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1. |
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as. Avoid using
as
instead of because, for,
since,
that,
or
whether. |
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Wrong |
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As he was
ill, he stayed home. |
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Right |
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Because
he was ill, he stayed home. |
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Since he
was ill, he stayed home. |
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He stayed home,
for he
was ill. |
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Wrong |
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I feel as
I should go. |
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Right |
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I feel
that I should go. |
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2. |
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at.
Omit the " at " |
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Wrong |
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Where is he living
at now
? |
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Right |
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Where is he living now ? |
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3. |
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at about.
Omit the " at ". |
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Wrong |
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He arrived
at about noon. |
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Right |
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He arrive
about noon. |
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4. |
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because.
Do not begin a noun clause with
because. |
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Wrong |
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Because
he was late annoyed the teacher |
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Right |
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His
lateness annoyed the teacher. |
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Right |
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The
fact that he was late annoyed the teacher. |
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Wrong |
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Because I
overate was why I became ill. |
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Right |
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Because I
overate, I became ill. |
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5. |
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beside, besides.
Besides
means " in addition to."
Beside
means " next to. " |
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He sat beside
the pretty girl. |
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He owes a bicycle
besides
a car. |
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6. |
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between, among.
Among
always implies more than two;
between
implies only two. |
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Wrong |
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There is little difference
between
the members of the class. |
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Right |
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There is little difference
among the
members of the class. |
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Right |
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There is little difference
between
the two nationalities. |
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7. |
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but, hardly, scarcely.
Do not use these words with another negative. |
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Wrong |
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I couldn't
hardly see him. |
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Right |
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I could hardly
see him. |
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Wrong |
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He didn't
have but one dollar. |
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Right |
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He had but
one dollar.. |
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8. |
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different from (
not different than ) |
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The result was much
different from
what I expected. |
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9. |
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equally as
good is not correct. Use either
equally
good
or as good as. |
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Wrong |
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The movie is
equally as good
as the play. |
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Right |
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The movie and the play are
equally good. |
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Right |
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The movie is
as good as
the play. |
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10. |
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expect and suppose
( or think
) have different meanings. |
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Wrong |
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I expect
that she will be here. |
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Right |
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I suppose
( or think
) that she will be here. |
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Right |
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I expect
to be late. |
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Right |
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They
expect us to help them. |
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