Correct the error in this sentence:
Jennifer could care less about getting to the party on time.
Jennifer could not (couldn’t) care less about getting to the party on time.
Correct the error in this sentence:
I noticed his birthday on my calender.
I noticed his birthday on my calendar.
Correct the error in this sentence:
Your so funny!
You’re so funny!
your: showing ownership; you own something (e.g. your jacket)
you’re: you are (e.g. You’re fired; You’re my friend)
“She’s pulling my leg” is an example of a figurative expression called a/an _____.
(e.g. “She’s pulling my leg”, when she’s of course not literally tugging on your leg.)
idiom
The English language is estimated to have about 25,000 idioms
What is the difference between e.g. and i.e.?
- e.g. = for example
- i.e. = in other words
The abbreviation “e.g.” (Latin exempli gratia) is used when listing examples while “i.e.” (Latin phrase id est) is used for the clarification of an idea.
e.g.: “The supermarket had every kind of fruit you could want (e.g. apples, bananas, mangos, blueberries).”
i.e.: “The supermarket had scallions, (i.e., green onions).”
Correct the error in this sentence:
The car had seperate seats for children.
The car had separate seats for children.
Used as a noun: “The road is separate from the sidewalk.”
Used as a verb: “We need to separate the oranges from the apples.”
Correct the error in this sentence:
His passion for painting effected me.
His passion for painting affected me.
- affect (v.): to influence
- effect (n.): a result
Correct the error in this sentence:
He spent alot of his time on the computer.
He spent a lot of his time on the computer.
Alot is not a word in the English language.
Be careful of another common misspelling with “allot”. This word is used to give someone something such as a task or a share.
Example: “She would allot more time to him than others.”
Correct the error in this sentence:
He was a person of principal and good to his word.
He was a person of principle and good to his word.
- principal: primary
- principle: a rule
Correct the error in this sentence:
A thief with a guilty conscious returned the jewellery he stole.
A thief with a guilty conscience returned the jewellery he stole.
- conscious (adj.): a state of awareness which refers to being awake or alert.
- conscience (n.): the awareness of one’s actions being right or wrong.
Define the highlighted word:
They were bemused by their exam results.
bemused (adj.): puzzled, confused, or bewildered.
Contrary to popular belief, bemused is not a synonym for amused.
Correct the error in this sentence:
It didn’t move at all; it seemed stationery.
It didn’t move at all; it seemed stationary.
- stationary: standing still
- stationery: formal writing paper, envelopes
Correct the error in this sentence:
The writer had a flare for comedy.
The writer had a flair for comedy.
- flair (n.): special aptitude or ability, or a sense of style.
- flare (n.): a form of light or fire (think: flare gun to signal distress).
- flare (v.): when something increases in intensity (think: their tempers flared).
Correct the error in this sentence:
He wasn’t aloud to come out of his room.
He wasn’t allowed to come out of his room.
- allowed: permitted
- aloud: out loud
Correct the error in this sentence:
For all intensive purposes, this is the same homework assignment Mr. Andrews gave us yesterday.
For all intents and purposes, this is the same homework assignment Mr. Andrews gave us yesterday.
Correct the error in this sentence:
During the ascend, we made sure to stay close to each other as we reached the peak of the mountain.
During the ascent, we made sure to stay close to each other as we reached the peak of the mountain.
- ascent (n.): a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill.
- ascend (v.): to go up or climb.
Correct this common misspelling:
acheive
achieve
Remember this helpful phrase: “i before e except after c”.
While this mnemonic works in most cases, there are hundreds of exceptions.
The best way to avoid these kinds of mistakes is to practice and memorize how to spell these words.
Correct the error in this sentence:
He flouted his new sneakers in front of his friends.
He flaunted his new sneakers in front of his friends.
- flaunt (v.): to show off or brazenly display.
- flout (v.): to openly disregard a rule or law.
Correct the error in this sentence:
She ran away last week and we haven’t seen her sins.
She ran away last week and we haven’t seen her since.
Correct the error in this sentence:
She didn’t want to dissapoint her mentor.
She didn’t want to disappoint her mentor.
Correct the error in this sentence:
A pedal of this flower is said to cure the flu.
A petal of this flower is said to cure the flu.
- pedal: lever operated by one’s foot
- petal: leaves of a flower
- peddle: to sell
Correct the error in this sentence:
Mark was suppose to pick up the pizza on his way home.
Mark was supposed to pick up the pizza on his way home.
