Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 54

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• 'Isn't he the best player in the Hockey Eleven ?' - 'Of course, he is'.  (wrong)
• 'Isn't he the best player in the Hockey Eleven ?' - 'Certainly, he is'.  (correct)
• Explanation : 'Of course' should be used only in the context of an inevitable consequence. 
• He bore cheerfully his miseries.   (wrong)
• He bore his miseries cheerfully.   (correct)
• Explanation : In the case of a transitive verb, use the adverb after the object. 
• He is too polite.  (wrong)
  
• He is too polite to be unkind to anyone.  (correct)
• Explanation : 'He is too polite' is incomplete. 'Too polite' for what ? Too means 'excessively', 'to a higher degree than is desirable'. 
• The spectators left the theatre by and by.    (wrong)
• The spectators left the theatre one by one.   (correct)
• Explanation : 'By and by' means 'eventually', and not 'one by one'. 
• I shall be back just now.  (wrong)
• I shall be back presently.  (correct)
• Explanation : Just now means 'at the present time' whereas 'presently' means 'after a short time' or 'soon'.
• This morning I got up lately.  (wrong)
• This morning I got up late.   (correct)
• Explanation : 'Lately' is not the opposite of 'early' ('early' has the opposite 'late'). 'Lately' means 'not long ago', 'recently'. 
• I never met him today.  (wrong)
• I did not meet him today.  (correct)
• Explanation : 'Never' means 'not ever', except when used for very strong emphasis. 
• Please write your names with ink.  (wrong)
• Please write your names in ink.  (correct)
• Explanation : Always say 'write in chalk', 'write in pencil', etc., but 'write with a pen'.
• He caught the thief from the hand.  (wrong)
• He caught the thief by the hand.  (correct)
• Explanation : Similarly, say 'seize', hold, or take by the hand.  
• He is sitting on his table.  (wrong)
• He is sitting at his table.   (correct)
• Explanation : Also, 'sit at a piano', 'sit at one's desk', but 'sit on a bench', 'sit on a sofa'. 
• Why do you now repent from your misdeeds ?  (wrong)
• Why do you now repent of your misdeeds ?  (correct)
• Explanation : Repent of (something) is an idiomatic expression; i.e., only 'of' is used in this context.

You can check the Old Posts of this Series from here

Shared by Bhargav Gupta Yechuri

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