Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 38

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1.  
• He is sixteen complete. (wrong)
• He is over sixteen. (correct)
• Explanation : When completion is to be emphasized we say he has completed sixteen.
2.  
• No mention. (wrong)
• Please do not mention it.  (correct)
• Explanation : That is the way it is spoken by the native speakers. 
3.  

• In my opinion I think it is wrong. (wrong)
• In my opinion it is wrong. (correct)
• I think it is wrong. (correct)
• Explanation : 'In my opinion' and 'I think' refer to the same situation. 
4.  
• Sir Bose.  (wrong)
• Sir J. C. Bose. (correct)
• Explanation : Sir is used either with the full names or with only the first name. 
5.  
• Your sincerely. (wrong)
• Your's sincerely of (wrong)
• Yours sincerely.  (correct)
• Explanation : The possession form (your) can not be used with an adverb but 'yours' is used in a formula ending a letter, e.g., yours truly. 
6.  
• He feared that it would not rain.  (wrong)
• He wanted it to rain.  (correct)
• Explanation : Fear means 'to be afraid of' and  carries a negative impact suggested by 'its complement'. 
7.  
• He feared that it would rain. (wrong)
• He did not want it to rain.  (correct)
• Explanation : If he did not want it to rain, he should say so rather than use fear which suggests that the complement is harmful. 
8.  
• I hope it will rain. (wrong)
• I think it will rain and I want it to.  (correct)
• Explanation : To hope for something means 'to want something to happen'. If one is expressing what is going to happen, 'I think' is more appropriate. 
9.  
• I fear it will rain.  (wrong)
• I think it will rain but I don not want it to.  (correct)
• Explanation : See notes on (7) and (8).
10.  
• Excuse for the troubles.  (wrong)
• Forgive my troubling you. (correct)
• Explanation : To excuse means 'to forgive' or 'to seek forgiveness'. In either case it is followed by an object, so is forgive. 
11.  
• 'Will you have some lemonade ?' - 'I don't mind'.  (wrong)
• The correct answer is 'Thank you' or 'No, thank you'.  (correct)
• Explanation : 'I don't mind' is rude. This reply connotes indifference; that the person invited does not care whether he drinks lemonade or not. The expression should be used only when it is permissible to indicate no strong preference. 
• For example : 'Shall we walk or go in taxi ?' 'I don't mind'.

You can check the Old Posts of this Series from here

Shared by Bhargav Gupta Yechuri

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