daily-common-english-mistake
3:49 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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tagged: daily, common, english, mistake guardian,






The British spelling for that place also called prison 

10:03 am, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Lose/Loose

There’s no connection between “lose” and “loose”; not even a loose one.

To lose - verb - to lose something. I, you, we… lose; never: I, you, we… loose. I, you, we… lost; never: I, you, we… loosed.

Loose - adjective (pronounced like moose or noose) - slack, the opposite of tight: a loose tie, a loose fit, a loose arrangement, loose morals, a loose relationship.

(NB There is a verb to loose, but it’s very rarely used. It means to loosen, make loose, to release; it has nothing to do with losing.)


7:57 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

US: fries

UK: chips

US: chips

UK: crisps

6:27 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Points of the compass - caps: North, South, East, West (they live in the North);

Directions - no caps: north, south, east, west (I drove south).

7:05 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Farther, further

“Farther” refers to physical distance. Bertie drove farther than Reginald.

“Further” refers to an extension of time or degree. Bernard will ponder the vibe further.

10:59 am, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Don’t begin a sentence with a number in numerals (11, 12…). Either write the number out in words (Eleven, Twelve…) or recast the sentence (“100 birds flew away earlier” (wrong) > “Earlier, 100 birds flew away”)

11:35 am, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

None [Can of Worms]

Normally, the rule is - use singular: None of the members was ready (when none = not any single one).

But plural can also be used: None of the members agree (when none = no two, three, four… or no amount).

I think this is arguable, but it’s what AP writes.

11:17 am, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

The command, “Lay down!” - wrong

It’s “Lie down!”

6:55 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

US: anymore

UK: any more

8:05 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

US: fill out (a form)

UK: fill in (a form)

1:47 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Further / Farther

Further - refers to an extension of time or degree; e.g., “We need to study this further.”

Farther - refers to length or distance; e.g., “I went farther north.”

10:52 am, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Envelop - verb

Envelope - noun

1:55 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Dwarfs / Dwarves

“Dwarfs” is correct.

“Dwarves” used by Tolkien, and widely adopted ever after

2:15 pm, by daily-deep-quote
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daily-common-english-mistake

Pesky North, South, East, West

Points of compass: small first letters - north, south, east, west.

Regions: Capitalized first letters - I’ll be in the North; I’m heading South; I’m a Northerner.

Descriptions of places: small first letters - eastern Siberia; western France.

Descriptions of widely-known places: capitalized first letters - Southern California; Lower East Side.

11:18 am, by daily-deep-quote
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