If something
doesn't sit well with you, will you be able to set aside your
feelings?
If
your brother turned into a frog, should you turn him in to
your parents? Does the principal establish the principle of
the thing? And frankly, is every supermarket Express Line wrong?
We're
back again with the next 5 most commonly misused words in the English
language and we're tackling some tough phrases that can be incredibly
confusing. Without further delay, here they are!
Fewer
vs. Less
fewer - Used with
count nouns (nouns that can be pluralized when needed), fewer is a
quantifier indicating "a smaller number of."
Incorrect:
Yellow Express Lane: 10 Items or Less
Correct: Yellow Express Lane: 10 Items or Fewer
less - Used with
non-count nouns or mass nouns (a noun that indicates both plural and non
plural when appropriate), less indicates a "smaller amount
of" or "not as much."
Incorrect:
The rabid mongoose would do fewer
harm if it was given ping pong paddles.
Correct: The rabid mongoose would do less harm if it was given ping pong paddles.
Into
vs. In to
into - Expressing
movement or action with the result that someone or something makes physical
contact with, becomes enclosed, or is surrounded by something else.
Combined with the word "turn," into also indicates
changing someone or something into someone or something else.
Incorrect:
She imagined turning her boss in to a
newt.
Correct: She imagined turning her boss into a newt.
in
to
- The adverb "in" (expressing movement with the result that
someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else) is
followed by preposition "to" (expressing motion in the
direction). Combined with the word "turn," in to also
indicates giving, passing, or exchanging someone or something to someone or
something else.
Incorrect:
She turned her report into her boss.
Correct: She turned her report in to her boss.
Past
vs. Passed
past - Reference to
a distance or a period of time before now.
Incorrect:
The tourists drove passed the large
dark aardvark in the park.
Correct: The tourists drove past the large dark aardvark in the park.
passed - The action
of passing; i.e., to move or cause to move in a specified direction to go
past or across or to leave behind.
Incorrect:
The aardvark past the time burrowing.
Correct: The aardvark passed the time burrowing.
Principle
vs. Principal
principle - A
fundamental source or basis of something.
Incorrect:
"Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principal is always a vice." - Thomas
Paine
Correct: "Moderation in temper is
always a virtue; but moderation in principle
is always a vice." - Thomas Paine
principal - First in
order of importance main, denoting an original sum invest or lent (money),
or the person with the highest authority.
Incorrect:
The winners are paid from the interest without even touching the principle.
Correct: The winners are paid from the
interest without even touching the principal.
Set
vs. Sit
set - To put, lay,
or stand (something) in a specified place or position.
Incorrect:
Sit the fence post into a bed of
concrete for added stability.
Correct: Set
the fence post into a bed of concrete for added stability.
sit - To adopt or
rest with the torso vertical and the body supported on the buttocks; to
remain inactive or unused; to be engaged in business; or the way in which
an item of clothing fits someone.
Incorrect:
The idea didn't set well with
Fernado.
Correct: The idea didn't sit well with Fernado.
Maintain
your credibility with your audience by proofreading your articles for these
misused words and making any necessary revisions.
Do you have any misused words you’d like to see added to the Top Misused
Words series? Click
here to share them in the comments section – we’d love to hear from
you!
Check
out Top Misused Words Parts I,
II,
III,
IV,
V,
VI,
and VII
for more!
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