1. Find it fix it Using the Wrong Word

2. Using the wrong word It is very important to use the right word when writing. It adds clarity and authority to your writing. It’s very easy to blame “auto correct” or a typo (I have typos all of the time), but it is your responsibility to make sure you are using the right words.

3. Clarify meaning Try not to confuse the meanings of words with similar spellings. Also, words with similar definitions can have important shades of meaning. Check that words you found in a thesaurus are used correctly.

4. Common Usage problems a, an - The use of these words depends on the sound of the word that follows it. A is used before a consonant sound, while an is used before a vowel sound. accept, except - Accept (v) means “to receive” Except (prep) means “to leave out” or “other than”

5. Common usage problems affect, effect - Affect is almost always a verb meaning “to influence” Effect, usually a noun, means “a result.” Sometimes effect is a verb meaning “to bring about” or “to cause” all ready, already - All ready means “ready.” Already, means “by or before this time” or “even now.” all right, alright - Never use alright. It should always be two words.

6. common usage problems all together, altogether - All together means “together as a single group” Altogether means “completely” or “in all” among, between - Among shows a connection between three or more items. Between shows a connection between two items anxious - This implies uneasiness, worry, or fear. Do not use it as a substitute for eager.

7. common usage problems anyone, any one, everyone, every one - anyone and everyone mean “any or every person” any one and every one means “any or every single person (or thing) anyway, anywhere, everywhere, nowhere, somewhere - they should never end in -s

8. common usage problems at- Do not use at after where. Simply eliminate at awful, awfully - Awful is used informally to mean that something is “extremely bad.” Awfully is used to mean “very.”

9. common usage problems awhile, a while - Awhile is an adv. that means “for a short time.” A while, a noun, means “a period of time.” beat, win - When you win, you “achieve a victory in something.” When you beat someone or something, you “overcome an opponent.”

10. common usage problems because - Do not use because after the phrase the reason being as, being that - Avoid using either of theses. Use because instead beside, besides - Beside means “at the side of” or “close to” Besides means “in addition to” bring, take - Bring means “to carry from a distant place to a nearer one. Take is to “carry from a near place to a far one”

11. common usage problems can, may - Use can to mean “have the ability to” use may to mean “have permission to” or “to be likely to” clipped words - avoid using clipped or shortened words such as gym and photo in formal writing different from, different than - Different from is preferred

12. common usage problems doesn’t, don’t - Do not use don’t with third- person singular subjects. done - Done should always take a helping verb due to - Due to means “caused by” and should be used only when the words “caused by can be logically substituted

13. common usage problems farther, further - farther refers to distance. Further means “additional” or “to a greater degree or extent gone, went - Gone is only used with a helping verb. Went is never used with a helping verb learn, teach - Learn means “to receive knowledge”. Teach means “to give knowledge”

14. common usage problems leave, let - Leave means “to allow to remain.” Let means “to permit.” loose, lose - Loose is usually an adj. or part of idioms as cut loose, turn loose, etc. Lose is always a verb and means “to miss from one’s possession.

15. common usage problems lay, lie - Lay means “to put or set (something) down. Lie means “to recline” of - Do not use of after a helping verb such as should, would, could, or must. precede, proceed- Precede means “to go before” Proceed means “to move or go forward” seen - Seen must be used with a helping verb

16. common usage problems set, sit - Set means “to put (something) in a certain place.” Sit means “to be seated” so - Avoid using so when you mean “so that” than, then - Use than in comparisons - use then to refer to time their, there, they’re - Their is a possessive pronoun, there refers to a place or direction, they’re is a contraction of they are