Ash Mathew
54

Dear Everyone,

I was completely engrossed in an interesting article, but the usage of certain words, made me go nuts over the person who submitted the same. Unfortunately, I was concentrating more on the language, than the message itself. I would have not felt this way, if I were not taught the proper usage, or pointed at my own silly mistakes that I later corrected.
(By the way – I am still being corrected and no exception to the above)

A few common mistakes:

Avoid the usage of the word “doubt” unless and until you doubt someone’s character. The alternate word is “clarification”

Its not clearify – its clarify

While browsing for self improvement, I came across these interesting sites that will be useful to many of us. Just glance through during your occasional breaks. Should prove to useful than gossip. You don’t get to learn language there! :icon6:

http://www.refdesk.com/factgram.html
http://richmond.edu <link updated to site home> ( Search On Cite | Search On Google )
http://www.bouldertherapist.com/html...er_english.htm - explained in a humorous way, but you will get the message!

From India, Madras
chandan2ykpankaj
11

Dear Asha, Post is good but not targeted. Hope from you to clarify more Regards Pankaj Chandan
From India, New delhi
Ash Mathew
54

Targeted? Definitely not Pankaj. Its for everyone out there who use the English language. But if you’d required more clarification, please let me know. :-)
From India, Madras
chandan2ykpankaj
11

Actually I am expecting much from you as before but you have send links instead of targeting more information of your own. Hope to read you views more always Regards Pankaj Chandan
From India, New delhi
dasp06
25

Dear Ash and all,
I would like to add some more into this kitty:
It is not "There" when people actually mean "Their", and vice-a-versa.
"Revert back" can be written without "back"
It is not "Increament", its "Increment"
He/she never "DO", He/She always "Does"
It is not "Than" when people actually mean "Then", and vice-a-versa.
"Listening music" is wrong, "Listening to music" is right
When its for designation, You are not "Promoted to", you are "promoted as"
I know members here can add further to this list. Let's make this post worth it.
Thanks
Prashant

From India, Delhi
chandan2ykpankaj
11

Good Prashant,

I would like to add some more in it:-

1) One of my friend is wrong correct one is One of my friends
2) Introduction – Myself is XYZ is wrong and correct one is My name is XYZ.

Rest I will add whenever remember

Regards

Pankaj Chandan

From India, New delhi
Ash Mathew
54

Excellent Prashant and Pankaj!!! Trust me, you made me go and check my personal profile out there and confirm if I mentioned everything the right way! Thanks and keep contributing.
From India, Madras
chandan2ykpankaj
11

Common mistakes we make while speaking English!!

1. "It was a blunder mistake."
Correction, people! The word 'blunder' means mistake, so you could say:
"It was a blunder," or
"It was a big mistake."

2. "It would have been more better."
The word 'better' itself implies that the option in question is superior -- the use of the word 'more' in the sentence is, therefore both inappropriate and unnecessary. Thus the correct sentence would go as follows:
"It would have been better."

3. "Why don't he get married?"
The term 'don't' applies when discussing a plural subject. For instance, "Why don't they get married?" The right way to phrase that sentence would be:
"Why doesn't he get married?"

4. "I want two Xeroxes of this card."
The term 'Xerox' is used in North American English as a verb. Actually, 'Xerox' is the name of a company that supplies photocopiers! The correct thing to say, therefore, would be:
"I want two photocopies of this card."

5. "Your hairs are looking silky today."
This is one of the most common Indian bloopers! The plural of 'hair' is 'hair'! Thus:
"Your hair is looking silky today."


Some more::

1. Loose vs lose:
Many people make this mistake. They inevitably interchange the words 'loose' and 'lose' while writing. 'Lose' means to 'suffer a loss or defeat'. Thus, you would write:
'I don't want to lose you," and not ' don't want to loose you.'

'Loose', on the other hand, means 'not firm' or 'not fitting.' In this context, you would write,
"My shirt is loose," not "My shirt is lose."

2. "One of my friend lives in Kolkata."
This is one of the most common Indian English bloopers ever! The correct way of putting that is:
"One of my friends lives in Kolkata."

Why? Because the sentence implies that you have many friends who live in Kolkata, but you are referring to only one of these friends.

3. Tension-inducing tenses.
People often use the wrong tense in their sentences. For instance, someone might say:
"I didn't cried when I saw the movie."

Unfortunately, the word 'didn't' is never followed by a past tense verb, in this case 'cried'. The correct way of putting it would be:
"I didn't cry when I saw the movie."

Howzthat Asha Mathew!!!!!

Regards

Pankaj Chandan

From India, New delhi
dasp06
25

1) "I'm in agreement with...." or "I agree with...", and not "I am agreed with..."
2) "I cannot...", or "I am unable to..." and not "I cannot able to..."
3) Cannot is one word. Do not write can not.
A funny incident to quote:
I went for an interview a couple of days ago. At the reception I asked for the person whom I wanted to meet. The "english-is-my-second-skin" type Receptionist told confidently, "Please go on top(?)" pointing her finger upside. I took her leave and went all the way up to the 6th floor where I had to again ask a housekeeper about the person. To my surprise he said, "Wo to saab 1st floor pe baith ti hai". Only then I understood that Receptionist meant "on top of her head...oops...ceiliing...oops the next floor !!!! :)

From India, Delhi
Ash Mathew
54

Dear Members,

These errors happen usually. Even a person with good communication skills tend to make these errors. I guess every company should have a training session on email writing, or posting these messages on a notice board that says "Frequent errors in our language" or a quiz stating "Even a genius can make mistakes!!!".

I happened to see the mail of a "Project Manager" in my previous company. It was a client email, and he took a print out to show us "the clients feedback" (indirectly tryign to blame the hr dept for not giving manpower resources and the reason why the project is on hold) - but it turned bad for him. The mail read:

Dear <client>

i hope you are ok. i attached the file for you to see and tell me weather we can finalise on this. your reply is important for us.

Thanks,

< name >
Projects Manager
<company name>

Reply from client:

Dear <name>,

Well thanks. I am "OKAY".

Lets stop this here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Now you see - he made a mistake in taking a print out.
His skills are excelent - but communication part.. "You know"

From India, Madras
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