The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)

By: Musaadah


A, AN (art)
Before consonant sounds, use a; before vowel sounds use an.
Examples:
They left an hour ago.
I will attend a university next semester.

ACCEPT (v), EXCEPT
Examples:
They accepted my invitation.
Everyone except me attended.


ADVICE (n), ADVISE (v)
His advice was very useful.
I advised him to buy a car.

AFFECT (v), EFFECT (n,v)
The verb affect means to influence; the verb effect means to cause to happen
Examples:
Arbitrations have affects a settlement of the dispute.
Pollution affect means the result.

ALMOST (adv), MOST (adj, pron)
The verb almost is used with verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs to mean nearly but not completely. Most means the mayority or greatest part.
Examples:
Almost all student work very hard.
Most students work very hard.


ALREADY (adv), ALL READY (adj)
Already means before the time specific; All ready means completely prepared.
Examples:
The movie had already begun by the time we arrived.
Th president was all ready to go on vacation.

AMOUNT, NUMBER (n)
Amount refers to non-count items; Number refers to countable items.
Examples:
The amount of money you have is not enough.
The number of students in the program is increasing.


BARELY, HARDLY, SCARCELY (adv)
These words have a negative connotation and cannot be used with other negative words.
Examples:
I could barely see him.
Scarcely had the picnic begun when the rain started.

BESIDE, BESIDES (prep)
Beside means next to; Besides means in addition to.
Examples:
He sat beside the pretty girl.
He has a bicycle besides a car.

BETWEEN, AMONG (prep)
Between refers to only two persons or thing; Among refers to three or more persons or things.
Examples:
There is little difference between the two ideas.
There is little difference among the three ideas.

Related Topics:
Kinds of Verbs (Part 2)
Kinds of Adverb (Part 2)