Rules for Using Colon

A colon (:) is used to introduce a list.

Ex.: He liked all types of junk foods: fries, pizzas, and burgers.

       The zoo had many wild animals: tigers, lions, and panthers. 

       The restaurant offered various cuisines: Thai, Continental, Chinese, and Indian.

Rules for Using Comma

A comma is used to separate three or more phrases/words/clauses that are written in a series.

Ex.: The government promised to take prompt measures to bring down corruption, inflation, unemployment,    and crime rates.

       The victim was strangled to death, bundled into a sack, and thrown off a bridge.

Rules for Using Full Stop

A full stop is used to denote abbreviation. Generally, it is used if a word doesn’t have its last letter.

Ex.: Professor – Prof.

        Mister – Mr (No full stop is used here as the first and last letters are there)

        Doctor – Dr

      

Exception: The above is followed as per UK English. As per US English, it is written as Mr. and Dr.

Rules for Using Full Stop

A full stop should not be used when the sentence ends with a question mark or exclamation mark.

Incorrect Usage: When will you return home?.

                             What a spectacular display of fireworks!.

Correct Usage: When will you return home?

                           What a spectacular display of fireworks! 

Confused Nouns

Shade and Shadow

Rule: Shade is the portion, which is sheltered from direct sunlight; Shadow is the form that is created when something comes in front of light.

Incorrect Usage: (a) They took rest in the shadow of a tree.

                                (b) He was afraid of his own shade.

Correct Usage: (a) They took rest in the shade of a tree.

                                             (b) He was afraid of his own shadow.

Confused Words

Teem and Team

Teem means swarm, abound, pour, etc.

Team means side, gang, squad, group, etc.

The river is teeming with fish.

The hockey team put up an impressive performance in the World Championship.

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.

Unnecessary articles

Using the with plural nouns

Note: When used in a general sense, article cannot be used before common nouns in the plural.

   

    Incorrect Usage: The camels are called as the ships of the desert.

                                           

    Correct Usage: Camels are called as the ships of the desert.

Unnecessary articles

Using the with abstract nouns

Note: When used in a general sense, article cannot be used with abstract nouns.

     Incorrect Usage: The honesty is the best policy.

                                           

     Correct Usage: Honesty is the best policy.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Omission of the article before a countable noun in the singular.

Don’t say: I have no money to buy car.

ü  Say: I have no money to buy a car.

As a rule, use either the or a or an before a countable noun in the singular.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Write to a person, not write a person.

Don’t say: I’ll write her tomorrow.

ü  Say: I’ll write to her tomorrow.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Wait for a person or thing, not wait a person or thing.

Don’t say: I’ll wait you at the cinema.

ü  Say: I’ll wait for you at the cinema.

Note: Await takes no preposition: I am awaiting your reply.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Supply a person with something, not supply a person something.

Don’t say: Can you supply me all I need?

ü  Say: Can you supply me with all I need?

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Share with a person, not share a person.

Don’t say: My friend shared me his book.

ü  Say: My friend shared his book with me.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Say to a person, not say a person.

Don’t say: Kevin said me, ‘Come tomorrow’.

ü  Say: Kevin said to me, ‘Come tomorrow’.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Remind a person of something, not remind a person something.

Don’t say: Please remind me that later.

ü  Say: Please remind me of that later.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Pay for a thing, not pay a thing.

Don’t say: How much did you pay the book?

ü  Say: How much did you pay for the book?

Note: A person can pay another person. He/she can also pay a bill, an account, or a subscription. He/she pays for a thing that he/she buys.

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Knock at the door, not knock the door.

Don’t say: Who is knocking the door?

ü  Say: Who is knocking at the door?

Incorrect omission of prepositions

Dispose/get rid of a thing, not dispose/get rid a thing.

Don’t say: He’ll dispose/get rid all his property.

ü  Say: He’ll dispose/get rid of all his property.