Do You Make These Mistakes in English?
Yes, it’s a famously effective headline from years ago, but one reason it still works is we can’t help looking to see if we ARE making those mistakes!
Speaking of mistakes, here are the top errors I see when editing.
1. Loose and lose
Loose is to make something less tight. Lose is when you can’t find something.
No: I always loose the product key.
Yes: I always lose the product key.
Yes: The dog is loose again.
Effect is usually a noun referring to a result. Affect is usually used as a verb, meaning “to influence.”
Rarely, you’ll see the reverse used correctly. But if you stick with this, you’ll almost always be right.
No: The affect of the marketing campaign was amazing.
Yes: The effect of the marketing campaign was amazing.
Yes: The marketing campaign affected their sales in a big way.
There is simply a contraction for “They are.” Their shows possession. There ususally refers to a place.
No: The techs had to check there cell phones over their, and their not happy about it.
Yes: The techs have to check their cell phones over there, and they’re not happy about it.
It’s is exclusively for “It is.” Its shows possession and never needs an apostrophe.
No: Bring me the CD, along with it’s case because its going with us.
Yes: Bring me the CD, along with its case because it’s going with us.
Here’s a good rule of thumb from William Zinsser: Always use “that” unless it makes your meaning ambiguous. Only use “which” after a comma to define what you meant before the comma.
No: I remember the day which we met.
Yes: I remember the day that we met.
Yes: The team, which won the Superbowl last year, now has the worst record in the NFL.
Even better, “that” is often unnecessary! See if you can delete it and still make sense. (I remember the day we met.)
This one is tricky so let’s just talk present tense–which is what most of your marketing-type writing will be. Lay requires a direct object–something being put somewhere. Lie doesn’t.
No: I’m going to lay on the sofa, so please lie those books on the table.
Yes: I’m going to lie on the sofa, so please just lay those books on the table.
Generally, you ask people to bring things to where you are, and you take things to some place you are going. (Think “take-out food,” which you take from the restaurant to your home.)
No: Let’s bring a bottle of wine to the party.
Yes: Let’s take a bottle of wine to the party.
Think of i.e. as meaning “in essence” and further clarifying what’s being said. On the other hand, e.g. means “for example” and implies this is just one of many.
No: I could go to a show with my two siblings. (e.g. Kim and Chris)
Yes: I could go to a show with my two siblings. (i.e. Kim and Chris)
Note: Grammar guides conflict on whether to use a comma after the abbreviations. The generally accepted usage though is without.
No: The word he used was “bloviate”, and she said, “I don’t know what that means”.
Yes: The word he used was “bloviate,” and she said, “I don’t know what that means.”
For question marks and exclamation marks, it depends. They go inside if it’s part of the quote, outside if it doesn’t.
No: She asked, “Can you explain what that means”? And I can’t believe he said “no!”
Yes: She asked, “Can you explain what that means?” And I can’t believe he said “no”!
Happy writing!
Posted: December 3rd, 2008 under Copywriting.
Comments: 3
Comments
Comment from Kevin Rogers
Time: December 7, 2008, 9:25 pm
These are great, Tracy… I’ve been back here to reference this like 3 times. Thanks!
Kevin
Comment from Tracy Needham
Time: December 7, 2008, 9:42 pm
Thanks, Kevin!
Glad it’s come in handy. I have to say, the i.e. and e.g. one gives me the most trouble. I just realized that a better way to remember may be ex(ample)=e.g.
Tracy
Comment from Vivian
Time: January 14, 2009, 10:39 am
I don’t know, maybe sometimes I also do such mistakes, but don’t notice it, thanks for sharing.
Write a comment