THINGS WE SAY WRONG wrong/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium= &utm_camp aign=Feed%3A+Neatorama+%28Neatorama%29

University of West Florida Writing Lab Created by Mamie Webb Hixon Writing Lab Director PowerPoint by Lindsey Manning Graduate Assistant ©Mamie Webb Hixon July 10, 2008 Revised June 15, 2010

a n b o c p d q e r f s g t h u I v j w k x l y m z “May I have (a, an), please.”

a n b o c p d q e r f s g t h u I v j w k x l y m z “May I have (a, an), please.” an aan a aanan a an a a a an an a

A a URL address an address a one-hundred-dollar bill a university a historic occasion an historic occasion a history class a Hispanic male an Hispanic male

READ THESE STATEMENTS ALOUD Which one is correct? a UPS guy an UPS guy

BOTH ARE CORRECT. It’s not the initial letter of a word that determines whether to use “a” or “an” preceding it; it’s the initial sound. a UPS guy a U-P-S guy Use “a” before an initial consonant sound. an UPS guy An “ups” guy Use “an” before an initial vowel sound.

a PR glitch an ER glitch an HR glitch an OR glitch a standing room only crowd an SRO crowd a Master of Business Administration degree an MBA degree an STD an NBC special an MTV award a European tour an electronic device

good advice advise students Eat alot for a little. It’s alright. It’s all right. Accept my apology. Everyone except me

Real-World Grammar Krystal Marquee, 1980: EAT ALOT FOR A LITTLE

? Is this sign  correct, or should it read NO CHECKS Excepted

Real-world Grammar Sign in local business Sorry, we no longer Except checks

Special effects Positive effects Smoking affects your health. The entire campus will be effected by the power outage. The president effected a tax cut program. Thunderstorm warning in effect until 6:00 PM.

a small amount of work a large amount of classes a large number of classes a small amount of students a small number of students

ALTOGETHER, ALL TOGETHER ALREADY, ALL READY ALMOST, MOST We were all ready (everybody ready) for the trip, but the chartered bus had already (previously) left. We are not altogether (entirely) certain that we could bring the family all together (everyone gathered) for the reunion. Almost (nearly) everyone in my immediate family went to the reunion. Most (Many) of us went to the family reunion.

B Be sure and call me back. Be sure to call me back.

CLOSED DUE TO THE HURRICANE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE As a result of Because of Caused by Due to His absence was due to his illness. She lost her job due to downsizing. She lost her job because of downsizing. This movie is no longer available due to a copyright claim by the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization. This movie is no longer available because of a copyright claim by the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.

An IQ Test Item: TRUE or FALSE Seven chickens and two cats have twenty-two feet among them. a secret between the two of them unity among the sorority members

C capital letters capital punishment the capital of Florida inside the state capitol

dark complected dark complexioned could care less couldn’t care less coulda, woulda, shoulda could of, would of, should of could’ve, would’ve, should’ve could have, would have, should have

can’t help but liking... can’t help liking only one criteria only one criterion

D due to the fact that because different from different than

E enthused enthusiastic

F less than 10 items fewer than 10 items fewer people, less confusion fewer resources, less funding

USAGE NOTE FROM The American Heritage Usage Board: Few and fewer are correctly used in writing only before a plural noun: few cars, few of the books, fewer reasons. Less is used before a mass noun: less music, less sugar. Less than is also used before a plural noun that denotes a measure of time, amount, or distance: less than three weeks, less than sixty years old, less than $400 dollars.

F farther than Hawaii discuss it further (furthermore)

H Hopefully, it will not rain. I hope it will not rain.

I “You have reached The Daily Planet, where ‘if you miss the news, you miss a lot.’ If you’re calling in regards to billing or home deliveries, press 1.” If you’re calling....

I in regard to in regards to irregardless of the weather regardless of the weather College Passes It’s Goal for New Students College Passes Its Goal for New Students

L pencil lead Lead me, guide me. Through the years, you have lead the way; you were the way. Through the years, you have led the way; you were the way.

It looks like it’s going to rain. It looks as if it’s going to rain. It looks like rain. Loan me your book. Lend me your book. loose pants lose your wallet

The principal expelled the student for three principal reasons. The principal expelled the student for three principle reasons. The principle expelled the student for three principal reasons.

The reason I was absent is because... The reason I was absent is that...

rise rises rising } = to go up rose (have) risen Gas prices have risen. Gas prices are rising.

raise raises raising } = to push up, elevate raised (have) raised Oil companies have raised the price of gas. Oil companies are raising the price of gas.

T taller than I am Press 1, then press the pound key.

They’re going there with their friends. You can get there from here. On their own terms They’re special people.

U Things my grandmother use to say Things my grandmother used to say What you’re suppose to know What you’re supposed to know

W IS WHEN, IS WHERE Rendition is when prisoners are handed over to countries where torture is allowed. Rendition is handing over prisoners to countries where torture is allowed. A rip current is when water that comes ashore is channeled back out to sea through a narrow passage. A rip current occurs when water that comes ashore is channeled back out to sea through a narrow passage.