Writer's Choice Grade 7

Unit 17: Glossary of Special Usage Problems

Overview

When you use a word processing program on a computer, the spell check function can catch most spelling errors. However, the spell check function will not catch usage errors like they're new pet. After all, the word they're is spelled correctly. You will have to carefully proofread your writing to find and correct usage errors. In this example, you would change they're to their.

Like other languages, English contains several confusing words and expressions. Words like their, there, and they're are troublesome, or confusing, words. Some other examples of troublesome words are accept and except; its and it's; lay and lie; than and then; and to, too, and two. Many of these words look or sound very similar to another word. For instance, accept and except sound very similar. However, accept means “to receive,” and except means “other than.” All ready and already both look and sound similar, but the first means “completely prepared,” and the second means “before.”

Sometimes the two words not only sound alike, but they even have similar meanings. For example, sit and set both have meanings that involve putting or placing. Set means to put a thing in a place: I set down my book bag. The word sit is used when a person is placing himself or herself in a seated position: They sit on the blanket.

To master using these troublesome words, review the lists of misused words in this unit (pp. 552-561). Add any of these examples that especially give you trouble to a personal proofreading checklist. If you are using a word processing program, use your word processor's “Find” feature to search for any troublesome words from your checklist. Carefully review each sentence to see if you have used these words correctly.