Correct the error in this sentence:
We can’t predict the penultimate outcome of this race.
We can’t predict the ultimate outcome of this race.
- penultimate (adj.): last but one in a series of things; second last.
- ultimate (adj.): being or happening at the end of a process; final.
Correct the error in this sentence:
Don’t worry about the stain; it’s not very noticable.
Don’t worry about the stain; it’s not very noticeable.
Correct the error in this sentence:
There dogs bit our puppy, and they’re was nothing we could do to stop it. Their so mean!
Their dogs bit our puppy, and there was nothing we could do to stop it. They’re so mean!
- their: showing ownership
- there: indicating direction
- they’re: they are
Correct the error in this sentence:
Having knowledge of foreign languages was a perquisite for the job.
Having knowledge of foreign languages was a prerequisite for the job.
- prerequisite (n.): a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist.
- perquisite (n.): a benefit which one enjoys or is entitled to on account of one’s job or position.
Correct the error in this sentence:
I don’t eat any meat beside chicken.
I don’t eat any meat besides chicken.
- beside: at the side of; next to
- besides (prep.): in addition; apart from
Correct the error in this sentence:
She is a photographer to, just like him.
She is a photographer too, just like him.
- to: a preposition that indicates direction or relationship
- too: also, an excessive amount (more formal = as well)
- two: the number “2”
Correct the error in this sentence:
This coarse on marketing strategies is way too difficult!
This course on marketing strategies is way too difficult!
- course (n.): a set of classes or a plan of study on a particular subject.
- coarse (adj.): rough or harsh in texture.
Correct the error in this sentence:
Are these dirty clothes in the hallway supposed to infer that you’d like me to wash them?
Are these dirty clothes in the hallway supposed to imply that you’d like me to wash them?
- infer (v.): to conclude something
- imply (v.): to suggest something
Correct the error in this sentence:
I built this shed with my bear hands.
I built this shed with my bare hands.
- bare: empty or uncovered.
- bear: to handle or hold; the animals in the Ursidae family.
Correct this common misspelling:
fourty
forty
Correct the error in this sentence:
Shelly use to play the drums.
Shelly used to play the drums.
Correct the error in this sentence:
The thief alluded the police by disguising himself.
The thief eluded the police by disguising himself.
- allude (v.): to refer to or hint at.
- elude (v.): to evade or avoid.
Correct the error in this sentence:
She recieved perfect grades on her grammar test.
She received perfect grades on her grammar test.
Remember this helpful phrase: “i before e except after c”.
While this mnemonic works in most cases, there are hundreds of exceptions.
The best way to avoid these kinds of mistakes is to practice and memorize how to spell these words.
Correct the error in this sentence:
Who am I speaking to?
Whom am I speaking to?
Use who when referring to the subject of the sentence. Whom is not used to refer to the subject.
Or think about it this way:
Whom can be replaced by me, him, her, them. With whom am I speaking? You are speaking to him.
Who can be replaced by I, he, she, or they. Who can bring these groceries in the house? He can bring these groceries in the house.
Even though “whom” is the grammatically correct phrase, “Who am I speaking to?” is preferred as “whom” is now seen as too formal and pompous to many native speakers.
Correct the error in this sentence:
I really have an adversion to math.
I really have an aversion to math.
- averse: having a strong dislike of or opposition to something.
- adverse: preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable.
Correct the error in this sentence:
We are going to visit the Capital Building in Washington D.C. today.
We are going to visit the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. today.
- capital (n.): a city which serves as the seat of government.
- Capitol (n.): the building in which the U.S. Congress meets in Washington.
Correct the error in this sentence:
His language professor made him practice pronounciation all day.
His language professor made him practice pronunciation all day.
Correct the error in this sentence:
He was embarassed about his poor pronunciation.
He was embarrassed about his poor pronunciation.
Correct the error in this sentence:
I don’t know weather this is the right choice or not.
I don’t know whether this is the right choice or not.
- weather: the climate condition outside
- whether: an expression of choice
Correct the error in this sentence:
She went to visit her mother’s grave at the cemetary.
She went to visit her mother’s grave at the cemetery.
Correct the error in this sentence:
I saw a look of ecstacy on his face when I told him we were going to Disneyland.
I saw a look of ecstasy on his face when I told him we were going to Disneyland.
Correct the error in this sentence:
She made an appearence at the local charity.
She made an appearance at the local charity.
Correct the error in this sentence:
When you past me those notes I knew you liked me.
