Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 46

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1.  
• He has already cheated me twice or thrice.  (wrong)
• He has already cheated me two or three times.  (correct)
• Explanation : Thought twice means 'two times' and thrice means 'three times', they are formal and literary expressions and not for everyday use. 
2.  
• A king's life is different from a prime minister.  (wrong)
• A king's life is different from a prime minsiter's.  (correct)
  
• Explanation : In a comparative statement of this kind, if the first noun is in the possessive case, the second noun too must be in the possessive case. 
3.  
• I gave him one and half rupee.  (wrong)
• I gave him one and half rupees.  (correct)
• Explanation : Anything greater than one, even by a narrow margin, takes the plural form. 
4.  
• Has your brother bought a new dress ? (wrong)
• Has your brother bought a new suit ? (correct)
• Explanation : A common error. Remember that whereas men and boys wear 'suits', only women and girls wear 'dresses'; though 'evening dress' is the general word for both sexes.
5.  
• When I entered the compartment there was no place for me.  (wrong)
• When I entered the compartment there was no room for me. (correct)
• Explanation : In this sense, the proper word is room, which means an unoccupied seat or bearth. 
6.  
• When I entered the bedroom, I saw a snake crawling on the ground.  (wrong)
• When I entered the bedroom, I saw a snake crawling on the floor.  (correct)
• Explanation : The ground is part of the house, whereas the floor constitutes a part of the room.
7.  
• I get monthly allowance of hundred rupees. (wrong)
• I get a monthly allowance of a hundred rupees. (correct)
• Explanation : The word 'hundred' must always be preceded by the indefinite article 'a'.
8.  
• Summarize the two first chapters of the book.  (wrong)
• Summarize the first two chapters of the book.  (correct)
• Explanation : Obviously there cannot be two first chapters, just as there cannot be two last chapters. 
9.   
• He sold three dozens mangoes.  (wrong)
• He sold three dozen mangoes.  (correct)
• Explanation : If 'dozen' is preceded by a numeral (say, three, four, five etc) or by 'a', use the singular form. The plural form is used in such sentences as 'We say dozens of elephants, and hundreds of pigeons'. 
10.  
• I have just taken my meals. (wrong)
• I have just had my food (or lunch, dinner). (correct)
• Explanation : Since we never have more than one meal at a time, why use the plural form ? Besides, use the verb 'have', not 'take'. 
11.  
• I have finished three-fourth of this book. (wrong)
• I have finished three-fourths of this book. (correct)
• Explanation : 'Three-fourths' implies three parts out of four parts; therefore use the plural form.

You can check the Old Posts of this Series from here

Shared by Bhargav Gupta Yechuri

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