Common Errors Starting with A
acrossed vs across
<p>Across means that which lies between two points of interest or on opposites sides either at or near the far end of a point.</p><pre>"On my way back from school, I saw Mum's friend across the stree…
Read Moreabsorbtion vs absorption
<p>When "absorb" went to become a noun it dropped it's "b" and picked up a "p" on the way. Nobody knows why it did so. Anyway, long story short, "absorbtion" is a misspelling. Absorption is correct. …
Read Moreabstruse vs obtuse
Most people first encounter “obtuse” in geometry class, where it labels an angle of more than 90 degrees. Imagine what sort of blunt arrowhead that kind of angle would make and you will understand wh…
Read Moreacapella vs a capella vs a cappella
In referring to singing unaccompanied by instruments, the traditional spelling is the Italian one, a cappella: two words, two Ps, two Ls. The Latin spelling a capella is learned; but in the realm of …
Read Moreaccede vs exceed
If you drive too fast, you exceed the speed limit. “Accede” is a much rarer word meaning “give in,” “agree.”
Read Moreaccent marks
In what follows, “accent mark” will be used in a loose sense to include all diacritical marks that guide pronunciation. Operating systems and programs differ in how they produce accent marks, but it’…
Read Moreaccept vs except
<p>Accept means to receive something especially with consent or approval. It could also mean being admitted to a place, an institution or a firm.</p><pre>"Accept my heartfelt condolences on the death…
Read Moreaccess vs get access to
“Access” is one of many nouns that’s been turned into a verb in recent years. Conservatives object to phrases like “you can access your account online.” Substitute “use,” “reach,” or “get access to” …
Read Moreaccidently vs accidentally
<p>Accidentally is an adverb that means that something was not intentional or on purpose (by accident). </p><pre>"I accidentally dropped my laptop into the pool at work."</pre><p>Accidently is a comm…
Read Moreaccurate vs precise
&In ordinary usage, “accurate” and “precise” are often used as roughsynonyms, but scientists like to distinguish between them. Someone couldsay that a snake is over a meter long and be accurate (the …
Read Moreacronyms and apostrophes
<p>Acronyms are abbreviations formed by the initial letters taken from a word or series of word that is itself pronounced as a word. E.g RAM, NOUN, HTML etc</p><pre>"What is the acronym for Uninterru…
Read Moreactionable vs doable
<p>Actionable is a management term which means capable of being articulated as an action item or a set of action items. It also means affording grounds for legal actions.</p><p>Doable means to be pos…
Read Moreactual fact vs actually
“In actual fact” is an unnecessarily complicated way of saying “actually.”
Read Moreadapt vs adopt
You can adopt a child or a custom or a law; in all of these cases you are making the object of the adoption your own, accepting it. If you adapt something, however, you are changing it. ="144" height…
Read Moreaddicting vs addictive
Do you find beer nuts addicting or addictive? “Addicting” is a perfectly legitimate word, but much less common than “addictive,”and some people will scowl at you if you use it.
Read Moreadminister vs minister
You can minister to someone by administering first aid. Note how the “ad” in “administer” resembles “aid” in order to remember the correct form of the latter phrase. “Minister” as a verb always requi…
Read Moreadministrate vs administer
Although it is very popular with administrators and others, many people scorn “administrate” as an unnecessary substitute for the more common verb form “administer.”
Read Moreadmission vs admittance
“Admission” is a much more common word than “admittance” and is a good choice for almost all contexts. You may gain admission or admittance to a college, but you’ll probably be dealing with its admis…
Read Moread nauseum vs ad nauseam
Seeing how often ad nauseam is misspelled makes some people want to throw up. English writers also often mistakenly half-translate the phrase as ad nausea.This Latin phrase comes from a term in logic…
Read Moreadopted vs adoptive
Some people seem to think that “adoptive” is just a more fancy word than “adopted” and write about “the adoptive child.” But the two words have different meanings. Parents who do the adopting are ado…
Read Moreadultry vs adultery
“Adultery” is often misspelled “adultry,” as if it were something every adult should try. This spelling error is likely to get you snickered at. The term does not refer to all sorts of illicit sex: a…
Read Moreadvance vs advanced
<p>Advance means bring forwards or made to go on by promoting or accelerating the the growth or progress of something or an option.</p><pre>"The top two challengers advance to the next round."</pre><…
Read Moreadverse vs averse
The word “adverse” turns up most frequently in the phrase “adverse circumstances,” meaning difficult circumstances, circumstances which act as an adversary; but people often confuse this word with “a…
Read Moreadvice vs advise
“Advice” is the noun, “advise” the verb. When a columnist advises people, she gives them advice.
