ELA/WAG

Pages: 466-468 Avoiding Usage Problems exercises 40,41,42

1. Accept, except- Do not confuse the spelling of these words
   1. Accept- a verb means “to take (what is offered)” or “to agree to.”
   2. Except- a preposition means, “leaving out,” or “other than.”

                                                               i.      Verb- She willingly accepted responsibility for the others.

                                                             ii.      Preposition- everyone except him will be at the party.

2. Advice, advise- Do not confuse the spelling of these related words
   1. Advice- a noun, means “an opinion”
   2. Advise- a verb, means “to give an opinion to”

                                                               i.      Noun- my mother gave me advice about how to answer the letter.

                                                             ii.      Verb- my mother advised me to accept the invitation to the dance.

3. Affect, effect
   1. Affect- almost always a verb, means “to influence,” or “to bring about change in”
   2. Effect- usually a noun, means result

                                                               i.      Verb- the rainy weather affected the outdoor wedding.

                                                             ii.      Noun- What effect does the Mardi Gras celebration have on the city of New Orleans?

4. At- do not use at after where

                                                               i.      Incorrect- do you know where the circus is at?

                                                             ii.      Correct- do you know where the circus is?

5. Because- do not use because after the reason. Eliminate one or the other

                                                               i.      Incorrect- the reason I am late is because the bus broke down.

                                                             ii.      Correct- the reason I am late is that the bus broke down.

6. Beside, besides- these two prepositions have different meanings and cannot be interchanged
   1. Beside- means at the side of
   2. Besides- means in addition to

                                                               i.      The clown sat down beside the child.

                                                             ii.      No one besides is was there.

7. Different from, different than- the former is generally preferred over the latter

                                                               i.      The clown’s routine was different from what I had expected.

8. Farther, further
   1. Farther- refers to distance
   2. Further- means additional or to a greater degree or extent

                                                               i.      Haven’t we walked much farther than a mile?

                                                             ii.      I need further advice.

                                                            iii.      When he began raising his voice, I listened no further.

9. In, into
   1. In- refers to position
   2. Into- suggests motion

                                                               i.      Position- The ringmaster is in the big top.

                                                             ii.      Motion- The ringmaster stepped into the center ring.

10. Kind of, sort of- They do not mean rather or somewhat.

                                                               i.      Incorrect- the new CD that I brought home sounds sort of interesting

                                                             ii.      Correct- the new CD that I brought home sounds rather interesting

11. Like- do not use before the subject and verb of a clause
    1. Like- a preposition, means similar to or in the same way

                                                               i.      Preposition- The rubbing alcohol felt like ice on my feverish skin.

                                                             ii.      Incorrect- The stew that I ordered doesn’t taste like it should.

                                                            iii.      Correct- The stew that I ordered doesn’t taste as it should.

12. That, which, who
    1. That- used to refer to either things or people
    2. Which- used to refer to only things
    3. Who- used to refer to only people

                                                               i.      Things- The dress that I designed won first prize.

                                                             ii.      People- The dancer that performed is my brother.

13. Their, there, they’re- do not confuse the spelling of these words
    1. Their- a possessive adjective
    2. There- usually used as a sentence starter or as an adverb
    3. They’re- a contraction for they are

                                                               i.      Possessive adjective- the team won all of their games.

                                                             ii.      Sentence starter- there are no easy answers to the problem of prejudice

                                                            iii.      Adverb- move the chair over there

                                                           iv.      Contraction- they’re trying to set new track records.

14. To, too, two- do not confuse the spelling of these words
    1. To- a preposition, begins a prepositional phrase or an infinitive
    2. Too- with two o’s, is and adverb and modifies adjectives and other adverbs
    3. Two- a number, represented by the symbols: 2 and II

                                                               i.      Preposition-     to the store               to Maine

                                                             ii.      Infinitive-          to meet                    to see

                                                            iii.      Adverb-           too sad                    too quickly

                                                           iv.      Number-          two buttons           two apples

15. When, where, why- do not use when, where or why directly after a linking verb such as is. Reword the sentence

                                                               i.      Incorrect- In the evening is when I do my homework.                        The gym is where the acrobats practice.                                                To see the circus is why we came to New York City.

                                                             ii.      Correct- I do my homework in the evening.                                                            The acrobats practice in the gym.                                                            We came to New York City to see the circus.

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