Confused Nouns

Centre and Middle

Rule: Centre is the equidistant point from the edge of a figure; Middle is the equidistant area from two sides.

Incorrect Usage: (a) She was standing in the centre of the street.

                                (b) Place that box in the middle of the circle.

Correct Usage: (a) She was standing in the middle of the street.

                                             (b) Place that box in the centre of the circle.

Confused Nouns

Story and History

Rule: Story is a tale or account of events, which may be either true or false; History is a sequential record of past events.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Rome’s story is very interesting.

                                (b) Kids love to hear histories.

Correct Usage: (a) Rome’s history is very interesting.

                                             (b) Kids love to hear stories.

Confused Adjectives

Angry and Sorry

Rule: Angry means enraged, furious; Sorry means sad, regretful.

Incorrect Usage: (a) She is sorry with me for lying to her.

                                (b) I am angry that I couldn’t help you.

Correct Usage: (a) She is angry with me for lying to her.

                                             (b) I am sorry that I couldn’t help you.

Confused Adjectives

Beautiful and Handsome

Rule: Beautiful is used for women; Handsome is used when referring to men.

Incorrect Usage: (a) That actor is very beautiful.

                               

Correct Usage: (a) That actor is very handsome.

Confused Adjectives

Small, Big and Young, Old

Rule: Small and Big are used to indicate size; Young and Old are used with reference to age.

Incorrect Usage: (a) That building is very young.

  (b) She is bigger than me by two years.

Correct Usage: (a) That building is very small.

(b) She is older than me by two years.

Confused Adjectives

Latter and Last

Rule: Latter indicates the second of two things; Last is used to refer to more than two.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Frost and Wordsworth are both great poets, but I like the last.

  (b) Ours is the latter house on that street.

Correct Usage: (a) Frost and Wordsworth are both great poets, but I like the latter.

(b) Ours is the last house on that street.

Confused Adjectives

This and That

Rule: This refers to things that are nearer, indicates something physically close; That is used to refer to more distant things.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Look at this star in the sky.

  (b) I want to buy that dress.

Correct Usage: (a) Look at that star in the sky.

(b) I want to buy this dress.

Confused Adjectives

Some and Any

Rule: Some means an unspecified or considerable amount. It is used in affirmative sentences; Any means of whatever kind. It is used in negative and interrogative sentences.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Mary has any chocolates.

  (b) She could not sell some toys today.

Correct Usage: (a) Mary has some chocolates.

(b) She could not sell any toys today.

Confused Adjectives

One and A(n)

Rule: One should not be used as a substitute for a or an. One is used only in cases where the number has to be emphasized.

Incorrect Usage: (a) There was one curfew in the city.

  (b) She got only a chocolate instead of two.

Correct Usage: (a) There was a curfew in the city.

(b) She got only one chocolate instead of two.

Confused Adjectives

Older and Elder

Rule: Older is used to denote both people and things; Elder is used to denote only people.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Harry was the eldest guy in his class.

  (b) Her oldest son lives abroad.

Correct Usage: (a) Harry was the oldest guy in his class.

(b) Her eldest son lives abroad.

Confused Adjectives

Little and A little

Rule: Little implies not much; a small amount; A little implies at least some.

Incorrect Usage: (a) He took little rest after the long journey and felt better.

   (b) Tom was angry because he got a little help from his relatives when his family was in trouble.

Correct Usage: (a) He took a little rest after the long journey and felt better.

(b) Tom was angry because he got little help from his relatives when his family was in              trouble.

Unnecessary articles

Using the with school

Note: The definite article should not be used before school.

Incorrect Usage: She goes to the school in a rickshaw.

                                           

Correct Usage: She goes to school in a rickshaw.

Confused Adverbs

Lately and Late

Rule: Lately implies recently; Late implies delayed, after the usual time.

Incorrect Usage: (a) I got up lately today.

                                  (b) Her health has deteriorated late.

                                 

Correct Usage: (a) I got up late today.

                            (b) Her health has deteriorated lately.

Confused Adverbs

Presently and At present

Rule: Presently implies soon, in near future; At present implies now.

Incorrect Usage: (a) He is not in town presently.

                                  (b) The doctor will arrive at present.

                                 

Correct Usage: (a) He is not in town at present.

                            (b) The doctor will arrive presently.

Confused Adverbs

Not so and Not very

Incorrect Usage: (a) He is not so helpful.

                                  (b) We are not very rich like them.

                                 

Correct Usage: (a) He is not very helpful.

                            (b) We are not so rich like them.

Confused Adverbs

Before and Ago

Incorrect Usage: (a) I met my teacher before one month.

                                  (b) Henry got a promotion; he had joined the new office just six months ago.

                                 

Correct Usage: (a) I met my teacher one month ago.

                            (b) Henry got a promotion; he had joined the new office just six months before.

Confused Adverbs

Very and Much

Rule: Very is used with adverbs and adjectives positively; Much is used with comparatives.

Incorrect Usage: (a) He is a much influential person.

                                (b) They are very richer than us.

Correct Usage: (a) He is a very influential person.

                              (b) They are much richer than us.

Confused Prepositions

Using after for in

Rule: in is used for denoting a period of time in future.

Incorrect Usage: I may be able to meet you after a week.

Correct Usage: I may be able to meet you in a week.

              I may be able to meet you in a week’s time.

Confused Prepositions

Using since for for

Rule: The preposition for should be placed before phrases denoting time period.

Incorrect Usage: He was in prison since two years.

Correct Usage: He was in prison for two years.

Confused Prepositions

Using from for by

Rule: by should be used after the passive form to denote the doer of an action.

Incorrect Usage: He was punished from the law.

Correct Usage: He was punished by the law.

Confused Prepositions

Beside and Besides

Rule: beside implies at the side, next to; besides implies except, apart from.

Incorrect Usage: (a) He was standing besides me.

  (b) Tom has other commitments beside these.                                              

Correct Usage: (a) He was standing beside me.

                             (b) Tom has other commitments besides these.

Confused Prepositions

For and At (price factor)

Rule: for is used if the actual amount is specified; at is used if the actual amount is not given.

Incorrect Usage: (a) They bought an apartment at 50 lakhs.

  (b) I can’t buy that gift for such a high price.                                     

Correct Usage: (a) They bought an apartment for 50 lakhs.

                             (b) I can’t buy that gift at such a high price.

Confused Prepositions

In and Into

Rule: in indicates the position inside something; into implies direction or motion towards something.

Incorrect Usage: (a) Due to rain, she had to spend her weekend into her room.

  (b) The candidates came in the room and took their seats.                                        

Correct Usage: (a) Due to rain, she had to spend her weekend in her room.

                             (b) The candidates came into the room and took their seats.

Confused Prepositions

To and Till

Rule: to is used with distance; till is used with time.

Incorrect Usage: (a) We drove till the waterfront and back.

  (b) The client will be here to next month.                                          

Correct Usage: (a) We drove to the waterfront and back.

                             (b) The client will be here till next month.