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By: Musaadah


LATER (adj, adv), LATTER (pron, adj), LAST (adj)
Later is the comparative form of late; Latter refers to the second of two persons or things named; Last refers to the final person of thing.
Examples:
The movie began later than we expected.
Both Frank and Philip are likeable, but the latter is the more intelligent.
December is the last month of the year.

LAY, LIE (v)
Verb Lay, which means to put or place, can be active or passive and take an object. The verb Lie, which it means to repose, is never passive and never followed by an object.
Examples:
Lay (lay, laid, lying) He laid the book aside.
Lie (lay, lied, lying) He lay down on the bed.

LIE, LIE (v)
The verb Lie meaning to repose has differ to principal parts form the verb lie which means not to tell the truth.
Lie (lay, lain, lying) He lies in the bed until noon.
Lie (lied, lied lying) He lies, cheats, and steals.

LIKE (prep), SUCH AS (prep), AS IF (conj)
Like, which is followed by an object, means resembling; Such as means for example; as if means as though and introduces an adverb clause of manner.
Examples:
He looks like his father. (Resemblance = like +noun).
Fruits such as oranges and grapefruit grow in Texas. (Example = such as + noun).
He looks as if he is tired. (Manner = as if + clause).

LOOSE (adj), LOSE (v), LOSS (n), LOOSEN (v)
Examples:
I need a screwdriver to tighten the loose screws.
He is losing weight very quickly.
She was saddened by the loss of her wedding ring.
I am loosening the screws.

MAYBE (adv), MAY BE (v)
Maybe means possible or perhaps; may be is a verb form indicating that is possibility exists.
Examples:
Maybe you will find the wallet you lost.
She may be late.


Related Topics:
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (F-K)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (C-D)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)
The Kinds of Verbs (Part 2)

By: Musaadah


FARTHER, FURTHER (adj, adj/adv)
Farther/further refers to distance; only further is used to mean more time, degree, or quantity.
Examples:
Chicago is farther/further north than Austin
I will give you further information later.

FEWER, LESS (adj, pron)
Fewer is used with countable items; Less is used with non-count items.
Examples:
He spend fewer hour studying for the exam.

FORMER, FIRST (n, adj)
Former refers to the first of two persons or things named. First refers to the first three or more persons or things named.
Examples:
Both Mary and Michael were invited, but only the former came.
Anna, Jane, and Della are sisters, but the first was adopted.

FORMERLY, FORMALLY (adv)
Formerly means previously or earlier; Formally means in a formal manner.
Examples:
Elizabeth was formerly called Betty.
You are too formally dressed for an outdoor picnic.

FORTH (adv) FOURTH (adj)
Forth means in a forward direction; Fourth refers to the place in numerical order coming after third.
Examples:
She rocked the baby back and forth until he fell asleep.
You are the fourth person to ask that question.

HAD BETTER, WOULD RATHER (v)
Had better expresses advisability preference.
Examples:
I had better study tonight.
I would rather watch television than study.

ITS (adj), IT’S (pron + v)
Examples:
The snake is shedding its skin.
It’s time to go home.


KIND, SORT, TYPE (n)
These words may be singular or plural, when the word is singular, it is modified by this or that; when it is plural, it is modified by these or those.
Examples:
I like this kind of cookie.
I like these kinds of cookies.
We always buy that sort of shoe.
We always buys those sorts of shoes.
They enjoy reading type of book
They enjoy those that types of books.



Related Topic:
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (C-D)
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)

By: Musaadah


CAPITAL, CAPITOL (n, adj)
Capital can means either a person’s wealth or the city which houses the government. Capitol refers to the specific building that is the center of the government.
Examples:
He invested a lot of his capital in the project.
The capitol building is near the downtown shopping area.

CLOTHES (n), CLOTHE (v), CLOSE (adj, prep, v)
Examples:
The man was wearing old, dirty clothes.
She lives close to the university.
The lawyer clothed his argument in pompous phraseology.
The store closes at midnight.

COMPLEMENT, COMPLIMENT (v, n)
A complement is something that completes something else. A compliment is a statement of approval or congratulation the related verbs have the same sense.
Examples:
A subject complement follows the verb “to be”
She got many compliments on her new ring.
The brown walls complement the generally dark effect of the room.
She complimented him on his cooking.

COSTUME, CUSTOM, CUSTOMS (n)
Costume refers to clothing; Custom refers to a traditional practice or habit; Customs means the agency for collecting duties imposed by a country on imports or exports.
Examples:
She wore a beautiful costume to the party.
You must pass through customs when you enter a country.

COUNCIL (n), COUNSEL (v, n)
A Council is an official group. Counsel means to give advice. The noun counsel means advice.
Examples:
The city council meets every week.
His doctor counseled him to stop smoking.
His counsel was useful to us.

DESERT (n, v) DESSERT (n)
Examples:
It is very hot and dry in the desert.
The camp was deserted
Her favorite dessert is chocolate ice cream.

DIFFER (v), (DIFFERENT (adj)
Both the words are followed by form and not them.
Examples:
My current teacher differs in method from my last one.
The ending of the book was different from what I expected.


Related Topic:
The Brief Glossary of Correct Usage (A-B)
Kinds of Verbs (Part 2)
Kinds of Adverb (Part 2)