Mistakes in English

Mistakes in English

Mistakes are part of being human. Why not learn from them?

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FIT vs SUIT

INCORRECT: This costume suits me – it's just the right size.

CORRECT: This costume fits me – it's just the right size.

INCORRECT: The orange shirt I have to wear at work doesn't fit me – my hairis red.

CORRECT: The orange shirt I have to wear at work doesn't suit me – my hair

is red.


FIT vs SUIT

We use SUIT when we want to refer to the colour or style of something.

We use FIT for the size or shape of things.


INFORMATION vs. ADVICE

INCORRECT: I don't know too much about taxation in this country. Can you

give me an information?

CORRECT: I don't know too much about taxation in this country. Can you

give me some information?

INCORRECT: Our company lawyer gave me some really good advices theother day.

CORRECT: Our company lawyer gave me some really good advice the

other day.


INFORMATION vs. ADVICE

INFORMATION and ADVICE are uncountable nouns. It means you CANNOT use

them in the plural (+s) and you CANNOT use AN with them. Use SOME.


FORGET vs LEAVE

INCORRECT: Oh, I've forgotten my wallet in the car!

CORRECT: Oh, I've left my wallet in the car!


FORGET vs LEAVE

LEAVE

You can LEAVE something SOMEWHERE (you usually have to mention WHERE

you left the thing).

FORGET

You use FORGET if you leave something behind, not saying where.


BORROW vs LEND

INCORRECT: Can you borrow me your calculator?

CORRECT: Can you lend me your calculator?

INCORRECT: Can I lend your laptop for an hour?

CORRECT: Can I borrow your laptop for an hour


BORROW vs LEND

BORROW

If you BORROW something FROM somebody, you take it for a time.

LEND

If you LEND somebody something or LEND something TO somebody, you give it

to them for a time.


TELL vs SAY

INCORRECT: I said him that his offer was not good enough.

INCORRECT: I told to him that his offer was not good enough.

CORRECT: I said (to him) that his offer was not good enough.

CORRECT: I told him that his offer was not good enough.


TELL vs SAY

TO TELL SOMEBODY SOMETHING

After 'tell' you always have to mention the other person as well.

e.g. He told everybody that his product is the best in the market.

They told us that we had got the contract.

TO SAY (SOMETHING) or TO SAY (SOMETHING) TO SOMEBODY

After say you may or may not mention the other person. If you do so, you haveto add the other person with a'to'.

e.g. He said (that) business was very slow in March.

or

He said to them (that) business was very slow in March.


CAFÉ vs COFFEE

INCORRECT: I'd like to drink some café, please!

CORRECT: I'd like to drink some coffee, please!


CAFÉ vs COFFEE

CAFÉ

Definition: It's a place where you can buy drink and simple meals.

e.g. I love sitting in a café reading my favourite business magazine.

COFFEE

Definition: It's a hot drink made from coffee powder.

e.g. Becky got tired of making coffee for her superiors. She decided thatfrom that on she would only make tea.


BUSINESS VS. A BUSINESS

INCORRECT: I have a very important business to do with him.

CORRECT: I have some very important business to do with him.



BUSINESS

uncountable noun (= no 'a', 'an')

Definition:

- work relating to the buying, making and selling of goods or services for

money

- work that you do as part of your job

e.g. The food industry flourishes even during the economic crunch. That's

why Sarah wanted to go into the food business.

e.g. I'll be away on business next Thursday.



(A) BUSINESS

countable

Definition:

an organization such as a company or a shop etc. which produces and

sells goods

e.g. I never wanted to work in the family business. Having a business of my

own is more responsibility than I need.


BETWEEN vs AMONG

INCORRECT: I was standing there between all my friends, who came to

celebrate my birthday.

CORRECT: I was standing there among all my friends, who came to

celebrate.

INCORRECT: I couldn't choose among the two job offers.

CORRECT: I couldn't choose between the two job offers.


BETWEEN vs AMONG

BETWEEN

It's a preposition of place that we use when we talk about two or more

people or things as separate.

e.g. I found my favourite book between the sofa and the table. I was really happy.

AMONG (also amongst)

It's a preposition of place that we use when we talk about the people or

things as part of a group.

e.g. He felt a bit out of place among all those businessmen wearing ties.


CRITICISM vs CRITIC

CORRECT: Our company faces a lot of critics over the way we handle

customer complaints. If we want to keep our market share, we'll have to do

something about it.

CORRECT: Our company faces a lot of criticism over the way we handle

customer complaints. If we want to keep our market share, we'll have to do

something about it.


CRITICISM vs CRITIC

A CRITIC is a person who expresses his or her opinion about something,

many times publicly.

e.g. The critics simply loved his new film.