Read Moreadviser vs advisor
One needn't worry. Both are correct spellings. If you are the advisor to the government on reining in inflation you should worry. If you are an adviser to the government on how to help students with …
Read Moreadvocate for vs advocate
When they are acting as advocates for a cause, people often say they are “advocating for”—say—traffic safety. This is not as widely accepted as “campaigning for” or “working toward.” Saying you are “…
Read Moreaesthetic vs ascetic
People often encounter these two words first in college, and may confuse one with the other although they have almost opposite connotations. “Aesthetic” (also spelled “esthetic”) has to do with beaut…
Read Moreaffect vs effect
There are five distinct words here. When “affect” is accented on the final syllable (a-FECT), it is usually a verb meaning “have an influence on”: “The million-dollar donation from the industrialist …
Read Moreafghan vs afghani
<p>An Afghan can be used to describe someone from Afghanistan or of Afghan descent. It can also mean a blanket that has been crocheted and knitted.</p><pre>"The Security man from work is of Afghan an…
Read Moreafrican american
There have been several polite terms used in the US to refer to persons of African descent: “colored,” “negro,” “Black,” “Afro-American,” and “African American.” “Colored” is definitely dated, though…
Read Moreafterall vs after all
<p>After all there is no such thing as afterall and let's not talk about. We know the meaning of after all, don't we? It means in spite of considering contrary views or expectations.</p><p>The phrase…
Read Moreafterwards vs afterwords
Like “towards,” “forwards,” and “homewards,” “afterwards” ends with -wards.“Afterwords” are sometimes the explanatory essays at the ends of books or speeches uttered at the end of plays or other work…
Read Moreagnostic vs atheist
Both agnostics and atheists are regularly criticized as illogical by people who don’t understand the meaning of these terms. An agnostic is a person who believes that the existence of a god or gods c…
Read Moreagreeance vs agreement
<p>Agreement is the understanding between entities to follow a specific course of conduct. A state where several parties adhere to the same values, norms and opinion.</p><pre>"We had an agreement to …
Read Moreaide vs aid
In American English, a personal assistant is usually an aide (nurse’s aide, presidential aide) but an inanimate object or process is always an aid (hearing aid, first aid).
Read Moreain’t vs am not, isn’t, aren’t
“Ain’t” has a long and vital history as a substitute for “isn’t,” “aren’t” and so on. It was originally formed from a contraction of “am not” and is still commonly used in that sense. Even though it …
Read Moreaisle vs isle
<p>An aisle is a clear path through an otherwise obstructed space or through a row of seatings.</p><p>"The aisle quickly got filled up once they announced they were back for sales."</p><p>Isle is an …
Read Moreala vs à la
If you offer pie à la mode on your menu, be careful not to spell it “ala mode” or—worse—“alamode.” The accent over the first “a” is optional in English, although this is an adaptation of the French p…
Read Moreall be it vs albeit
“Albeit” is a single word meaning “although”: “Rani’s recipe called for a tablespoon of saffron, which made it very tasty, albeit rather expensive.” It should not be broken up into three separate wor…
Read Moreall and all vs all in all
“The dog got into the fried chicken, we forgot the sunscreen, and the kids started whining at the end, but all in all the picnic was a success.” “All in all” is a traditional phrase which can mean “a…
Read Morealleged, allegedly
Seeking to avoid prejudging the facts in a crime and protect the rights of the accused, reporters sometimes over-use “alleged” and “allegedly.” If it is clear that someone has been robbed at gunpoint…
Read Moreall for not vs all for naught
“Naught” means “nothing,” and the phrase “all for naught” means “all for nothing.” This is often misspelled “all for not” and occasionally “all for knot.”
