I'm bad at spelling and grammar and I need to be constantly reminded of even simple things that will just not sink in, such as remembering the correct usage of lay and lie and were and was. Luckily, many others aren't that great at spelling and grammar either, so it's possible to get away with a lot, but there are some things even they will catch. We can seem smarter than we actually are by avoiding some of the more common mistakes because those are the ones most people will recognize (probably from being yelled at so much in school).
Below are a list of words and phrases that should help make anyone seem smarter if used properly. I have a hard time remembering some of them, but maybe you'll have better luck. Most of the selections have at least one link leading to an offsite page that will show what's correct, but I also have corrections to words or phrases right here on this page that I have seen or heard people use before.
a - an
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
a lot < Correct
allot < Correct
alot < Wrong
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
accept - except
Grammar Slammer
affect - effect
HumbleApostrophe.com
Common Errors in English
And for those who only look up the psychiatric version of affect and claim that's the only way to use it, try to remember that affect has two different pronunciations and two different main meanings to go along with those pronunciations. You see, uh-fekt is different from af-ekt.
awhile - a while
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
bated breath < Correct
baited breath < Wrong
biding his time < Correct
biting his time < Wrong
bring - take
Grammar Slammer
Grammar Girl
Common Errors in English
buck naked - butt naked
Why say either? Just say naked.
chicken pox < Correct
chicken pops < Wrong
continual - continuous
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
could have - could of
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
dependent - dependant
bartleby.com
dog-eat-dog < Correct
doggy dog < Wrong
due to
Grammar Slammer
duct tape < Correct
duck tape < Wrong
farther - further
Lesson Tutor
Grammar Slammer
fetal position < Correct
fecal position < Wrong
You can try to get into the fecal position if you want, but you better do it in private so you don't get arrested.
fewer - less
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
for - four - fore
Common Errors in English
fringe benefit < Correct
French benefit < Wrong
A French benefit is something that actually exists, but if you mean a generic additional benefit, then French benefit is wrong.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
good - well
Grammar Slammer
have - of
Presbyterian College Glossary of Usage
here - hear
Common Errors in English
its - it's
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
jibe - jive
Common Errors in English
just - only
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
kind of - sort of
Grammar Slammer
lay - lie
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
library < Correct
lieberry < Wrong
libary < Wrong
lose - loose (losing - loosing)
Common Errors in English
maybe - may be
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
moot point < Correct
mute point < Wrong
Common Errors in English
nip it in the bud < Correct
nip it in the butt < Wrong
Please do not nip at my butt, even if you're a cute little puppy.
no one < Correct
noone < Wrong
It's two words, not one. Example: I saw no one at noon.
Common Errors in English
our - are
The word our as in "give us our freedom" sounds like the word hour. The word are as in "we are free" is pronounced like the letter R. That might help when deciding which word to use.
perimeter - parameter
If you mean the border, use perimeter. Searching along the border or the edge is searching the perimeter. Parameter is a mathematics and computer science term.
Grammar Slammer
probably < Correct
prolly < Wrong
probally < Wrong
probly < Wrong
regardless < Correct
irregardless < Wrong
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
Sanskrit < Correct (talking about the classical language)
Sandskrit < Wrong
Sanscript < Wrong
sense - since
Common Errors in English
so - sew - sow
Common Errors in English
state of the art < Correct
state of the ark < Wrong
statute of limitations < Correct
statue of limitations < Wrong
There might be a "statue of limitations" somewhere in the world that pigeons poop on daily, but you probably mean statute, not statue.
Wikipedia
supposed to - used to
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
Common Errors in English
supposedly < Correct
supposably < Wrong
take it for granted < Correct
take it for granite < Wrong
than - then
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
their - there - they're
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
to - too - two
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
were - where - we're - wear
HumbleApostrophe.com
Common Errors in English
whose - who's
Grammar Slammer
Common Errors in English
your - you're
Common Errors in English
HumbleApostrophe.com
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