerExceptchecks

Special effects

Positive effects

Smoking affects your health.

The entire campus will be effected by the power outage.

The president effected a tax cut program.

Thunderstorm warningin effect until 6:00 PM.

a small amount of work

a large amount of classesa large number of classes

a small amount of studentsa small number of students

ALTOGETHER, ALL TOGETHERALREADY, ALL READY

ALMOST, MOST

We were all ready (everybody ready) for the trip, but the chartered bus had already (previously) left.

We are not altogether (entirely) certain that we could bring the family all together (everyone gathered) for the reunion.

Almost (nearly) everyone in my immediate family went to the reunion.

Most (Many) of us went to the family reunion.

BBe sure and call me back.Be sure to call me back.

CLOSED DUE TO THE HURRICANECLOSED BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE

As a result ofBecause ofCaused by

Due to

His absence was due to his illness.She lost her job due to downsizing.

She lost her job because of downsizing.This movie is no longer available due to a copyright claim

by the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.This movie is no longer available because of a copyright

claim by the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.

An IQ Test Item: TRUE or FALSE Seven chickens and two cats have twenty-two feet among them. a secret between the two of them

unity among the sorority members

Ccapital letters

capital punishmentthe capital of

Florida

inside the state capitol

dark complecteddark complexioned

could care lesscouldn’t care less

coulda, woulda, shouldacould of, would of , should of could’ve, would’ve, should’ve

could have, would have, should have

can’t help but liking . . .can’t help liking

only one criteriaonly one criterion

Ddue to the fact that

because

different fromdifferent than

Eenthusedenthusiastic

Fless than 10 itemsfewer than 10 items

fewer people, less confusion

fewer resources, less funding

USAGE NOTEFROM The American Heritage Usage Board:Few and fewer are correctly used in writing

only before a plural noun: few cars, few of the books, fewer reasons.

Less is used before a mass noun: less music, less sugar.

Less than is also used before a plural noun that denotes a measure of time, amount, or distance: less than three weeks, less than sixty years old, less than $400 dollars.

F

HHopefully, it will not

rain.I hope it will not rain.

I

“You have reached The Daily Planet, where ‘if you miss the news, you miss a lot.’ If you’re calling in regards to billing or home deliveries, press 1.” If you’re calling . . . .

Iin regard toin regards to

irregardless of the weatherregardless of the weather

College Passes It’s Goal for New Students College Passes Its Goal for New Students

Lpencil lead

Lead me, guide me.

Through the years, you have lead the way; you were the way.

Through the years, you have led the way; you were the way.

It looks like it’s going to rain.It looks as if it’s going to rain.

It looks like rain.

Loan me your book.Lend me your book.

loose pantslose your wallet

The principal expelled the student for three principal reasons.

The principal expelled the student for three principle reasons.

The principle expelled the student for three principal reasons.

The reason I was absent is because . . . The reason I was absent is that . . .

riserisesrising      } = to go uprose(have) risen

Gas prices have risen.Gas prices are rising.

raiseraisesraising         } = to push up, elevateraised(have) raised

Oil companies have raised the price of gas.Oil companies are raising the price of gas.

Ttaller than I am

Press 1, then press the pound key.

They’re going there with their friends.

You can get there from here.On their own terms

They’re special people.

UThings my grandmother use to say

Things my grandmother used to say 

What you’re suppose to knowWhat you’re supposed to know

WIS WHEN, IS WHERE

Rendition is when prisoners are handed over to countries where torture is allowed.

Rendition is handing over prisoners to countries where torture is allowed.

A rip current is when water that comes ashore is channeled back out to sea through a narrow passage.

A rip current occurs when water that comes ashore is channeled back out to sea through

a narrow passage.