USAGE

PROBLEMS
CATEGORIES OF USAGE
PROBLEMS
 Words Often Interchanged
 Definitions of Words Clarified
 Rules in Formal Writing
A. WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 ACCEPT (vb): to receive
EXCEPT (prep): leaving out; other than

Ex. We ____________ your proposal

_______________ the terms of payment.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 ACCUSE (vb): to bring a charge against
ALLEGE (vb): to claim something that has not been
proven

Ex. Jesus was ____________________ of blasphemy

because He __________________ called Himself
the Son of God.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 ADAPT(vb): to change; to adjust
ADOPT(vb): to take as one’s own

Ex. The __________________ child has to

__________________ in his new environment.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 ADVICE : noun; an opinion
ADVISE : verb; to give an opinion

Ex. ____________________ your friend not to give

any more unsolicited ________________.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 AFFECT (vb): to influence
EFFECT (n): result
(vb): to bring about; to cause

Ex. The _________________ of global warming are

___________________ the health and lifestyle of
people.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 ALLOT (vb): to divide in parts; to give out in shares
A LOT (informal expression): a great many; a great
amount
ALOT : nonstandard; not be used

Ex. The government will _______________

______________ of lands for farming.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 ALL READY (adj): ready
ALREADY (adv): by or before this time; even now

Ex. Are the animals ______________ to perform in

the circus ________________?
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 ALL TOGETHER (adv): all at once
ALTOGETHER (adv): completely; in all

Ex. The team was _______________________

exhausted after it defended its championship title
____________________.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 AMONG (prep): implies three or more
BETWEEN (prep): used for two items only

Ex. Just __________________ you and me, whom do

you think should win __________________ the five
candidates for presidency?
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 AMOUNT : mass nouns
NUMBER : count nouns

Ex. With that ________________ of tasks, you need

a great _________________ of patience and
hardwork.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 FEWER : count nouns
LESS: mass nouns

Ex. Now that there are __________________

members in the house, the old couple has
_________________ worries.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 AWHILE (adv) : for a while
A WHILE (article “a” + noun) : usually used after the
preposition “for”

Ex. ________________ ago, the doctor said that he

will be gone only for _________________.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 AS (prep): simultaneous time; equal comparison
LIKE (prep): similarity

Ex. ______________ a graceful swan, the ballerina

prances ______________ the orchestra played on.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 BEAT (vb): to overcome an opponent
WIN (vb): to achieve victory in

Ex. To ________________ the championship, the Cubs

must _______________ all other teams twice.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 BESIDE (prep) : next to
BESIDES (conj) : aside from

Ex. ____________ the table and the dresser, what

other piece of furniture will be placed
______________ the bed?
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 BRING (vb): from far to near
TAKE (vb): from near to far

Ex. _______________ this folio to the office and

_________________ the other folders from there.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 CAN (vb): ability
MAY (vb): possibility, permission

Ex. I ___________ see you tomorrow if you

_________________adjust your schedule.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 CONDEMN (vb): to strongly disapprove
CONDONE (vb): to pardon or overlook;
to tolerate

Ex. Although the Church does not

_________________ homosexuality, it does not
__________________ homosexual acts.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 CONTINUAL (adj): occurring again and again in
succession; with intervals
CONTINUOUS (adj): occurring without interruption

Ex. The ________________ pouring of the rain

caused floods.
The ______________ ringing of the bell every
40 minutes signals change of periods.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 EACH OTHER : to refer to two items
ONE ANOTHER: to refer to three or more items

Ex. Jesus said, “Love __________________.”

“Husbands and wives, honor
_______________________.”
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 EMIGRATE (vb): to leave a country for new
residency
IMMIGRATE (vb): to enter a country to establish
residency

Ex. The family __________________ from Africa and

___________________ to Canada to establish a
new home.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 FARTHER (adj., adv): distance; concrete
measurement
FURTHER (adj., adv.): degree, extent, level; abstract
measurement

Ex. If you want to go ________________ in your

learning, explore _________________ than the
four corners of your classroom.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 FORMER: first item
LATTER: last item

Ex. UP and UST are top-performing universities. The

___________________ is a state institution while
the ____________________ is a Catholic school.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 HANGED (past vb): executed
HUNG (past vb): suspended; mounted on a wall

Ex. A painting of a ___________________ witch

_______________ on the wall of the receiving
room.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 HEALTHY (adj): describes people
HEALTHFUL (adj): describes things, habits, practices

Ex. To stay _____________________, maintain a

____________________ lifestyle.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 IN (prep): position
INTO (prep): motion

Ex. The filthy mouse __________ the cupboard ran

_____________________ the living room.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 JUDICIAL (adj.): relating to the administration of
justice
JUDICIOUS (adj.): showing wisdom

Ex. The ____________________ judge is an expert in

____________________ matters.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 LAY (reg. vb.): to produce eggs
lay-laying-layed-layed
(irreg. vb.): to put or set something down
lay-laying-laid-laid

LIE (reg. vb.): to not tell the truth

lie-lying-lied-lied
(irreg, vb.): to recline
lie-lying-lay-lain
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 LEARN (vb): to acquire knowledge
TEACH (vb): to give knowledge to

