Common Mistakes

Let's face it, English can be confusing. A lot of words are similar but with different meanings. It is almost impossible to avoid making mistakes in English, but you might be able to avoid making these ones.

accept vs except

Accept is a verb, which means to agree to take something .

For example: "I always accept good advice."

Except is usually used as a preposition or conjunction, which means not including.

For example: "I teach every day except Sunday(s)."

Note - except is usually a preposition and accept a verb. In rare circumstances except can be used as a verb.

For example: On a road sign: "No entry, buses excepted."

advice vs advise

Advice is a noun, which means an opinion that someone offers you about what you should do or how you should act in a particular situation.

For example: "I need someone to give me some advice."

Advise is a verb, which means to give information and suggest types of action.

For example: "I advise everybody to be nice to their teacher."

Note - In British English the noun form often ends in ...ice and the verb in ...ise.

all ready vs already


All ready means "completely ready".

For example: "Are you all ready for the test?"

Already is an adverb that means before the present time or earlier than the time expected.

For example: "I asked him to come to the cinema but he'd already seen the film."
Or
"Are you buying Christmas cards already? It's only September!"

affect vs effect

Affect and effect are two words that are commonly confused.

affect is usually a verb (action) - effect is usually a noun (thing)

Hint: If it's something you're going to do, use "affect." If it's something you've already done, use "effect."

To affect something or someone.

Meaning: to influence, act upon, or change something or someone.

For example: The noise outside affected my performance.

To have an effect on something or someone

Note: effect is followed by the preposition on and preceded by an article (an, the)

Meaning: to have an impact on something or someone.

For example: His smile had a strange effect on me.

Effect can also mean "the end result".

For example: The drug has many adverse side effects.

"How do you do?" vs "How are you?"

If I had a Euro for every time someone got this one wrong - I'd be a rich bunny!

How do you do?

This is not a question. It is another, very formal way of saying "Hello." It is also very British.

The correct response is; "Pleased to meet you." or "How do you do." or just "Hello."

We only really use it the first time we meet someone.

How are you?

This is a question.

A polite response is; "I'm fine thanks. And you?"

lay vs lie

Lay is an irregular transitive verb (lay / laid/ laid - laying). It needs a direct object. It means to put something or someone down (often in a horizontal postion).

For example: "Lay your head on the pillow."

Lie is an irregular intransitive verb (lie / lay / lain - lying). It does not take a direct object. It means to rest in a horizontal position1 or to be located somewhere2.

For example: "If you are tired lie here and have a rest."
"Nottingham lies in the Midlands."

Lie also means to say something that isn't true but it takes the following form (lie / lied / lied - lying).

take care vs take care of

Take care is used when saying goodbye to someone. It actually means "Take care of yourself."

For example: "Bye! Take care. "

Take care of means to look after someone or something:

For example: "You should take care of your new car, it cost a lot of money."