Teacher MarCommon Mistakes in English Part 4
(1) as - Do not use the conjunction as to mean "because" or "since".
LESS ACCEPTABLE: I'll shop tomorrow as there is no school.
PREFERRED: I'll shop tomorrow since there is no school.
(2) as to - As to is awkward. Replace it with about.
NONSTANDARD: We had some doubts as to his competence.
CORRECT: We had some doubts about his competence.
(3) at - Do not use at after where. Simply eliminate it.
NONSTANDARD: Where are my gardening tools at?
CORRECT: Where are my gardening tools?
(4) at about - Avoid using at with about. Simply use either at or about.
LESS ACCEPTABLE: The interview ended at about noon.
PREFERRED:
> The interview ended at noon.
> The interview ended about noon.
(5) awful, awfully - Awful is used informally to mean "extremely bad". Awfully is used informally yo mean "very." Better writers replace both modifiers with more descriptive words. In formal writing use awful only to mean "inspiring fear."
INFORMAL: My latest painting is awful.
BETTER: My latest painting is amateurish.
INFORMAL: He is awfully irritable.
BETTER: He is irascible.
FORMAL: They knew that some awful being dwelt in the hills.
(6) awhile, a while - Awhile is an adverb, which in itself means "for a while". A while is an article and a noun and is usually used after the preposition for.
ADVERB: Remain here awhile where you are safe.
NOUN: For a while she walked aimlessly in the rain.
(7) beat, win - Beat means "to overcome (an opponent)." Win means "to achieve victory in." Do not use win in place of beat.
NONSTANDARD: The Rangers won the Islanders last night.
CORRECT: The Rangers beat the Islanders last night.
(8) because - Do not use because after the reason. Say, "The reason... is that" or reword the sentence.
NONSTANDARD: The reason I came is because I need your help.
CORRECT: I came because I need your help.
(9) being as, being that - Avoid using either expression. Use since or because instead.
NONSTANDARD: Being as (or that) you asked, I'll fix the car.
CORRECT: Since (or Because) you asked, I'll fix the car.
(10) beside, besides - Beside means "at the side of" or "close to." Besides means "in addition to."
EXAMPLES:
> Beside him was his dog King.
> Besides Rick, Patty and Nick were at the gathering.