Read Moreall goes well vs augurs well
Some folks who don’t understand the word “augur” (to foretell based onomens) try to make sense of the common phrase “augurs well” by manglingit into “all goes well.” “Augurs well” is synonymous with …
Read Morealliterate vs illiterate
<p>Alliterate is the act of using alliteration which is the repetition of initial consonants in the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other or at short intervals. </p><pre>"T…
Read Morealls vs all
“Alls I know is . . .” may result from anticipating the “S” in “is,” but the standard expression is “All I know is. . . .”
Read Moreall the farther vs as far as
In some American dialects it is not uncommon to hear sentences such as “Abilene is all the farther the rustlers got before the posse caught up with them.” The strangely constructed expression “all th…
Read Moreallude vs refer
To allude to something is to refer to it indirectly, by suggestion. If you are being direct and unambiguous, you refer to the subject rather than alluding to it.
Read Moreallude vs elude
You can allude (refer) to your daughter’s membership in the honorsociety when boasting about her, but a criminal tries to elude (escape)captivity. There is no such word as “illude.”
Read Moreallusion vs illusion
An allusion is a reference, something you allude to: “Her allusion to flowers reminded me that Valentine’s Day was coming.” In that English paper, don’t write “literary illusions” when you mean“allus…
Read Morealong the same vein vs in the same vein, along the same line
The expressions “in the same vein” and “along the same line” mean the same thing (“on the same subject”), but those who cross-pollinate them to create the hybrid “along the same vein” sound a little …
Read Morealot vs a lot
Perhaps this common spelling error began because there does exist in English a word spelled “allot” which is a verb meaning to apportion or grant. The correct form, with “a” and “lot” separated by a …
Read Morealoud vs allowed
If you think Grandma allowed the kids to eat too much ice cream, you’d better not say so aloud, or her feelings will be hurt. “Aloud” means “out loud” and refers to sounds (most often speech) that ca…
Read Moreall ready vs already
“All ready” is a phrase meaning “completely prepared,” as in “As soon as I put my coat on, I’ll be all ready.” “Already,” however, is an adverb used to describe something that has happened before a c…
Read Morealright vs all right
The correct form of this phrase has become so rare in the popular press that many readers have probably never noticed that it is actually two words. But if you want to avoid irritating traditionalist…
Read Morealtar vs alter
An altar is that platform at the front of a church or in a temple; to alter something is to change it.
Read Morealterior vs ulterior
When you have a concealed reason for doing something, it’s an ulterior motive.
Read Morealternate vs alternative
Although UK authorities disapprove, in US usage, “alternate” is frequently an adjective, substituted for the older “alternative”: “an alternate route.” “Alternate” can also be a noun; a substitute de…
Read Morealtho vs although
The casual spellings “altho” and “tho” are not acceptable in formal or edited English. Stick with “although” and “though.”
Read Morealtogether vs all together
Altogether means completely or entirely. When you want say something in a group then you say all together. For example, 'They got the participants all together at the start line of the race.' Howeve…
Read Morealumnus vs alumni
<p>Alumnus is known as the Latin word used for a singular graduate of an institution usually a male. It might be of a school, university or college. </p><pre>"My dad is an alumnus of Cambridge Univer…
Read Moreamature vs amateur
<p>Amateur refers to an unprofessional who is unqualified or insufficiently skilled for a task or job.</p><pre>Dave is still an amateur at playing the guitar.</pre><p>Amature is the incorrect spellin…
Read Moreambiguous vs ambivalent
Even though the prefix “ambi-” means “both,” “ambiguous” has come to mean “unclear,” “undefined,” while “ambivalent” means “torn between two opposing feelings or views.” If your attitude cannot be de…
Read Moreambivalent vs indifferent
If you feel pulled in two directions about some issue, you’re ambivalentabout it; but if you have no particular feelings about it, you’reindifferent.
