English Common Errors

A dozen v.s. dozens of

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:52:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	There are a dozen of eggs on the table.		There are a dozen eggs on the table.

"Dozen" means twelve and therefore we do not use the proposition "of" with it. We never use "of" with exact number figures. We do, however, use "of" with the plural form to indicate that there are very many of them. For example, "Dozen of people showed up to listen to him speak."

The same is true for the plural form of other numbers, for example, "hundreds of", "thousands of", "millions of", etc.

succeed in something

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:34:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	Johnson & Johnson succeeded to earn a good reputation in the market.		Johnson & Johnson succeeded in earning a good reputation in the market.

We cannot add an infinitive verb form to the word "succeed". Instead, we can "succeed in something" and "succeed in doing something". For example, "Johnson & Johnson succeeded in the market after earning a good reputation".

release vs. relax

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	We will never release the new policy.		We will never relax the new policy.

"Release" means "to make something public", "to let go" or "to free someone from responsibility". The author implies to "make something less strict". Therefore, "relax" is more appropriate. The opposite of "relax" here would be "tighten" as in "The administration will tighten the restrictions on absences."

Longer hours

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:25:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	In the IT department we work longer time.		In the IT department we work longer hours than other department.

The use of "-er" is comparative. The logical question should be "work longer than whom?" If the first sentence is to be correct, it has to be depend on another party of comparison. "Long hours" is a set phrase in English used to describe a long period of time in which one works.

Merged by or Merged with?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:21:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	We heard that Yahoo may be merged by Microsoft.		We heard that Yahoo may be merged with Microsoft.

The correct preposition to describe two companies merging together is "with".

Under such circumstances

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:16:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	I cannot work under this situation.		I cannot work under such circumstances.

You could say "I can't work in such a situation". You could also say "I can't work under such circumstance". The problem is using proper prepositions.

Under the table and Above board

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:13:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	He's so honest. He does all of his business on the table.		He's so honest. He does all his business above board.

The opposite of "under the table" is "above board". "On the table" only has a literal meaning as in "she cut the bread on the table".

Service our customers? or Provide service to our customers?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:09:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	My responsibility is to service our customers.		My responsibility is to provide service to our customers.

It is awkward to say that someone "services another person". Maintenance people can service machines. When people service other people, "service" takes on a sexual meaning. To use "service" properly in the above sentence, use the verb "provide".

Bring back memories.

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:04:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	I hope the photographs I took will bring you a great memory.		I hope the photographs I took will bring back memories.

The word "bring" would suggest something has been physically given to you. "Bring back memories" is an exception and is a set phrase in English. However, "provide" can suggest that something enables you to get something else. You can also say "I hope the photographs I took will provide you with great memories".

in local? or locally?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:01:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	Our company sells its products in local.		Our company sells its products locally.

"In local" is incorrect as "local" is an adjective. You can say, 'in local markets" as "local" modifies "markets". You can also use "locally", the adverb, because it modifies "sells".

Knock? or Knock on the door?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:00:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	I didn't hear you knock on the door before you came in.		I didn't hear you knock before you came in.

"Knock on the door" is grammatically correct, but sounds awkward. "Knock" is the correct and natural word choice. "On the door" is understood in the context and is therefore redundant.

by hands or by hand?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:58:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	I usually wash my clothes by hands.		I usually wash my clothes by hand.

"By hand" is a fixed expression indicating how something was made or is done. You can also say "hand-made dumplings".

Eye contact

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:56:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	He rarely makes eyes contact as he is very shy.		He rarely makes eye contact as he is very shy.

"Eye contact" is a fixed expression. Similar expressions that use singular "eye" include "eye sight", "eye catching", among others.

High Peak or Peak?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:53:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	Our sales reached a high peak last year.		Our sales reached a peak last year.

In "high peak", "high" is redundant as "peak", a noun, implies "a high point of something." Another sentence could be "Our sales peaked last year." Note that peak can be both a noun and a verb.

A good memory? or a lot of good memories?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:47:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	I have a good memory of last year's vacation.		I have a lot of good memories of last year's vacation.

"To have a good memory" means to be able to remember things well. "Good memories of," means to have "fond recollrections of."

The first sentence does not make sense as you generally either have or don't have a good momery. It is not generally used with one specific event. The second implies that I had fun last year and I remember the events.

BC 323 or 323 BC?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:44:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	Alexander the Great died in BC 323.		Alexander the Great died in 323 BC.

BC should follow the year. AD (Anno Domini, Latin for "In the Year of the Lord") can come before or after it. For example, 2008 AD and AD 2008 are both correct.

superlative and context

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:42:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	Bob is the best looking football player. (...)		Bob is the best looking football player on the team.

The first sentence cannot be a stand-alone sentence. The superlative "the best" requires a context. "On the team" supplies a context.

Passion On vs. Passion For

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:39:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	Bob Bobson has no passion on football.		Bob Bobson has no passion for football.

The proper preposition for "passion" should be "for". It is also common to say "is not passionate about", e.g. "Bob Bobson is not passionate about football."

Explain + Object

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:35:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	He explained very clearly when we asked questions.		He explained the answers very clearly when we asked questions.

"Explain" is a transitive verb. It, therefore, requires an object, here "the answers".

Pronounce words

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:34:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	He taught us to pronounce correctly.		he taught us to pronounce words correctly.

"Pronounce" is a transitive verb, therefore, requiring an object. Here the object is "words".

Handout vs. Handouts

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:31:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	She gave us lots of useful handout.		She gave us los of useful handouts.

"Handouts" is a countable noun and, therefore, must take the plural form after "lots of". However, both countable and uncountable nouns can follow "lots of," for example "handouts" and "money."

New coming juniors?

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:23:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	I want to welcome all the new coming juniors.		I want to welcome all the new students.

"New coming juniors" is the direct translation from Chinese original. The term "Juniors" is rarely used in English, especially in this context. "New students" is possibly the best term as it is sipmle and to the point.

Volunteer vs. Voluntarily

noreply@blogger.com (Jonoson) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:55:00 +0000

INCORRECT		CORRECT
	He volunteerly cleaned up all the clasrooms.		He voluntarily cleaned up all the classrooms.

"Voluntarily" is the Adverb. "Volunteerly" is not a word in English.