When you passed me those notes I knew you liked me.
- past (adv.): used to indicate the lapse of time.
- pass (v.): transfer something to someone, especially by handing it over; move or cause to move in a specified direction.
Correct the error in this sentence:
The job of a mentor is to council you on various subjects.
The job of a mentor is to counsel you on various subjects.
- council: a group of advisors
- counsel: to advise
Correct the error in this sentence:
Her friend gave her excellent advise on how to handle that project.
Her friend gave her excellent advice on how to handle that project.
- advice (n.): information or guidance that someone or something gives you.
- advise (v.): the act of giving someone advice.
Correct the error in this sentence:
I will insure that my wife makes it home safely.
I will ensure that my wife makes it home safely.
- ensure: to make certain
- insure: to provide insurance, compensation in the face of an unforeseen event
Correct the error in this sentence:
It definately was a monster under my bed.
It definitely was a monster under my bed.
Correct the error in this sentence:
I want to lay in a jacuzzi for the rest of this weekend.
I want to lie in a jacuzzi for the rest of this weekend.
- lie (v.): be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a surface; fabricate an untruth.
- lay (v.): put something down gently or carefully.
Important: the past tense of lie (in the case of position) is lay.
Just remember: lie (present tense) doesn’t affect a direct object, but lay (present tense) does.
Correct the error in this sentence:
He stepped foward so he was first in line.
He stepped forward so he was first in line.
Correct the error in this sentence:
He was awarded with a metal for his outstanding military service.
He was awarded with a medal for his outstanding military service.
- medal: award worn around the neck
- metal: shiny material
Correct the error in this sentence:
He baked a pie for everyone of his students.
He baked a pie for every one of his students.
Everyone is a pronoun that means everybody.
Only use every one to draw attention to the amount. Replace it in your head with every single one.
Correct the error in this sentence:
Her husband would buy her flowers on occassion.
Her husband would buy her flowers on occasion.
Correct the error in this sentence:
These were her every day sneakers.
These were her everyday sneakers.
When used as adjective, everyday is written as one word.
everyday (adj.): happening or used every day; daily.
Correct the error in this sentence:
Its not easy to win the Olympics.
It’s not easy to win the Olympics.
- it’s: it is
- its: possession of something
Correct the error in this sentence:
He was persistant in his request.
He was persistent in his request.
Correct the error in this sentence:
She challenged her opponent to a dual.
She challenged her opponent to a duel.
- dual: both; two parts
- duel: a battle between two people
Correct the error in this sentence:
The academic staff judged the perspective students.
The academic staff judged the prospective students.
- perspective (n.): a point of view; a particular attitude towards something.
- prospective (adj.): expected or expecting to be the specified thing in the future.
Correct the error in this sentence:
The distracting sounds in the room caused him to loose the game.
The distracting sounds in the room caused him to lose the game.
- lose: to be defeated
- loose: not tight
Correct the error in this sentence:
She prefered milk in her tea.
She preferred milk in her tea.
Remember that when a verb ends with a vowel and a consonant - and has an accent on the last syllable - it has to have the last consonant doubled before adding the suffix -ed.
Correct the error in this sentence:
She didn’t want to take the relationship any farther.
She didn’t want to take the relationship any further.
- farther: a physical distance; “Are we almost home? How much farther?”
- further: a metaphorical distance; “Do you have any further questions?”
Correct the error in this sentence:
The goverment has been slow to react to the crisis.
The government has been slow to react to the crisis.
Correct the error in the sentence:
This color is much brighter then the other.
This color is much brighter than the other.
- than: a comparison word
- then: indicating an order of events in time
What is the plural of cactus?
cacti
What is the plural of crisis?
crises
Correct the error in the sentence:
The complement he gave her brightened her day.
The compliment he gave her brightened her day.
- complement: to go well together
- compliment: a positive remark
What do you call a group of crows?
murder of crows
Correct the error in this sentence:
The dictator held power continually for fifteen years straight.
The dictator held power continuously for fifteen years straight.
- continually (adv.): repeated frequently in the same way; regularly.
- continuously (adv.): without interruption or gaps (every second of the day).
Correct the error in this sentence:
They placed the offerings at the alter.
They placed the offerings at the altar.
- alter (v.): to change something.
- altar (n.): a table or block used as the focus for a religious ritual.
What’s the plural of sheep?
sheep
Sheep is an irregular noun that does not change when made plural.
Some more examples are: fish, moose, swine, aircraft, spacecraft, and trout.