Ex. _________________ to work hard and

____________________ others to do the same.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 LEAVE (vb): to allow to remain
LET (vb): to permit

Ex. _____________ her alone and _______________

her think over the decision she made.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 LOOSE (adj): not tight; used in idioms
LOSE (vb): to miss from one’s possession

Ex. He should not _______________ some more

pounds or else these _____________ pants will not
fit him.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 MAYBE (adv): perhaps
MAY BE (hv + vb “be”): usually followed by a main
verb, noun, pronoun, adjective

Ex. _________________ next time, the project

_________________ made more interesting.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 PERSECUTE (vb): to subject to ill treatment
PROSECUTE (vb): to bring a lawsuit against

Ex. Jesus was _____________________ by scourging

and was ____________________ for blasphemy.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 PRECEDE (vb): to go before
PROCEED (vb): to move or go forward

Ex. Before we ________________ to the next

chapter, review the _________________
discussions.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 PRINCIPAL (n): head of a school
(adj): chief, main, most important
PRINCIPLE (n): a fundamental law

Ex. The _________________ of the

_______________________ is to uphold the
integrity of the students and faculty.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 SET(vb): to put; transitive
SIT(vb): to be seated; intransitive

Ex. Let us all _____________ down for dinner is

already _______________.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 RAISE (vb): transitive; takes a direct object
RISE (vb): intransitive; complete in itself

Ex. Complaints ______________ when prices of basic

commodities are __________________.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 SO : coordinating conjunction
: indicates result
SO THAT: subordinating conjunction
: indicates reason

Ex. We studied ________________ we passed.

We will study _______________ we will pass.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 THAN (prep): unequal comparison
THEN (adv): time

Ex. Teenagers ____________ were more reserved

____________ they are now.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 THAT : things and persons
WHO : persons only
WHICH : things only

Ex. Is Frank, _____________ is absent today, your

neighbor?
That dog, _____________ is barking loudly,
disturbs the entire neighborhood.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 THEIR : possessive pronoun; followed by a noun
THERE : adverb of place; expletive
THEY’RE : contraction of “they are”

Ex. ____________ taking _____________ goods

______________ somewhere in the south.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 YOUR : possessive pronoun followed by a noun
YOU’RE: contraction of “you are”

Ex. _________________ quite late on

_____________ school project if you start just now.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 TO : preposition; followed either by a:
* verb to form an infinitive
* noun/ pronoun to form a prep phrase
TOO : adverb of degree or affirmation
TWO : number
Ex. _________ be involved with ________
relationships at the same time may be
____________ troublesome.
WORDS OFTEN
INTERCHANGED
 WHO – nominative case; used as a subject,
predicate nominative, appositive
WHOM – objective case; used as direct object,
indirect object, object of preposition
WHOSE – possessive case; used to show ownership
B. MEANINGS OF WORDS
CLARIFIED
WORD MISCONSTRUED REAL MEANING
MEANING
AGGRAVATE (vb) to annoy to make worse
ANXIOUS (adj) eager worried; uneasy
BUNCH (n) group a number of things of
the same kind
PARAMETER (n) boundary; scope; limit; a variable
detail (mathematical
context)
QUITE (adv) a little very; completely
REAL (adj) very; really authentic
SHAPE (n) condition spatial form; figure
UNIQUE (adj) odd; interesting; unusual one of a kind; a
prototype
MEANINGS OF WORDS
CLARIFIED
WORD INFORMAL FORMAL MEANING
MEANING
AWFUL (adj) extremely bad inspiring fear
AWFULLY (adv) very
MAD (adj) angry insane
OK, okay all right satisfactory, well
(interjection)
C. RULES OF FORMAL
WRITING
 A : used before consonant sounds
AN: used before vowel sounds

 AIN’T – is not / isn’t (singular subjects)

- are not / aren’t (plural subjects)
- am not / amn’t (I)

 AM/PM – not to be used together with the phrases

“in the morning” or “in the afternoon”
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 ANYONE / EVERYONE: mean “any person” or

“every person”
ANY ONE / EVERY ONE: mean “any single person
or thing” or “every single person or thing”; followed
by an of-phrase

Ex. _______________ of the class may volunteer to

bring these to the laboratory.
________________ may volunteer to bring these
to the laboratory.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 BUT WHAT – replace with a THAT-clause

 AS TO – replace with an ABOUT - phrase

 AT ABOUT– replace either with:

AT – exact time
ABOUT – approximate time
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 ALRIGHT – replace with all right

 “THE REASON...” – followed with a THAT- clause, not with a

because – clause
OR
[Effect] BECAUSE [Cause].

Ex. The reason we suffer is that we elect incompetent leaders.

OR
We suffer because we elect incompetent leaders.
(effect) (cause)
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 BEING AS / BEING THAT – replace with SINCE or

BECAUSE

 CAN’T HELP BUT– can’t help + GERUND

 CLIPPED WORDS– shortened words not used in

formal writing; should be spelt in full
ex. gym – gymnasium
phone - telephone
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 DIFFERENT THAN – should be different FROM

 DO / DO NOT / DON’T – plural subjects

DOES / DOES NOT/DOESN’T – singular subjects
ex. She ______________ know anything about it.
We _______________ know everything.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 DUE TO: means “caused by”

: effect followed by the cause

Ex. Classes were suspended due to strong rains.

