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.