1. Common Errors in English
S.L.Aishwariya Laxmi

2. Which word or phrase to use
He gave some good advice. (Not, advices) You should follow your doctor’s advice Let me give you a piece of advice What do you advise me to do? You are the best person to advise me on this question.

3. Alright or All right
“Alright” is an incorrect way of writing “All right” I hope you are all right.

4. Among; between
“Among” is used for more than two persons or things. “Between” is used for only two persons or things. The sweets were divided among the five boys I stood between my father and my mother.

5. A news; news
It is wrong to say “I have a news for you” Say: “ I have some news for you” The word “news” has no plural. So do not say, “All the news are good” Say: “All the news is good” Note: You can say: a piece or pieces of news; a bit or bits of news; but never “a news”, e.g I have a piece of news for you These bits of news only increase my anxiety. I heard only the last item of news on the radio.

6. A scissor or scissors
It should be “scissors” because the instrument has two blades. It is, therefore, wrong to say, “Bring me the scissor” or, “Where is the scissor?” Say: “Bring me the scissors.” or “Where are the scissors?”

7. A spectacle or spectacles
It should be “spectacles”, e.g He is wearing spectacles ( or, a pair of spectacles) (Not, he is wearing a spectacle)

8. At; in
“At” refers to a point of time. “In” refers to a larger space of time, e.g. He came at 2 o’ clock in the afternoon. In the same way, for a small place we use “at” and for a bigger place, we use “in”, e.g He lives at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

9. Discuss about
“Discuss” means “to talk about”. It is, therefore, not necessary to use the word “about”, e.g. We shall discuss the matter I want to discuss a question with you I discussed with him how to do it.

10. Each other; one another
“Each other” is used for “two” persons; “One another” for “more than two”, e.g The two girls helped each other The people helped one another.

11. Information; informations
I have received some information Can you give me any information on this matter That’s a useful bit of information

12. It’s is a short form for It is. This is a cat. Its tail is long.
Its VS. it’s
Its is a possessive.
It’s is a short form for It is.
This is a cat. Its tail is long.
That is a table. Its legs are broken.
It’s a long distance from here.
It’s broken.

13. One of the
He is one of the boys
She is one of my friends.

14. I like the mountain scenery They stopped to admire the scenery.
Scenery or sceneries
I like the mountain scenery
They stopped to admire the scenery.
‘Scenery’ is singular.