Despite or In spite of?

Both are used to show a contrast. The only difference between them is the ‘of’.

E.g.Despite my reluctance, he was able to convince

me to accompany him.In spite of my reluctance...,

Of and From

• Of – mainly used as a possessiveE.g.She is a student of mine.The size of the shirt is large.In conversational English, it’s more common to use the possessive ‘s. Thus:She’s my student.The shirt’s size is large.

• From – used to express that something originates from something else, from somewhere, or some person.

E.g.Obama comes from Chicago.This quote derives from the novel of Gore Vidal.

Different from or than?

• Use different from for simple comparisons, as when comparing two persons or things.

E.g.My hair style is different from hers.• Use different than only if the words following it make up a clause,

especially if the clause is elliptical (perteining to an aforementioned context that is not restated).

E.g. It seems so different than New York.If different from were used, the city of New York would be the object of

comparison. However, using different than in this case suggests an elliptical clause., i.e., ‘the way things were in New York’ or ‘what happened in New York’.

If still unsure, just use different from in all cases!

Done or Finished?

In the past, the rule of thumb was:“Dinner is done; people are finished.”

In modern speech, however, the two are interchangeable.

E.g.I am done with my homework.I have finished my homework.

Drank or Drunk?

Base form: drinkPaste tense: drankPast participle: drunkE.g.I drank a glass of Chardonnay.All the beer has been drunk.

Each is or Each are?

When each is used as a subject, it takes a singular verb or pronoun.

E.g.Each of the tickets is to be sold a month after it is assigned.Each of the students takes his turn at answering.

When each occurs after a plural subject with which it is in apposition, it takes a plural verb or pronoun.

E.g.The tickets each have serial numbers on their corners.

Everybody and Everyone

Everybody and everyone are interchangeable.

Odd as it may seem, these pronouns are singular because although we talk of whole groups of people, we still treat them grammatically as individuals in a group. Thus, we say:

“Is everybody happy?” Not “Are everybody happy?”“Everyone is welcome here.” Not “Everyone are welcome here.”

Everyday or Every day?

• Everyday – is an adjective that means ordinary, normal, or commonplace.

E.g. The terrible traffic is an everyday problem.

• Every day – is an adverb which means “each day”.

E.g. I have to drive through this terrible traffic every day.

Everyone or Every one?

• Everyone – a compound pronoun which means “all the people”.

E.g. Everyone is ready to start.

• Every one – a non-compound modified pronoun which puts a greater emphasis on the word ‘one’ and means “every single person or thing”.

E.g. The hurricane totaled every one of the homes on 32nd Street.

Farther or Further?

• Use farther for physical distance.E.g. “How much farther do we have to go?” the impatient

boy asked his mother.

• Use further for metaphorical, or figurative distance.

E.g. “If you complain further, I’m going to have to drop you off,” replied the mother.

Fewer or Less?

Basic Rule: Use fewer with count nouns and less with mass nouns.

E.g.There are fewer attendees today.I had less problems yesterday.

Going to vs. Will

The differences between these two forms of the future are very subtle! The main difference, though, is that will is sometimes used to emphasize that something isn’t planned, while going to is sometimes used to refer to something that is planned.

E.g. I will watch the parade. (You are at a streetside cafe, and you

heard a marching band play.)I am going to watch a parade. (As you are walking out the door,

you’re asked by your mother where you are going.)

Good or Well?

Good is an adjective while well is an adverb answering the question how.

E.g.They did a good job.They did the job well. (It answers, “How did they do the

job?”)

Good or Well?

Rule: With the four senses – look, taste, feel, smell – determine if these words are being used actively to decide whether to use good or well after them. (Hear is always used actively.)

E.g. You look good this morning.This soup tastes good.He smells good today.But:She smells well for someone with a bad cold.(She is sniffing actively with her nose, so the the adverb is used.)

Good or Well?

Rule: When referring to health, always use well.E.g. He doesn’t look well right now.Mrs. Smith doesn’t feel well today.Rule: When describing someone’s emotional state,

use good.E.g.We don’t feel good about being left out.

Good or Well?

So, how should the question, “How are you?” be answered?

If you think someone is asking about your physical well-being, say, “I feel well,” or “I don’t feel well.” If someone is asking about your emotional state, answer, “I feel good,” or “I don’t feel good.” Alternatively, to avoid this problem, you could answer, “I feel okay,” “I feel wonderful,” or “I feel sick.”

Has gone to vs. Has been to

• Has/have gone to – refers to someone who has gone to a place but has not returned yet.

E.g. The diplomat has gone to the Middle East. (He left for the Middle East but hasn’t returned yet.)

• Has/have been to – used for completed visits/trips.

E.g. I have been to Japan. (I am not in Japan at the moment. I have returned.)

Have got or Have gotten?

When we say, “Claire has got four Valentino dresses,” we mean that she has them.

When we say, “Claire has gotten four Valentino dresses,” we mean that she has obtained or acquired them.

Have vs. Of in Conditionals

The 1st and 2nd conditionals talk about the future. With the 3rd conditional, we talk about the past. We discuss a condition in the past that did not happen.

Condition Result

Past Perfect WOULD HAVE + Past Participle

If I had won the contest

I would have flown to Paris.

If it had rained this morning

I would have stayed at home.

Have vs. Of in Conditionals

Some people hear ‘would of’ when people say ‘would have’ and therefore make grammatically incorrect statements such as “I would of left early if you told me you weren’t coming.”

‘Would of’ is never correct!

If or Whether?

• If – used for a conditional ideaE.g. Give me a call if you want to go to the party. (This

means contact me only if you’re going.)

• Whether – used for an alternative or possibility

E.g. Let me know whether you’ll be coming. (This means inform me of your plans, one way or the other.)

In regard(s) to?

Always use in regard to.E.g. “This reply is in regard to your request dated 25

May 2012.”

Alternatively, you can use as regards.E.g. “As regards your request dated 25 May 2012...”

Into or In to?

• Into - a preposition that has many definitions, but generally, they all relate to direction;

• In - by itself can be an adjective, an adverb, or a preposition;

• To - by itself is an adverb or a preposition;• Sometimes, in and to just end up next to each other.E.g.She regally strode into the living room.We broke in to the walk-in vault.

It is I or It is me?

• It is I - tends to be used in more formal situations.• It is me or it's me - used in a more relaxed writing

style, used more often in real and fictional speech.

RULE: When a pronoun follows a linking verb, such as is, it should be in the subject case. That means it is correct to say, “It is I,” and “It was she who drove the car.”

It's her or It's she?

It’s/It is she, that’s/that is he, and it’s/it is I are technically correct. These are used in very formal situations. However, it is okay to use it is me, that is he, or it is I in everyday language.