Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 80

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• He losed a rupee. (wrong)
• He lost a rupee.  (correct)
• Explanation : There are verbs that do not take 'ed' for the past tense. The past tense of lose is 'lost'. 
• When he comes you must wish him. (wrong)
• When he comes you must greet (or welcome) him  (correct)
  
• Explanation : As a verb, wish needs two objects (e.g. I wished him a good day).
• This boy always needs poking. (wrong)
• This boy always needs pushing along.  (correct)
• Explanation : To poke means 'to prod' and is not appropriate here.
• I gave him a love-set. (wrong)
• I took a love-set off him.  (correct)
• I beat him in a love-set.  (correct)
• Explanation : You can 'beat' or 'defeat', not take a love-set.
• Love-set = (in tennis) a set in which the loser has a score of zero
• You can avail of this. (wrong)
• This can be availed of. (wrong)
• You can avail yourself of this.  (correct)
• Explanation : One can avail oneself of something; that is the idiom.
• Rita is very much sorry. (wrong)
• Rita is very sorry.  (correct)
• Explanation : Both 'very' and 'much' are intensified of the same type. Hence, much is redundant. 
• We scarcely see a lion. (wrong)
• We rarely see a lion.  (correct)
• Explanation : Scarcely means 'almost not' whereas rarely means 'not often'. 
• I did it any how. (wrong)
• I managed to do it somehow.  (correct)
• Explanation : 'Anyhow' means 'anyway'. It is used to indicate that something happened or will happen in spite of something else. 
• Harry told the story in details. (wrong)
• Harry told the story in detail.  (correct)
• Explanation : In detail refers to 'in regard to every feature or aspect'. It is an adverbial expression.
• Aeroplanes reach Europe soon. (wrong)
• Aeroplanes reach Europe quickly.  (correct)
• Explanation : Quickly means 'at a fast speed' taking short time whereas soon means in a short time. 
• Yesterday in the night Harry came to dinner.  (wrong)
• Yesterday evening Harry came to dinner.   (correct)
• Explanation : Evening refers to the period of time at the end of the day, usually up to bedtime.

You can check the Old Posts of this Series from here

Shared by Bhargav Gupta Yechuri

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