100 Common Word Usage ProblemsRules 21-40

( 21 ) At

Do not use at after “where.” Simply eliminate it.

INCORRECT: Do the guests know where the train station is at?

CORRECT: Do the guests know where the train station is?

( 22 ) At About

Avoid using at with about. Simply eliminate at or about.

INCORRECT: The delegates arrived at about noon.

CORRECT: The delegates arrived at noon.

( 23 ) Awful, Awfully

Awful is used informally to imply “extremely bad.” Awfully is used informally to mean “very.” Both modifiers are overused and must be replaced with more descriptive words. In formal writing, awful must be used only to mean “inspiring fear.”

INFORMAL: Mary looked awful when she was hospitalized.BETTER: Mary seemed pale and weak when she was hospitalized. INFORMAL: Mary was awfully weak. BETTER: Mary was exhausted.

( 24 ) A While, Awhile

Awhile is an adverb, which in itself means “for a while.” A while is an article and a noun, and is normally used after the preposition “for.”

Stay for awhile/a while and keep me company.Stay for a while and keep me company.

Rest awhile/a while before you leave.Rest awhile before you leave.

( 25 ) Beat, Win

Beat means “to overcome (an opponent).” Win means “to obtain victory in.” Do not use win instead of beat.

INCORRECT: The Dodgers won the Yankees in the World Series.

CORRECT: The Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series.

( 26 ) Because

Do not use because after “the reason.” Rephrase the sentence using one or the other.

INCORRECT: The reason we are late is because our car broke down.

CORRECT: We are late because our car broke down.CORRECT: The reason we are late is that our car broke down.

( 27 ) Being That, Being As

Avoid using the expressions being as and being that. Use “since” or “because” instead.

INCORRECT: Being that it was raining outside, we cancelled the baseball game.

CORRECT: Because it was raining outside, we cancelled the baseball game.

( 28 ) Beside, Besides

Beside means “next to” or “close to.” Besides means “in addition to” and “except for” or “apart from.”

Linda was beside/besides me during the interview.Linda was beside me during the interview. Who beside/besides you will come to the game?Who besides you will come to the game?

( 29 ) Blond, Blonde

Blond and blonde. These two words mean exactly the same thing, but…• Blonde describes only females.• Blond can be used to describe males or

females.My brother is blond/blonde.My brother is blond.Harriet is the only blond/blonde girl in our family.Harriet is the only blond/blonde girl in our family.

( 30 ) Bring, Take

Bring means “to carry from a distant place to a nearer one.” Take means the opposite: “to carry from a close to place to a more distant one.”

Please bring/take your paper to me.Please bring your paper to me.

Will you bring/take the dang dog for a walk?Will you take the dang dog for a walk?

( 31 ) Bunch

Bunch means “a variety of things of the identical kind.” Avoid using this word to mean “group.”

She bought a group/bunch of grapes.She bought a bunch of grapes.

A group/bunch of us went downtown to see the play.A group of us went downtown to see the play.

( 32 ) Burst, Bust, Busted

Burst is the usual present, past, and past participle of the verb burst. Bust and busted are nonstandard forms.

Marco will burst/bust if he takes one more bite! Marco will burst if he takes one more bite!

( 33 ) But what

Do not use but what. Instead, use that.

I don’t doubt (but what/that) I will succeed. I don’t doubt that I will succeed.

( 34 ) Can, May

Use can to imply “to have the ability to.” Use may to imply “to have permission to” or “to be possible or likely to.”

Can/may I go to the restroom?May I go to the restroom?

( 35 ) Can’t Help But

Can’t help but is a nonstandard expression. Use can’t help plus a gerund instead.

INCORRECT: I can’t help but consider all the pain. CORRECT: I can’t help considering all the pain.

( 36 ) Clipped Words

Avoid clipped or shortened words, equivalent to gym, phone, and photo in formal writing.

INFORMAL: I kept a photo of you on the wall of my closet. FORMAL: I kept a photograph of you on the wall of my closet.

( 37 ) Condemn, Condone

Condemn means “to express strong disapproval of.” Condone means “to pardon or overlook.”

They condoned/condemned him for his cruelty to animals.They condemned him for his cruelty to animals.

I cannot condone/condemn such cruelty.I cannot condone/ condemn such cruelty.

( 38 ) Continual, Continuous

Continual means “occurring many times in succession.” Continuous means “occurring without interruption.”

His continuous/continual tardiness caused him to be fired. His continual tardiness caused him to be fired.

I thought the continual/continuous music would never stop.I thought the continuous music would never stop.

( 39 ) Different From/Than

Different from is preferable to different than.

Her idea of entertainment is different from/than mine.Her idea of entertainment is different from mine.

( 40 ) Doesn’t, Don’t

Do not use don’t with third-person singular nouns. Use doesn’t instead.

She don’t/doesn’t know where she’s heading.She doesn’t know where she’s heading.

In class assignment

Review usage problems #21-40Download from NetMoeller:

100 Common Usage Problems

Complete questions: Exercises C-DRecord your answers on the answer

sheet given to you.