Read Moreamongst vs among
Although in America “amongst” has not dated nearly as badly as “whilst,” it is still less common in standard speech than “among.” The -st forms are still widely used in the UK.
Read Moreamoral vs immoral
“Amoral” is a rather technical word meaning “unrelated to morality.”When you mean to denounce someone’s behavior, call it “immoral.”
Read Moreampitheater vs amphitheater
The classy way to pronounce the first syllable of this word is “amf-,” but if you choose the more popular “amp-” remember that you still have to include the H after the P when spelling it. UK-standar…
Read Moreancestor vs descendant
When Albus Dumbledore said that Lord Voldemort was “the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin,” more than one person noted that he had made a serious verbal bumble; and in later printings of H…
Read Moreanecdote vs antidote
A humorist relates “anecdotes.” The doctor prescribes “antidotes” for children who have swallowed poison. Laughter may be the best medicine, but that’s no reason to confuse these two with each other.
Read Moreangel vs angle
People who want to write about winged beings from Heaven often miscall them “angles.” A triangle has three angles. The Heavenly Host is made of angels. Just remember the adjectival form: “angelic.” I…
Read Morean historic vs a historic
You should use “an” before a word beginning with an “H” only if the “H”is not pronounced: “an honest effort”; it’s properly “a historic event”though many sophisticated speakers somehow prefer the sou…
Read Moreanother words vs in other words
When you reword a statement, you can preface it by saying “in other words.” The phrase is not “another words.”
Read Moreanteclimax vs anticlimax
When an exciting build-up leads to a disappointing end, the result is an anticlimax—the opposite of a climax. The prefix “anti-” is used to indicate opposition whereas the prefix “ante-” is used to i…
Read Moreanxious vs eager
Most people use “anxious”interchangeably with “eager,” but its original meaning had to do with worrying, being full of anxiety. Perfectly correct phrases like, “anxious to please” obscure the nervous…
Read Moreanymore vs any more
In the first place, the traditional (though now uncommon) spelling is as two words: “any more” as in “We do not sell bananas any more.” In the second place, it should not be used at the beginning of …
Read Moreanyone vs any one
When it means “anybody,” “anyone” is spelled as a single word: “anyone can enter the drawing.”But when it means “any single one,” “any one” is spelled as two words: “any one of the tickets may win.”
Read Moreanytime vs any time
Though it is often compressed into a single word by analogy with “anywhere” and similar words, “any time” is traditionally a two-word phrase.
Read Moreanyways vs anyway
There is no material difference between anyway and anyways. Both mean anyhow. Any way is a different matter, however. Your friend is a spot of a bother and you say to her, 'Can I help you in any way?…
Read Moreany where vs anywhere
<p>Please go anywhere, nowhere or somewhere but do not put a space between "where" and "any"/"no"/"some". Any where is a misspelling. Anywhere is correct.</p><p>Anywhere is a single word that mea…
Read Moreanywheres vs anywhere
“Anywheres” is a dialectical variation on the standard English word “anywhere.”
Read Moreapart vs a part
Paradoxically, the one-word form implies separation while the two-wordform implies union. Feuding roommates decide to live apart. Their timetogether may be a part of their life they will remember wit…
Read Moreapiece vs a piece
<p>Apiece is a non comparable adjective that means each by itself, by a single one, to a share of each.</p><pre>"The trader sold the pearls, a dollar apiece."</pre><p>A piece means one part out of a …
Read Moreapostrophes vs
First let’s all join in a hearty curse of the grammarians who insertedthe wretched apostrophe into possessives in the first place. It was alla mistake. Our ancestors used to write “Johns hat” meaning…
Read Moreappauled vs appalled
<p>I will be appalled if you use "appauled" in a sentence. Just replace the "u" in "appauled" by "l" and you will be correct. "Appauled" is a misspelling. "Appalled" is correct.</p><p>Appalled refers…
Read Moreappose vs oppose
<p>Oppose means to face something or somebody else in disagreement. It can be used to describe the physical location of items or disagreeing ideas.</p><pre>A. "The table and chair are opposed to one …
Read Moreappraise vs apprise
When you estimate the value of something, you appraise it. When you inform people of a situation, you apprise them of it.
