Email: Password: Remember Me | Create Account (Free)

Back to Subject List

Old thread has been locked -- no new posts accepted in this thread
???
02/16/07 21:08
Read: times


 		 #133144 - Common confused words, and such pet peeves.
Hi Everybody,

This is something that has come up in a few posts. I remember recently that someone used the word quite instead of quiet. Another common mistake I see is people (myself included) who use the word "your" when they mean "you're." So I thought it might be beneficial to make a list of such commonly confused words, and I suppose I will start things off with a couple of examples.


Farther and Further

Both words imply separation, or distance. But "farther" implies spatial distance while "further" implies chronological distance.
If something is more distant in space it is said to be "farther" away. Note that the word begins with the sylable "far." Conversely, if something is more distant in time, or if something will require more time, then it is "further."

Thus, the following examples are correct.

1) England is farther from Oklahoma than Mexico.

2) Graduation is further away than final exams.

3) No! We are not there yet! We have farther to go, and I don't want to discuss the matter further.



Affect and Effect

Affect is a verb. Effect is a noun. You can affect the outcome of a process, and your influence is an effect.



Any more?

List of 107 messages in thread
TopicAuthorDate
Common confused words, and such pet peeves.            01/01/70 00:00      
   Yep...            01/01/70 00:00      
      Toe the mark            01/01/70 00:00      
         Sure.            01/01/70 00:00      
            that's how they used to propel barges            01/01/70 00:00      
               Sorry, that's not correct...            01/01/70 00:00      
      It actually can be correct either way.            01/01/70 00:00      
         The Telegraph would beg to differ...            01/01/70 00:00      
            This isn't the first time a newspaper was wrong,            01/01/70 00:00      
               OK            01/01/70 00:00      
      Toeing the line is a naval term            01/01/70 00:00      
   Commonly confused words, and such pet peeves.            01/01/70 00:00      
      No... I don't know!            01/01/70 00:00      
   Momentarily            01/01/70 00:00      
      Hmmm            01/01/70 00:00      
      Instantly; Instantaneously            01/01/70 00:00      
   Apostrophe's            01/01/70 00:00      
   That's not how I learned it ...            01/01/70 00:00      
   Regular; Frequent            01/01/70 00:00      
   Tautology            01/01/70 00:00      
   Misused words            01/01/70 00:00      
      These are all SYNTAX ERRORS!            01/01/70 00:00      
         ones which particularly wind me up            01/01/70 00:00      
            Literally...            01/01/70 00:00      
               Just thought of another one...            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Oh, and another...            01/01/70 00:00      
                     it's not mute, it's moot            01/01/70 00:00      
                  it's not baited ... it's bated ...            01/01/70 00:00      
                     ???            01/01/70 00:00      
                        the implied humor didn't come across            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Depends...            01/01/70 00:00      
                        I liked the worm-breath better ...            01/01/70 00:00      
            and how about ...            01/01/70 00:00      
         and....            01/01/70 00:00      
            that's just politico-speak            01/01/70 00:00      
   'S' for seconds            01/01/70 00:00      
      Carrot and stick            01/01/70 00:00      
         That is your interpretation            01/01/70 00:00      
            Is that the same Webster's ...            01/01/70 00:00      
               Definitions and etymology            01/01/70 00:00      
                  that ain't no problem            01/01/70 00:00      
                  It's like "PREVENTATIVE"            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Or "Expiration"            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Haynes Manual Syndrome            01/01/70 00:00      
                        HBOL            01/01/70 00:00      
                           Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal            01/01/70 00:00      
                              Entropy.            01/01/70 00:00      
                           Suitable drift            01/01/70 00:00      
                              Yes.            01/01/70 00:00      
                                 Funny post Steve...            01/01/70 00:00      
                                    If you enjoyed that            01/01/70 00:00      
                                       \'politicaly correct\' language arrrghhh            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          "Dead"            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             "Dead"            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          Or insisting on gender EQU...            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             Gender neutral language            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                So how do the French, Germans, et al cope?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   We don't cope :)            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   one example            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      Confused yet ?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         in some other thread            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      most common usage ...            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         By Jove, you have a point            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             On gender equality            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                On gender equality - back to the subject            01/01/70 00:00      
                                    Fine adjustment tools            01/01/70 00:00      
                                       Hammer adjustments            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          That sounds right.            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             X-Band sounds            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                analogy?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   hit a trumpet and you will find out            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          X-band? TM or TE            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             TM X-Band            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                X-band            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Haynes/Chiltons            01/01/70 00:00      
            the way I learned it ...            01/01/70 00:00      
            make note of this ...            01/01/70 00:00      
   !!!            01/01/70 00:00      
      The turtle moves!            01/01/70 00:00      
         yep the first is a good old dangling modifier            01/01/70 00:00      
            Dangling modifier            01/01/70 00:00      
   my (least) favorites            01/01/70 00:00      
      I would use another word            01/01/70 00:00      
      If I owned the gas station, ...            01/01/70 00:00      
      Reminds me...            01/01/70 00:00      
         All rights reserved.....            01/01/70 00:00      
            not really on topic, but            01/01/70 00:00      
               thats not a less developed country            01/01/70 00:00      
               Another quaint Malundism?            01/01/70 00:00      
                  no, 't' stands for 'thumb' which inserted it :)            01/01/70 00:00      
      National Semiconductor needs a copy editor            01/01/70 00:00      
   ie and eg            01/01/70 00:00      
      Common error ...            01/01/70 00:00      
         e.g. and i.e.            01/01/70 00:00      
            yes, but leave off the period ...            01/01/70 00:00      
            Irony strikes again            01/01/70 00:00      
               Plague            01/01/70 00:00      
               that is overblown :)            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Good one Erik            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Too easy            01/01/70 00:00      
                        to get opium? :)            01/01/70 00:00      
               Here's a mnemonic for you            01/01/70 00:00      
                  What about the other ~499999 words ?            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Phoney Phonetics            01/01/70 00:00      
   In England...            01/01/70 00:00      
      Well.. I guess it will be a few more years...            01/01/70 00:00      
         Fo' shizzle...            01/01/70 00:00      

Back to Subject List