Usage Review C

had ought, hadn’t ought  Do not use had or hadn’t with ought. Incorrect: You hadn’t ought to tease your little sister. Correct: You ought to be nice to your sister.

he, she, it, they  Avoid using a pronoun along with its antecedent as the subject of a verb. Incorrect: The magazine article it is well written. Incorrect: The magazine article it is well written. Correct: The magazine article is well written.

Hisself, theirself, theirselves  These words are nonstandard. Avoid using these forms in speech and in all writing other than dialogue. Instead, use himself and themselves. Incorrect: He was so upset with hisself when he forgot to turn in the paper. Incorrect: He was so upset with hisself when he forgot to turn in the paper. Correct: He was so upset with himself when he forgot to turn in the paper.

hopefully Hopefully means “in a hopeful manner” or “it is to be hoped.” Use it as an adverb. Incorrect: Hopefully, we will be able to get to school on time. Incorrect: Hopefully, we will be able to get to school on time. Correct: The scientists hopefully tested the hypothesis. Correct: The scientists hopefully tested the hypothesis.

imply, infer  Imply means “to suggest.” Example: My mother implied that I wasn’t telling her the truth. Example: My mother implied that I wasn’t telling her the truth.  Infer means “to interpret” or “to draw as a conclusion.” Example: Based on your body language, I can infer that you are not being honest. Example: Based on your body language, I can infer that you are not being honest.

in, into  In means “within.” Example: I know that my notebook is somewhere in the room. Example: I know that my notebook is somewhere in the room.  Into means “from the outside to the inside.” Example: Kevin quickly jumped into the pool.  In formal situations, avoid using in for into. Wrong: I poured the batter from the bowl in the pan. Wrong: I poured the batter from the bowl in the pan. Correct: I poured the batter from the bowl into the pan.

its, it’s  Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it. It’s is the contraction of it is. Incorrect: Its a good thing you studied last night; we have a test today. Correct: It’s a good thing you studied last night; we have a test today

kind of, sort of, kind of a, sort of a  In formal situations, avoid using kind of or sort of for the adverb somewhat or rather. Incorrect: I am kind of nervous about the tryouts. Correct: I am somewhat nervous about the tryouts.  In formal situations, omit the a. Incorrect: It is a kind of a herbivore. Correct: It is a kind of herbivore.

Learn, teach  Learn means “to gain knowledge.” Example: I would like to learn how to play chess. Example: I would like to learn how to play chess.  Teach means “to provide with knowledge.” Example: Will you teach me the fundamental rules of chess? Example: Will you teach me the fundamental rules of chess?

leave, let  Leave means “to go away”. Let means “to permit” or “to allow”. Do not use leave for let. Incorrect: Leave me be. Incorrect: Leave me be. Correct: Let me be.

lie, lay  Lie and lay seem to give people more difficulty than do all the other irregular verbs combined. That's probably because the past tense form of lie is lay and thus indistinguishable from lay in the present tense except in usage.  The principal parts (most-common verb forms) of lie are lie (present,) lay (past) and lain (past participle).  The principal parts of lay are lay (present), laid (past) and laid (past participle).

lie, lay  As an aid in choosing the correct verb forms, remember that lie means to recline, whereas lay means to put something down.  Lie means that the actor (subject) is doing something to himself or herself. It's what grammarians call a complete verb. When accompanied by subjects, complete verbs tell the whole story.  Lay, on the other hand, means that the subject is acting on something or someone else; therefore, it requires a complement to make sense. Thus lay always takes a direct object. Lie never does.

lie, lay The printout is lying there next to the computer. The secretary is laying a copy of the printout next to the computer. The holiday decorations lay in the box. Martha carefully laid the holiday decorations in the box. My basset hound has lain in front of the fireplace since early this morning. My basset hound has laid my slippers in front of the fireplace.

like, as  Like is a preposition. In formal situations, do not use like for the conjunction as to introduce a subordinate clause. Informal: The stir fry did not turn out like I had hoped. Informal: The stir fry did not turn out like I had hoped. Formal: The stir fry did not turn out as I had hoped. Formal: The stir fry did not turn out as I had hoped.

like, as if, as though  In formal situations, avoid using the preposition like for the conjunction as if or as though to introduce a subordinate clause Informal: That guitar sounds like it is out of tune. Informal: That guitar sounds like it is out of tune. Formal: That guitar sounds as if it is out of tune. Formal: That guitar sounds as if it is out of tune.