Read Moreapropos vs appropriate
<p>Apropos means of an appropriate or pertinent nature, not quite by the way or incidental.</p><pre>"Our meeting was apropos, you couldn't have expected a much different reaction."</pre><p>Appropriat…
Read Morearab vs arabic vs arabian
Arabs are a people whose place of ethnic origin is the Arabian Peninsula. The language which they speak, and which has spread widely to other areas, is Arabic. “Arabic” is not generally used as an ad…
Read Morearound vs about
<p>Around means generally, from place to place or from one place to the other.</p><pre>"There are rumours going around about your relationship with Sam."</pre><p>About describes the motion of the cir…
Read Morearrant vs errant
In modern English “arrant” is usually used to describe someone notorious, thoroughly shameless: an arrant villain, an arrant thief. It has a rather old-fashioned air to it, and is often used in antiq…
Read Morearthuritis vs arthritis
If there were such a word as “arthuritis” it might mean the overwhelming desire to pull swords out of stones; but that ache in your joints is caused by “arthritis.”
Read Moreartic vs arctic
Although some brand names have incorporated this popular error, remember that the Arctic Circle is an arc. By the way, Ralph Vaughan Williams called his suite drawn from the score of the film Scott o…
Read Moreartisanal vs artesian
For the past half-century foodies have referred to foods and drinks made in small batches by hand using traditional methods as artisanal—made by artisans: workers in handicrafts. It has also been ext…
Read Moreas vs that, who
In some American dialects it is common to say things like “I see lots of folks as hasn’t got the sense to come in out out of the rain.” In standard English, the expression would be “folks that” or “f…
Read Moreas best as vs as best
You can try to be as good as you can be, but it's not standard to say that you do something “as best as you can.” You need to eliminate the second “as” when “good” changes to “best.” You can try to d…
Read Moreascared vs scared
The misspelling “ascared” is probably influenced by the spelling of the synonym “afraid,” but the standard English word is “scared.”
Read Moreascent vs assent
“Assent” is a verb meaning “agreement,” “consent.” “Ascent” is a noun meaning “climb.” When you get people to agree with you, you gain their assent. When you climb a mountain, you make an ascent.
Read Moreascribe vs subscribe
If you agree with a theory or belief, you subscribe to it, just as you subscribe to a magazine.Ascribe is a very different word. If you ascribe a belief to someone, you are attributing the belief to …
Read Moreas far as vs as far as *** is concerned
Originally people used to say things like “As far as music is concerned, I especially love Baroque opera.” Recently they have begun to drop the “is concerned” part of the phrase. Perhaps this shift w…
Read Moreas follow vs as follows
“My birthday requests are as follows.” This standard phrase doesn’tchange number when the items to follow grow from one to many. It’s nevercorrect to say “as follow.”
Read Moreas less as possible vs as little as possible
<p>The correct expression is ‘as little as possible’ because we need to use a regular adjective (little) in this expression. </p><p>Less is a comparative adjective, and so it doesn’t fit in this expr…
Read Moreasocial vs antisocial
Someone who doesn’t enjoy socializing at parties might be described aseither “asocial” or “antisocial’; but “asocial” is too mild a term todescribe someone who commits an antisocial act like planting…
Read Moreas of yet vs yet
“As of yet” is a windy and pretentious substitute for plain old English“yet” or “as yet,” an unjustified extension of the pattern in sentenceslike “as of Friday the 27th of May.”
