Usage
When to use "When" and "While"?
The slight difference is that "while" tends to imply a period of time rather than just an occasion.
Example:
While in Sweden, he will go skiing.
He will go skiing when he is in Sweden.
- "When" refers to something that happened (past), happens (present) or will happen (future) on a particular occasion.
- Similarly, "while" refers to the circumstances in which something happened (past), happens (present) or will happen (future).
The slight difference is that "while" tends to imply a period of time rather than just an occasion.
Example:
While in Sweden, he will go skiing.
He will go skiing when he is in Sweden.
Pressured or Pressurized?
A common mistake people tend to make would be "I feel so pressurized".
Example:
He feels pressured by his parents' high expectations of him.
He is pressured by his parents' demands for him to do well.
A common mistake people tend to make would be "I feel so pressurized".
- Pressurized refers to atmospheric pressure in a vessel, say a plane.
- Correct usage should be pressure (both adjective and verb).
- You can use pressurize to describe persuading or forcing someone to do something though.
Example:
He feels pressured by his parents' high expectations of him.
He is pressured by his parents' demands for him to do well.
Pass up VS Hand in (homework)
You might often hear teachers saying "pass up your homework". However, "passing up" your homework does not equal submitting homework. Strictly speaking, it means "giving up" (opportunity, chance etc.)
You might often hear teachers saying "pass up your homework". However, "passing up" your homework does not equal submitting homework. Strictly speaking, it means "giving up" (opportunity, chance etc.)
- Correct usage should be "handing in" homework.
- "Pass up" probably came from the literal action of student passing homework forward since they are usually seated in rows.
Leverage (on)?
Sometimes, we hear people say "leverage on" say finance.
Example:
Reusable software is leveraged across many applications
Sometimes, we hear people say "leverage on" say finance.
- The proper usage is "leverage", adding the "on" would be technically wrong.
Example:
Reusable software is leveraged across many applications
Can vs May
The words "can" and "may" may appear interchangeable in questions, but in actual fact, they have different meanings.
Eg. Can you finish the job by tomorrow?
May I have a slice of cake?
The words "can" and "may" may appear interchangeable in questions, but in actual fact, they have different meanings.
- "Can" is a question of ability while "May is a question of permission
Eg. Can you finish the job by tomorrow?
May I have a slice of cake?
It's vs Its
Eg. It's really warm out here, isn't it?
Don't step on its tail!
- "It's" is a short form for "it is" and is only used in conversations as it is easier on the tongue to say "it's" than "it is"
- "Its" is used to indicate possession of an inanimate object or animal.
Eg. It's really warm out here, isn't it?
Don't step on its tail!
Due to vs Owing to
However, it is wrong to say "His success was owing to his diligence"
In this case, "due to" can be used after the verb "to be" ; while "owing to" cannot.
- "Due to" means "as a result of ; caused by ; because of"
- "Owing to" means the same in this context
However, it is wrong to say "His success was owing to his diligence"
In this case, "due to" can be used after the verb "to be" ; while "owing to" cannot.
Live vs Stay
When asking for a person's address, Singaporeans often say, "Where do you stay?" This is usually a wrong use of the word.
Eg. You stay in a hotel or hospital, or you stay the weekend at someone's place
It is better to ask where the person lives
When asking for a person's address, Singaporeans often say, "Where do you stay?" This is usually a wrong use of the word.
- "Stay" usually connotes something temporary.
Eg. You stay in a hotel or hospital, or you stay the weekend at someone's place
It is better to ask where the person lives
Comprise vs Consist
Some students who make the morning announcement of their team winning an award make the mistake of saying "The team comprises of . . . "
Some students who make the morning announcement of their team winning an award make the mistake of saying "The team comprises of . . . "
- Consist will be the right word to use if the speaker chooses to use the word "of" after it
- If the speaker chooses to use "comprises", the word "of" should not be used after it
Tuck in
Describes the action of folding your shirt neatly into your pants for the purpose of looking formal.
The first sentence is grammatically correct, while the latter is not. You can only leave your shirt untucked, and not tucked out.
Describes the action of folding your shirt neatly into your pants for the purpose of looking formal.
- Boy, tuck in your shirt. You look really untidy with your shirt untucked.
- Boy, why is your shirt tucked out?
The first sentence is grammatically correct, while the latter is not. You can only leave your shirt untucked, and not tucked out.
Since (I was) young
Eg. Since I was young, I have always hated the smell of durians.
- "Since" is a time preposition and expresses a period of time and should be used with a noun, or with a clause.
- "Young", despite being referred to as an age, it is an adjective, and it is thus grammatically incorrect to say "Since young"
Eg. Since I was young, I have always hated the smell of durians.
And I
Some people use the phrase in place of "and me" to sound high brow not knowing that they are really betraying their poor command of English.
Correct uses of "and I" and "and me":
Some people use the phrase in place of "and me" to sound high brow not knowing that they are really betraying their poor command of English.
Correct uses of "and I" and "and me":
- John and I are going for the show.
- This present is for John and me.
- Between you and me, we have to finish this cake fast.
- The Media and I have many things in common.
- This message is for the media and me.
Pick you up vs fetch
The word "fetch" is to go somewhere to pick something up and bring it here, just as the way dogs "fetch" things. Hence, it is incorrect to say, "I fetched my kids to school."
Eg. I am going to fetch my granmother from the clinic
"Shall I pick you up at 8?"
The word "fetch" is to go somewhere to pick something up and bring it here, just as the way dogs "fetch" things. Hence, it is incorrect to say, "I fetched my kids to school."
Eg. I am going to fetch my granmother from the clinic
"Shall I pick you up at 8?"
Amoral vs Immoral
- An immoral person actually commits acts that are morally wrong.
- An amoral person is one who does not care whether what he does is right or wrong.
Let me tell you something
The former is instructing the latter to do something, and the listener would have no option but to do as ordered.
This refers to the action of requesting a person who has the option of turning you down.
The difference thus lies in the power relationship suggested between the speaker and the listener.
- I'm going to tell him to do something
The former is instructing the latter to do something, and the listener would have no option but to do as ordered.
- I'm going to ask him to do something
This refers to the action of requesting a person who has the option of turning you down.
The difference thus lies in the power relationship suggested between the speaker and the listener.