Mistaken grammar and spelling is alright
and even accepted in some contexts like
instant messenger or notes to friends, but don't let it seep into
your vocabulary for academic related instances.Interestingly, we use many of these words on a regular basis and may not even realize we are spelling them incorrectly. Be aware especially to the context in which you are using the word in order to come to a conclusion into how it should properly be used.
The following five examples gives you an introductory look on commonly misspelled and sometimes misinterpreted words and their usages from the "As". Hopefully, with the information provided, you will be able to learn a thing or too and incorporate these new skills into your vocab. If you already have these tricky words figured out, great!
1. A lot
A lot >> correct (meaning a large portion of something)
Alot > Incorrect
Allot > Used as a verb to assign, give or provide possession to something or someone
Key to Remembering: When referring to much of something using "a lot", think of the "a" in being important to describing the large amount. Therefore, it would not be connected to the next word. If you're a kinesetic learner, you can think of taking a deep breath before heaving the large amount. Making it "A *breath* lot.
2. A Versus An
A very simple concept, however it is easily confused and mistakenly used. A or an refer to something, depending on the first letter of the word following it.
A >> Used when following a word starting with a consonant (B,C,D,F,G....etc)
An >> Used when following a word starting with a vowel (A,E,I,O,U and sometimes Y)
3. Accept Versus Except
Accept >> Meaning to receive
Except >> Meaning to leave out, similar to "but"
Examples: I accept your apology.
I want everything on my pizza except pepperoni.
You should have excepted your offer >> could mean you should NOT have taken the offer.
4. Affect Versus Effect
Affect >> Having an influence on (a-FECT)
This is a bit confusing yes, but if you think of the word "effect" as a resulting word, you can put it into context easier.
These words are commonly confused, and the rules given to tell them apart are often wrong. Affect means "to influence" or "to produce an effect in." Effect means "consequence" or "that which is produced by an agent or cause."
Many try to differentiate between the two by saying that affect is a verb, while effect is a noun. Unfortunately, it's not so simple. The word affect can also serve as a noun, meaning "observed or expressed emotional response," and the word effect can also serve as a verb, meaning "to become operative" or "to carry out," as in, "to effect changes."
5. Accommodate
Remember the double "c" and the double "m" and you'll be on your way to great spelling and grammar!
Post Comments
acrosstheuniverse said – Tue, 06 May 2008 13:50:39 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )
Hi Andrew,
I looked into it and I’m thinking that the proper usage would be without the hyphen. However it is often used in combination with other words. For example build-a-lot or mix-a-lot. For formal writing, the hyphen can remind one that there is a space in between as well. Hope this helps!
manu_urfriend2000 said – Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:06:01 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )
no dude you cant hypen is only ued with words which have a combined meaning usually
poojakarki said – Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:58:41 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )
Really good Points