Common Errors in Writing
 by
Phil Bartle, PhD,
Training Reference

A few of the common errors in writing that hinder good communication

Ain't:

 Some people believe that we should never use the word "ain't" in the
 English language. It is, however, a legitimate and valid word -- if
 it is used in the right place. It is a contraction for "am
 not." The sentence, "I ain't going to school today," is therefore
 correct, meaning, "I am not going to school today." It can be used
 only for the first person singular (I). It can not be used with
 "we," "they," "you," "thou," "he," "she," or any proper noun.

Advice versus Advise:

 Advice is a noun, something that you give. It is a thing. Say,
 "Please give me some advice." Advise is a verb, something that you
 do. It is some action. Say, "Please advise me."

Affect and Effect:

 As verbs, they differ. To affect some thing is to have some
 influence upon it. To effect some action is to cause it to
 happen. As nouns, they also differ. Affect is like affection,
 related to emotion. Effect is a result.

Datum and Data:

 The word "data" is a plural noun, like "facts." Do not use it as a
 singular noun (like fact) or as a collective (like water). Right:
 "There are many data in that report." If you want the singular of
 data (one bit of information) then use the word, "datum." Right: "I
 need only one datum from that report."

etc:

 End of thinking creatively (etc). Avoid using "etc."

Fewer and Less:

 "Fewer" is used for counting while "less" is used for measuring. You
 can say Kwaku has fewer litres of fuel than Kwame, if litres are
 discrete things, or you can say Kwaku has less fuel than Kwame. You
 can say that Akua has fewer shillings than Efua, or you can say that
 Akua has less money than Efua. (You can not say that Efua has less
 shillings or that Kwaku has less litres).

Forum and Fora:

 A forum is a place being used for communication within a group or
 collection of persons. Historically it was a physical gathering
 place, but metaphorically it could be in a newspaper or on the
 internet. More than one "forum" is not "forums." They are "fora."
 The word has a Latin origin so we do not make the plural by adding
 the letter "s." The word "fora" refers to several places for
 discussion.

 In general, "s" is not used to indicate plural for words that are
 borrowed from Latin. The singular (one) should end in "um" while the
 plural (more than one) should end in "a." Examples include: stadium,
 stadia; medium, media; datum; data.

Hopefully:

 Do not use "hopefully" unless you state exactly who is doing the
 hoping. Say: "They stood hopefully in the rain waiting for the rock
 star to appear." Do not say: "Hopefully the bear will stay out of
 the village," or "Hopefully I will come in time." Say "We hope that
 the bear will stay out of the village," and "I hope that I will come
 in time."

 Generally, avoid all " fully" words if you do not specify who is
 doing the action.

In Spite:

 There is no such word as "inspite." Make sure you use the two
 words separately, "in" and "spite."

Isn't it:

 When you make a statement, then immediately ask if it is not true,
 you can use "isn't it" only if the question used the verb "to be"
 (ie "is" or one of its forms), the original question was positive,
 and if the subject of the sentence is third person singular (it). It
 is correct to say, for example, "It is coming, isn't it?"

 In many other languages, "isn't it" can be used without having to modify it
 to relate it to the original question. In English, you must make it
 consistent (with both the subject and the verb) -- and negative.
 Thus: "He is coming; isn't he?" "I am coming; ain't I?" "You are
 coming; aren't you?" "He ate the food: didn't he?" "You will bring
 the gift; won't you?" "You will not do that; will you?"

Loose and Lose:

 The two words, "loose" and "lose," look similar, especially to those
 who speak English as a second language. It is easy to mix them
 up. The word, "loose," means something is not tight or securely
 fastened down. It might easily fall apart or fall off. The word
 "lose," in contrast, means to have something go away and become lost.

Number of:

 Do not use the phrase "a number of" to indicate an unknown number of something.
 Instead, use the word "several."

Passive Voice:

 The word "obfuscation" means to write or speak in such a way as to
 look as if you are saying something, but reveal very little. Using
 the passive voice is a common way to say less than people want to
 read or hear. In the passive voice you say, "The orange was
 eaten." That way you hide the subject and so do not reveal who ate
 the orange. If you use the active voice, you must reveal the
 subject. "Aziz ate the orange." The active voice is simpler, and it
 always identifies the subject, ie who did the action. Nothing is
 hidden.

 Always use the active voice in writing or speaking.

Quotation Marks:

 English is not a logical language. We would think, if we are
 logical, that we should put a full stop, as the end of s a sentence,
 after the closing set of quotation marks., Not so. We first put the
 full stop (period) to end a sentence, then we put the closing
 quotation marks. The same with a comma. When we use quotation marks,
 the second set of marks are put after the comma, not before, as we
 might logically assume.

Revert:

 To revert means to degenerate to an earlier condition. Say, "They
 reverted to barbarism." It does not mean to reply, as in "reply to a
 message." Say, "Please reply to this email message."

Unique:

 The word "unique" means "one of a kind." There can only be one of
 that kind. This is an either/or situation; either something is
 unique or it is not. It can not be more or less. That means
 something can not be "very" unique or something can not be "more"
 unique than something else. It is like being pregnant; either you
 are or you are not; you can not be just a little bit pregnant, or
 less pregnant than Isabelle.

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Updated: 2003 May 3