Glossary Of Usage

Front 1

a, an

Back 1

Use "a" before a consonant sound
Use "an" before words beginning with a vowel sound

Front 2

accept, except

Back 2

accept: to receive
except: excluding

Front 3

ain't

Back 3

Don't ever use it

Front 4

all right

Back 4

:always Two words
Your science project looks all right to me.

Front 5

a lot

Back 5

always two words

Front 6

already, all ready

Back 6

already- "previously"
all ready-" completely" prepared

Front 7

anyway, anywhere, everywhere, nowhere, somewhere

Back 7

should not have s on the ends

Front 8

at

Back 8

do not use at after where

Front 9

badly, bad

Back 9

the fruit taste bad.

Don't treat him badly.

Front 10

beside, besides

Back 10

beside- "by the side of"
besides-" in addition to."

Front 11

between, among

Back 11

use between when referring to TWO items at a time.

use among when referring to a group rather than individuals

Front 12

bring, take

Back 12

bring- to come carrying something

take- to go carrying something

Front 13

bust, bursted

Back 13

don't use these words use either burst or break or catch or arrest.

Front 14

can't hardly, can't scarcely

Back 14

They should not be used with another negative word.

Front 15

could of

Back 15

use could have or should have

Front 16

fewer, less

Back 16

We had expected fewer guests.

Please use less salt.

Front 17

good, well

Back 17

Nonstandard
The steel drum band played good.
Standard
The steel drum band played well.

Front 18

had ought, hadn't ought

Back 18

the verb ought should not be used with had

Front 19

he, she, they

Back 19

Michael Jordan was named Most valuable Player.

Front 20

hisself, theirself, theirsevles

Back 20

don't ever use these words

Front 21

how come

Back 21

use why instead

Front 22

its, it's

Back 22

The Kitten likes its new home.

It's been a long day.

Front 23

kind, sort, type

Back 23

these are plural

Front 24

kind of, sort of

Back 24

INFORMAL
I feel kind of tired.
FORMAL
I feel somewhat tired.

Front 25

learn, teach

Back 25

learn- to acquire knowledge
teach to instruct or to show how

Front 26

leave, let

Back 26

leave- go away
Let- to allow

Front 27

like, as

Back 27

Your uncle's hat looked like a sombrero.

Marcia trained every day as the coach had suggested.

Front 28

of

Back 28

the glass fell off the table

Front 29

real

Back 29

The car is real quiet.
The car is very quiet.

Front 30

some, somewhat

Back 30

I like classical music some.

I like classical music somewhat.

Front 31

than, then

Back 31

I sing better than I act.

Front 32

their, there, they're

Back 32

Do you have their CDs?

Front 33

them

Back 33

use these or those

Front 34

this here, that there

Back 34

here and there are not needed

Front 35

try and

Back 35

I will be try to be there early.

Front 36

use to, used to

Back 36

use " used'

Front 37

way ,ways

Back 37

use way

Front 38

when, where

Back 38

do not use when and where incorrectly to begin a definition

Front 39

where

Back 39

use where for that

Front 40

who, which, that

Back 40

Jolene is the one who called.

Front 41

Whose, who's

Back 41

who- who is

Front 42

without, unless

Back 42

i can't go unless I ask dad.

Front 43

your, you're

Back 43

you're : you are