Random Grammar

More Frequently Confused Words

I don't have the market cornered on these kinds of words, but here are several more I've discovered in various works of fan fiction:

canon- noun; a fundamental principle or general rule

cannon- noun; a mounted gun for firing heavy projectiles

then- adverb: at that time, next, immediately, in addition, in that case, therefore

than- conjunction; used to: introduce the second member of an unequal comparison, choice or diversity

past- noun or adjective; the time gone by or gone by or elapsed in time

passed- verb, past tense of to pass; to move past or go by

who's- contraction of who is or who has

whose- possessive pronoun; the possessive case of who or which used as an adjective

lose- verb; to misplace something

loose- adjective or verb; free or released from fastening or attachment, or to make loose

road- noun; a way or course

rode- verb, past tense of to ride; to be borne along on or in a vehicle or other kind of conveyance

we're- contraction of we are

were- verb, past tense of to be; to exist or live

insure- verb; to guarantee against loss or harm
ensure- verb; to secure or guarantee, to make sure or certain

right- adj/noun/adv/verb; in accordance with what is right, fair or just
rite- noun; a formal or ceremonial act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious or other solemn use

faze- verb; to cause to be disturbed or disconcerted, daunt
phase- noun; a stage in a process of change or development

suit- noun/verb; -a set of clothing/to make appropriate, adapt, or accommodate, as one thing to another
suite-(sweet) noun; a number of things forming a series or set; a set of rooms

its- possessive form of the pronoun it

it's- contraction of it is or it has

That last one brings up another pet peeve of mine- confusion of possessives, plurals and contractions. It'll be a subject for a different post, that's for sure. Also, I should have noted before, but most of my definitions are from Dictionary.com.

Frequently Confused Words

I won't remember all the words I want to highlight here, so I'll create a series of posts with them and slap on a label to connect them.

These are words I've seen confused in my perusal of amateur fiction-posting websites. Lack of spell-check doesn't account for many of these; laziness does. Some of these just blow my mind, but considering what my children have been taught about grammar (next to nothing) I shouldn't be surprised.

there- most commonly used as an adverb; in a particular place, point or manner
their- possessive pronoun; Their child.
they're- contraction of they are

bear- verb; hold up, bring forth, produce
bare- adjective; without covering, open to view, plain, scarcely

throne- noun; chair or seat occupied by an exalted person, the office or power of such
thrown- verb, past form of throw

reign- noun/verb; period of time a sovereign occupies a throne, a dominating power
rein- noun/verb; leather strap connected to a bridle to control a horse, to control

peek- verb/noun; to look quickly / a quick look
peak- noun; the pointed top of anything, highest point or level
pique- verb; to wound (pride), excite, provoke

to- preposition; used to express motion or direction toward a person, place or thing
too- adverb; also, in addition, more, very
two- noun; the number 2

affect- verb/noun; to act on, move the feelings of / feeling or emotion
effect- noun/verb; result, influence, meaning, purpose/ to make happen

your- possessive pronoun, second person (Your wallet.)
you're- contraction of "you are" (You're coming tonight.)

led- verb, past tense of lead (pronounced "leed"- see below)
lead- verb; to go before, guide, influence, to take or bring (also a soft metal pronounced like "led")

I think that's enough for now. It is amazing how many frequently confused words aren't even spelled the same. Regional pronunciations are more to blame than anything, I think.

Parts of Speech

I thought it might be helpful to put in a description of parts of speech, since they are a main part of grammar. I'm going to post a bit later about confusing words and knowing what I'm talking about would help. Also, I'd like a reference for myself. :) The following chart is from an ESL website called easypacelearning.com.

Sometimes the parts of speech are divided into 8 or 10 parts, so different people may have different opinions. But I am happy with the pretty chart with 9. There's so much more to it, but this covers the basics nicely. I can always go into more detail later- this is a blog, after all!

Hi there!

I suppose I should have introduced myself first. I'm AJ. I currently write fan fiction at fanfiction.net and LiveJournal. I am constantly looking for ways to improve my own writing and I aim to do that by helping everyone else along with me. At least other English-speakers.

Here are my credentials:

At least at writetodone.com. Granted, the quiz is only 5 questions. :) Their quiz is here.

At any rate, I can't help but pick out grammatical errors wherever and whatever I read. Not that I'm perfect, but they just pop out at me. Especially commonly confused words, like affect and effect. Verb and noun, respectively, argh. I actually like to hang out at Dictionary.com, and I did used to read the dictionary as a kid.

So my main idea behind this is to put grammar tips here so I can remember them. And if I can help anybody else along the way, fantastic! Thank you and welcome! :)

I literally don't like this word

I saw a t-shirt online the other day that said: "Misuse of literally makes me figuratively insane."

For quite a while, I've noted the less-than-accurate usage of the adverb literally. Since high school. and that was a while ago. I mean, if you literally killed yourself writing a paper, then you wouldn't even be alive to say that. It appears the meaning has gradually altered:

Since the early 20th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, virtually,” a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning “actually, without exaggeration”: The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries.

The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing. Although this use of literally irritates some, it probably neither distorts nor enhances the intended meaning of the sentences in which it occurs. The same might often be said of the use of literally in its earlier sense “actually”: The garrison was literally wiped out: no one survived. "literally." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 24 Sep. 2014. (emphasis mine)

I'll criticize that use, thank you very much, since it's a matter of opinion. It just sounds wrong, like, "I could care less." That's a subject for a different post. Is it really that hard to say, "I almost killed myself writing this paper." Or even maybe figurative?

Again borrowing from Dictionary.com, figurative means "of the nature of or involving a figure of speech, especially a metaphor; metaphorical and not literal." That's really what the paper-writer meant. So why not say what one really means? I think the majority of us have just gotten lazy in speaking properly (by my definition of proper, anyway). And unless one is writing dialog, it will always look wrong to me.

So the misuse of literally does make me figuratively insane. But I'll bet I could find at least a few professional editors who are literally driven insane by its misuse.

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