Post by WickedElphie on Apr 14, 2009 13:11:30 GMT -5
This thread is meant to be a list of common spelling/grammar mistakes for authors to refrence when proof-reading either his or her own work or someone else's.
It would be great if everyone would add a few that they've either seen in other works...or know they tend to make themselves.
For example my weak link is homophones.
Here's some that I sometimes mix up:
effect/affect
"Effect" is a noun and "affect" is a verb.
The effect of the experiment was uncertain.
The color of the feathers affected the chances of the bird finding a mate.
feel/fell
"feel" can either mean the same as "touch" or refers to emotions. "Fell" is the past tense of fall.
She could feel how soft the pillows were. He made her feel so angry!
He almost fell off the side of the cliff.
Hear/Here
"Hear" is what you do with your ears and "here" is a place.
I can hear the bells.
I can't find my earings. They were right here!
Loose/Lose
"Loose" is the opposite of "tight" and "lose" is the opposite of "find".
His pants were so loose she wouldn't be surprised if they fell off.
Little Bo Peep lost her sheep.
tale/tail
A "tale" is a story. A "tail" is what Mickey Mouse has on his backside.
I love fairy tales.
My pet bunny has a fluffy tail.
Than/Then
"Than" is used to compare things and "then" indicates a sequence of events.
My cat is bigger than his dog.
I went to the mall and then I ate lunch at McDonalds.
There/Their/They're. "There" is a place, "their" is the plural of "his"/"hers" and "they're" is a contraction of "they are".
No, I forgot. I left my earring over there.
Their class got to go on a fieldtrip.
They're going to the movies after school.
Threw/Through
"Threw" is the past form of "to throw" and "through" is going from one side to another.
I threw the ball.
Over the hill and through the woods/to grandmother's house we go...
To/Too/Two
"To" is what you use most of the time, "too" means the same as "also" and is used to describe excess, and "two" is the number.
I'm going to the mall. I know how to swim. etc.
I want to come too. I'm too old for that. There's too much food. etc.
My cousin is two years old. I want two scoops of ice-cream. etc.
Were/Where
"Were" is the past tense of "are" and "where" refers to a place.
Where have you been?
We were picking flowers in the woods.
Your/You're
"Your" is possesive and "you're" is a contraction of "you are".
I need your help. Can I borrow your pen? What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours.
You're being a pain in the neck. You're going out tonight?
It would be great if everyone would add a few that they've either seen in other works...or know they tend to make themselves.
For example my weak link is homophones.
Here's some that I sometimes mix up:
effect/affect
"Effect" is a noun and "affect" is a verb.
The effect of the experiment was uncertain.
The color of the feathers affected the chances of the bird finding a mate.
feel/fell
"feel" can either mean the same as "touch" or refers to emotions. "Fell" is the past tense of fall.
She could feel how soft the pillows were. He made her feel so angry!
He almost fell off the side of the cliff.
Hear/Here
"Hear" is what you do with your ears and "here" is a place.
I can hear the bells.
I can't find my earings. They were right here!
Loose/Lose
"Loose" is the opposite of "tight" and "lose" is the opposite of "find".
His pants were so loose she wouldn't be surprised if they fell off.
Little Bo Peep lost her sheep.
tale/tail
A "tale" is a story. A "tail" is what Mickey Mouse has on his backside.
I love fairy tales.
My pet bunny has a fluffy tail.
Than/Then
"Than" is used to compare things and "then" indicates a sequence of events.
My cat is bigger than his dog.
I went to the mall and then I ate lunch at McDonalds.
There/Their/They're. "There" is a place, "their" is the plural of "his"/"hers" and "they're" is a contraction of "they are".
No, I forgot. I left my earring over there.
Their class got to go on a fieldtrip.
They're going to the movies after school.
Threw/Through
"Threw" is the past form of "to throw" and "through" is going from one side to another.
I threw the ball.
Over the hill and through the woods/to grandmother's house we go...
To/Too/Two
"To" is what you use most of the time, "too" means the same as "also" and is used to describe excess, and "two" is the number.
I'm going to the mall. I know how to swim. etc.
I want to come too. I'm too old for that. There's too much food. etc.
My cousin is two years old. I want two scoops of ice-cream. etc.
Were/Where
"Were" is the past tense of "are" and "where" refers to a place.
Where have you been?
We were picking flowers in the woods.
Your/You're
"Your" is possesive and "you're" is a contraction of "you are".
I need your help. Can I borrow your pen? What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours.
You're being a pain in the neck. You're going out tonight?