Due to strong rains, classes were suspended.

 DUE TO THE FACT THAT : very redundant; replace

with a SINCE-clause or BECAUSE-clause
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 ANYWAY, ANYWHERE, EVERYWHERE, NOWHERE,

SOMEWHERE (adverbs) : never end in –s

 IRREGARDLESS
– replace with REGARDLESS
- meaning “without consideration to”
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 PAST PARTICIPLES
- used always with a helping verb
- used for perfect tenses
Ex. I seen it!
Revised: I have seen it!
I saw it!
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 MODIFIERS : should be placed as closely as possible
with the word they modify
adjectives: modify nouns and pronouns
adverbs: modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs and
verbals

Ex. Only God can make a tree.

God can make a tree only.

I have just eaten lunch.

I have eaten just lunch.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 KIND OF + adjective – replace with SOMEWHAT OR
RATHER (adverbs of degree)
SORT OF + adjective

 KIND OF + singular noun

KINDS of + plural noun

SORT OF + singular noun

SORTS OF + plural noun

Ex. Which sort of fabric is required?

What kinds of animals must be featured?
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 OK, OKAY – replace with better adjectives that

mean satisfactory

 OUGHT – auxiliary verb; never preceded by a

modal ( has, have or had)
Ex. The situation has ought to be better now.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 GOOD, LOVELY, NICE, COOL, GREAT – have been overly used as
modifiers to almost anything; to be replaced by more specific
adjectives

Ex. This place is lovely.

That dress is nice.

I feel good.

 NO “OF” after outside, inside, off and atop

Ex. Keep off of the grass.
Go inside of the house.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 OUTSIDE OF – replace with BESIDES or EXCEPT

 IRREGULAR PLURALS:
- usually from Greek and Roman origins
- have different spellings; do not have –s or –es
- take plural verbs, pronoun adjectives

Ex. The mass media is responsible for the easy dissemination of

information.

That criteria is not enough to assess the project.

RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 WANT IN – want to go in
WANT OUT – want to go out

 Do NOT put WANT before prepositions such as DOWN, OFF or UP.

Ex. She wants down from the horse.

Revised: She wants to get down from the horse.

 TAKE AND – Eliminate the expression.

Ex. Take and place the ingredients into the pot.

Revised: Place the ingredients into the pot.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 Do not use WHEN or WHERE directly after a linking

verb.

Ex. The Barasoain Church was where they tied the knots.
Revised: The Barasoain Church was the place where
they tied the knots.

Today is when the senator declared his resignation.

Revised: Today is the unfortunate time when the
senator declared his resignation.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 THEM : always a personal pronoun, not an adjective

Ex. Them flowers are for you
Revised: These flowers are for you.
Their flowers are for you.

 THESE HERE, THIS HERE, THAT THERE, THOSE THERE –

remove here and there
Ex. This here pencil needs sharpening.
Revised: This pencil needs sharpening.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 Avoid using the suffix -WISE to create new words for

particular situation

Ex. Education-wise, this method is better.

Revised: In terms of education, this method is
better.

This freezer is very efficient, energy-wise.

Revised: This freezer is energy-efficient.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 ABSOLUTE SUPERLATIVES do not have positive and comparative degrees.
examples:
unique square supreme
absolute circle super
perfect

Ex. God is the most Supreme Being

Revised: God is the Supreme Being.

Your idea is more unique than mine

Revised: Your idea is unique.
Your idea is more practical than mine.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 PLURALS OF TERMS, NUMERIC or LETTER SYMBOLS – add –s

Ex. I learn my ABCs from my parents.

How many “buts” did you see in the paragraph?

 Never start sentences with AND, BUT, SO, YET (coordinating conjunctions).
Replace them with CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS.

Ex. And they lived happily ever after

Revised: Moreover, they lived happily after.

But the survivors found their way in the forest.

Revised: However, the survivors found their way into the forest.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 GONNA – replace with GOING TO

WANNNA – replace with WANT TO
KINDA – replace with KIND OF
SORTA – replace with SORT OF

 PROPER USES OF THE APOSTROPHE (‘):

- to show ownership
- for contractions
NEVER TO SHOW PLURALITY
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING
 No more AT after a WHERE-clause
Ex. I do not know where the Office is at.

IF / WHETHER (conjunctive adverbs): denote condition

or option.
Do not write OR NOT when using a whether- clause
Ex. Whether you go or not, you have to pay.
Revised: Whether you go, you have to pay.
Whether you go or stay, you have to
pay.
RULES OF FORMAL WRITING

 GET : overly used as verb; replace with better verbs

such OBTAIN, EARN, ACHIEVE, CATCH, CONTRACT,
RECEIVE
Ex. The children got colds due to the weather.
Revised: The children caught colds due to the
weather.
The school has gotten the certification of
merit.
Revised: The school has earned the certification
of merit.