Read Moreaspect vs respect
<p>Aspect refers to the way something appears when viewed from a unique direction. It has several figurative uses applicable to specific sentences.</p><pre>"My Boss says my pitch wasn't quite convinc…
Read Moreas per vs in accordance with
“Enclosed is the shipment of #2 toggle bolts as per your order of June 14” writes the businessman, unaware that not only is the “as” redundant, he is sounding very old-fashioned and pretentious. The …
Read Moreassure vs ensure vs insure
To “assure” a person of something is to make him or her confident of it. According to Associated Press style, to “ensure” that something happens is to make certain that it does, and to “insure” is to…
Read Moreasterick vs asterisk
Some people not only spell this word without its second S, they say it that way too. It comes from Greek asteriskos: “little star.” Tisk, tisk, remember the “-isk”; “asterick” is icky.In countries wh…
Read Moreastrology vs astronomy
Modern astronomers consider astrology an outdated superstition. You’ll embarrass yourself if you use the term “astrology” to label the scientific study of the cosmos. In writing about history, howeve…
Read Moreaswell vs as well
No matter how you use it, the expression “as well” is always two words, despite the fact that many people seem to think it should be spelled “aswell.” Examples: “I don’t like plastic trees as well as…
Read Moreathiest vs atheist
An atheist is the opposite of a theist. Theos is Greek for “god.” Makesure the “TH” is followed immediately by an “E.”
Read Moreatm machine vs atm
“ATM” means “Automated Teller Machine,” so if you say “ATM machine” you are really saying, “Automated Teller Machine machine.”
Read Moreattain vs obtain
<p>Attain means to accomplish or finish an activity successfully without any complications.</p><pre>"James already attained legendary status on clash of clans."</pre><p>Obtain means to get possession…
Read Moreattribute vs contribute
When trying to give credit to someone, say that you attribute your success to their help, not contribute. (Of course, a politician may attribute his success to those who contribute to his campaign fu…
Read Moreauger vs augur
An augur was an ancient Roman prophet, and as a verb the word means“foretell”—“their love augurs well for a successful marriage.” Don’tmix this word up with “auger,” a tool for boring holes. Some peo…
Read Moreaural vs oral
“Aural” has to do with things you hear, “oral” with things you say, or relatingto your mouth.
Read Moreautobiography vs biography
When you write the story of your own life, you write an autobiography; but when you write the story of someone else’s life, it’s just a plain old biography.
Read Moreavaidable vs available
Many people mispronounce and misspell “available” as “avaidable,” whose peculiar spelling seems to be influenced by “avoidable,” a word which has opposite connotations. “Avaidable” is avoidable; avoi…
Read Moreavenge vs revenge
When you try to get vengeance for people who’ve been wronged, you want to avenge them. You can also avenge a wrong itself: “He avenged the murder by taking vengeance on the killer.” Substituting “rev…
Read Moreavocation vs vocation
Your avocation is just your hobby; don’t mix it up with your job: yourvocation.
Read Moreaway vs a way
<p>Away is the preposition you use when you tell someone to “go away!” </p><p>Way by itself is a noun meaning a road or path, or a style or manner of doing something. </p><pre>“I don’t have a way to …
Read Moreawe, shucks vs aw, shucks
“Aw, shucks,” is a traditional folksy expression of modesty. An “aw-shucks” kind of person declines to accept compliments. “Aw” is an interjection roughly synonymous with “oh.” “Awe” is a noun which …
Read Morea while vs awhile
Awhile means for sometime. For example, 'This is a tough job and will take awhile to get over.' On the other hand when while is an object to a prepositional phrase it needs to be separated from 'a'. …
Read Moreaxel vs axle
The center of a wheel is its axle. An axel is a tricky jump in figureskating named after Axel Paulsen.
Read Moreallusive vs elusive vs illusive
When a lawyer alludes to his client’s poor mother, he is being allusive. When the mole keeps eluding the traps you’ve set in the garden, it’s being elusive. We also speak of matters that are difficul…
Read Moreas time progressed vs as time passed
Events may progress in time, but time itself does not progress—it just passes.
Read Moreall of the sudden vs all of a sudden
An unexpected event happens not “all of the sudden” but “all of a sudden.”
Read Morea whole ’nother vs a completely different
It is one thing to use the expression “a whole ’nother” as a consciously slangy phrase suggesting rustic charm and a completely different matter to use it mistakenly. The A at the beginning of the ph…
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