CRITICISM is the (many times negative) opinion expressed about something.


THIS IS THE FIRST TIME...

INCORRECT: This is the first time I work for this company as a subcontractor.

CORRECT: This is the first time I've worked for this company as a

subcontractor.

INCORRECT: This is the best book (that) I ever read.

CORRECT: This is the best book (that) I've ever read.


THIS IS THE FIRST TIME...

After THIS IS THE FIRST ... you always use present perfect.

For past events/preferences etc, we use the past perfect.

e.g. That was the last time I'd travelled by plane.


POLITIC vs POLITICAL vs POLITICS

INCORRECT: It was really political of you to raise the question of helping them financially.

CORRECT: It was really politic of you to raise the question of helping them financially.

INCORRECT: His politic career really took off when he became secretary to the party leader.

CORRECT: His political career really took off when he became secretary to the party leader.

INCORRECT: Though his mother always dreamt of a career in politic for him, Peter eventually got into engineering.

CORRECT: Though his mother always dreamt of a career in politics for him, Peter eventually got into engineering.


POLITIC vs POLITICAL vs POLITICS

POLITIC

A synonym for WISE, CLEVER in a certain situation.

POLITICAL

Connected with POLITICS.

POLITICS

The art of political government; the activities involved in using power in

public life.


ECONOMIC vs ECONOMICAL

ECONOMIC vs ECONOMICALINCORRECT SENTENCES

INCORRECT: The country has always had economical problems of this kind.

CORRECT: The country has always had economic problems of this kind.

INCORRECT: You waste too much energy by operating the machine at full

speed – you should try to be moreeconomic.

CORRECT: You waste too much energy by operating the machine at full

speed – you should try to be moreeconomical.


ECONOMIC vs ECONOMICAL

ECONOMIC

Connected to (the) economy (of a country, company etc).

ECONOMICAL

Not wasteful or not wasting money/energy/time etc.


RISE vs RAISE

INCORRECT: I asked him to rise my salary but he refused.

CORRECT: I asked him to raise my salary but he refused.


RISE vs RAISE

RISE – ROSE – RISEN

Definition: to go upwards; to reach a higher level

It is always used without an object.

e.g. The price of bread has already risen three times this year.

RAISE – RAISED – RAISED

Definition: to lift or take something to a higher level

It is always used with an object.

e.g. If you want to get that painting, you will have to raise your offer.


AFFECT vs EFFECT

INCORRECT: Are you interested in how businesses are effected by

government policy?

CORRECT: Are you interested in how businesses are affected by government

policy?


AFFECT vs EFFECT

AFFECT (verb)

Definition:

- to have an influence or an impact on somebody or something

e.g. Australia seems to be one of the least affected countries by the global economic recession.

- to cause somebody to become ill

e.g. How can migraine affect your work?

EFFECT (noun)

Definition: It's the change that one thing causes to another.

e.g. The austerity measures haven't had an effect on the country's economy.

e.g. His getting the sack had some serious effects on his relationship with Lorna. He realised that she'd been a nuisance to him and he broke up with her.


BRIEFLY vs SHORTLY

INCORRECT

I had been speaking to the bank manager only shortly when the two

security guys entered his office and grabbed my arm.

CORRECT

I had been speaking to the bank manager only briefly when the two

security guys entered his office and grabbed my arm.


BRIEFLY vs SHORTLY

BRIEFLY

Definition:

- when something happens for a short time

- using very few words

e.g. Sally and Harry reunited briefly for the sake of their business, they even

got engaged but are still arguing.

e.g. Let him explain briefly what happened that day. We should not be so hard on him.


BRIEFLY vs SHORTLY

SHORTLY

Definition:

- not long after or before something

- soon

e.g. The real professionals will shortly come back.

e.g. He was at home shortly before he was expected to arrive.


ACCORDING TO vs IN MY OPINION

INCORRECT: According to me, he should pull himself together if he's serious

about winning the competition.

CORRECT: In my opinion, he should pull himself together if he's serious about

winning the competition.

According to him/them/etc..., he should pull himself together if he's serious about the competition.


ACCORDING TO vs IN MY OPINION

The structure ‘according to' can only be used when the speaker

reports someone else's opinion, but not theirs.

e.g. According to a survey conducted by a British women's magazine the

economic crunch hasn't changed women's shopping habits in Britain.

According to him, you should only take on the work you enjoy, otherwise you'll be miserable.

In my opinion, it might be easy to become a good businessman, but it's not

so easy to keep that position.


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Resource: http://www.yourbusinessenglish.com


Mistakes in English

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