Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 20

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1.  
• Is this water fit to drinking ? (wrong)
• Is this water fit for drinking ?  (correct)
• Explanation : Fit means 'suitable' and is followed by 'for'. 
2.  
• He ran over the street in a hurry.  (wrong)
• He ran across the street in a hurry.   (correct)
• Explanation : Run across means 'pass quickly from one side to the other' whereas run over (in this context of driving) means 'to knock a person down and pass over his body'.
3.  
• When I saw him, he was shivering by cold.  (wrong)
• When I saw him, he was shivering with cold.   (correct)
• Explanation : To shiver means 'to shake uncontrollably as a result of being cold (frightened or excited)'. It is followed by with. 
4.  
• You must pay the fine by a week. (wrong)
• You must pay the fine within a week.   (correct)
  
• Explanation : 'Within a week' draws the boundary of time while 'by a week' does not. 'By' indicates the dead line of a particular time period. 
5.  
• The candle will not be able to last by the night.  (wrong)
• The candle will not be able to last through the night.   (correct)
• Explanation : 'By' indicates a period within which something happens; 'through' suggests continuing in time towards completion of a process. 
6.  
• He is suffering with cough.  (wrong)
• He is suffering from cough.   (correct)
• Explanation : To suffer from means 'to be afflicted by a disease'. It is a phrasal expression.
7.  
• I purchased this furniture in an auction.  (wrong)
• I purchased this furniture at an auction.   (correct)
• Explanation : At indicates 'a point of location' in an area. The latter is not intended here. 
8.  
• There was no cash by him.  (wrong)
• There was no cash on him.  (correct)
• Explanation : To have cash on someone is an idiomatic expression, it is fixed. 
9.  
• It is among you and me. (wrong)
• It is between you and me.  (correct)
• Explanation : When something involves two parties, we use 'between'. 'Among' is used for three or more. 
10.  
• What is the time in your watch ? (wrong)
• What is the time by your watch ?  (correct)
• Explanation : 'By one's watch' is an invariable idiomatic expression. 
11.  
• The pillow is upon the bed.  (wrong)
• The pillow is on the bed.   (correct)
• Explanation : Both on and upon suggest the same position but upon is used in only formal contexts.

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