PROBLEMS, MISCONCEPTIONS AND CLASSIC MISTAKES

SUGGESTIONS

I suggest that you see the head master so that he can clarify the situation. (NOT advocate)

I advocate torture! (Used with a noun)

I suggest resorting to torture

I offered to drive him to work (Shall I drive you to work?)

OBLIGATIONS, GUARANTEES

Children should be compelled to go to school (by their parents even if they want to leave at 16)

Wear the life jacket so that we can ensure that / guarantee that you are safe

He assured me that he would be back for dinner (I will definitely be back for dinner)

EVEN AND ALSO (NEVER USED AT THE START OF A SENTENCE)

Jack was also involved in the project (NOT: Also, jack was involved in the project)

Jack also spoke at the meeting

She is a true-blue bookworm; she even reads during meals

This is nothing, in mid- summer, it gets even hotter

SUCH AS VERSUS LIKE

Vegetables such as carrots and potatoes are not good for diabetics as they contain too much starch (The carrots and potatoes are included in the list of vegetables that are bad for diabetics)

NOT: Some vegetables are bad for diabetics such as carrots and potatoes.

Vegetables like carrots and potatoes are not good for diabetics (Vegetables similar to carrots and vegetables - celeriac, parsnips, turnips etc. – are bad for diabetics)

NOT: Some vegetables are bad for diabetics like carrots and potatoes

REASONS, RESULTS, CONCEQUENCES, CAUSES AND EFFECTS

There are many reasons for his lack of cooperation

The cause of the accident is human error

The most important effect of alcohol consumption is changes personality

The right wing backlash in Europe is a direct consequence of the huge numbers of refugees trying to enter European countries. (A potentially negative reaction to an event)

The influx of refugees has had serious consequences (The effects are potentially negative)

Your objection is of no consequence (Your objection is not important)

If you continue ignoring my suggestions, you will have to face the consequences (potentially negative things will happen)

He had been relying on hamburgers and French fries for weeks. The result was that he gained a tremendous amount of weight. (Neutral in meaning, informal)

The most important outcome of the proposed budget cuts was a drop in standards (a synonym of result but technical and formal)

MUCH, MANY, FAR, MORE, LESS

He is much more talented than his twin

His twin has many more friends than him

NOTE: Much cannot be used by itself in the sentences above. Much is used in conjunction with a comparative

He is much less talented than Astor Piazola

He has far fewer friends than his brother

NOTE: The phrase much fewer is totally wrong

ENABLE AND PROVIDE

I provided him with a map so that he could find his way more easily

The map I gave him enabled him to find his way more easily

CONSIDER AND REGARD

I consider him to be the best crime writer in the world (NOT: I consider him as the best crime… because we don’t use as with consider)

When you consider / take in to consideration how hard he worked, his failure is a surprise.

Have you decided whether to promote him or not? I am still considering the issue (I am thinking about it, weighing the pros and cons)

Mozart is regarded as one of the best composers of all time.

DEFINITE ARTICLES: THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE

He could not locate the source of the problem

He spoke to the group which had congregated in front of the office

THE POSITION OF ADVERBS: MOST COMMON MISTAKES

·         The film was absolutely hilarious

·         It is absolutely wrong to disregard animal rights (NOT “Absolutely, it is wrong to disregard animal rights OR It is wrong to disregard animal rights absolutely)

·         It is extremely important to take this medicine regularly

·         It is totally wrong

·         This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable (NOT “This kind of behavior is unacceptable completely”)

IMPORTANT, VITAL, CRUCIAL, SIGNIFICANT

A clean air act is vital for a healthy society (critical, indispensible)

The findings are of vital interest.

Rehearsals or trial runs are crucial if you want a performance to perfect on opening night (essential to success)

The latest research into the zika virus is significant: it shows that the virus can be transferred from one person to another. (Important in effect)

NOTE: The word important is more neutral in meaning and can be a substitute for any of the words above but the reverse is not possible as there are shades of meaning)

WORD ORDER: MOST COMMON MISTAKE

The lecturer focused on the effects of malnourishment (NOT: Malnourishment’s effects)

THE USE OF THE PHRASE “IN TERMS OF” AND “WITH RESPECT TO”

These phrases mean roughly the same thing: in relation to and are introductory phrases. They can easily be omitted from most sentences but add style when they are used.

In terms of quality, your work leaves much to be desired.

With respect to what we discussed previously, I can safely say that the offer we originally made still stands

The phrase “In aspect of” is completely wrong. Adverb forms should be used instead. Consider the following:

CORRECT: Children are affected physically and psychologically

WRONG: Children are affected in aspect of physical or psychological

DURING VERSUS WHILE

While is used with continuous forms of verbs and while is used with nouns

John arrived while I was sleeping (Not …during I was sleeping)

John arrived during the night

RESPECT VERSUS SHOW RESPECT

The verb respect is used without a preposition while “show or have respect” is used with the preposition “for”

I have a lot of respect for my teacher.

The students showed their teacher a lot of respect

BUT

I respect my teacher (Not I respect for my teacher)

FEEL AND FEEL LIKE

The verb feel is followed by an adjective but the structure “feel like” is followed by a noun.

I feel stupid

I feel like an idiot (Not I feel like stupid)