In an earlier article, I shared five English rules you can break to jazz up your writing. Equally important is to understand commonly misused words and phrases that diminish your credibility as a writer. This blog lists the top 16 grammar rules you are probably breaking without even realizing it.

Affect vs. Effect

Affect is typically a verb meaning "to impact" or "to change." Effect is usually a noun that means "the result of" or "consequence of" something. These are not interchangeable.

• Correct: Loud noises affect him significantly.

• Correct: The effect of your carelessness is quite profound.

A lot vs. Alot

Simply stated, alot is incorrect and a lot isn't.

• Correct: A lot has been said about this topic lately.

Compliment vs. Complement

A compliment is something nice you say to someone else. A complement is something that completes or enhances something else.

• Correct: Thank you for complimenting my writing.

• Correct: My partner and I complement each other well.

Comprise vs. Compose

Comprise means “to include" or "to contain” and is used at the beginning of a sentence, when the whole appears before the individual parts. Compose means “to make up” or “to combine” and is used at the end of a sentence, when the individual parts come before the whole.

• Correct: The team comprises six boys and six girls.

• Correct: Six boys and six girls compose the whole team.

Could/Should/Would have vs. Could/Shoud/Would of

Use have with any these constructions, could have, should have and would have — of is incorrect.

• Correct: You should have called mom. She stayed up all night waiting for you.

• Correct: I would have called her, but my phone ran out of battery.

• Correct: You could have borrowed a phone from someone and called her.

Each Other vs. One Another

These two reciprocal pronouns give many of us quite the headache. Some of us were taught that each other is used when two people or things are involved, while one another is used when more than two people or things are stated. For example:

• The man and woman embraced each other.

• The boys don’t like one another.

Luckily, many grammar experts consider these two phrases interchangeable, so there’s no need to remember the difference between them unless you really want to.

Everyday vs. Every day

Everyday is an adjective describing something that is seen or used daily. Every day is a phrase that means “each day.”

• Correct: I’m wearing my everyday clothes.

• Correct: Every day is an adventure.

Farther vs. Further

Farther refers to physical distance, whereas further describes the degree of an action or situation. An excellent tip to remember is that if you can substitute more or additional, you should use further.

• Correct: I can’t walk farther than 2 miles. If I do, I will fall off the cliff.

• Correct: She didn’t have anything further to contribute.

I could care less vs. I couldn’t care less

While many use these two sentences interchangeably, they have different meanings. I could care less means that you still care somewhat, since you could care less than you do right now. I couldn’t care less indicates extreme apathy — I can’t care any less than I already do. Therefore, if you don’t care at all, use I couldn’t care less.

Irregardless vs. Regardlessis

Although irregardless is considered a nonstandard synonym for regardless, stick with regardless — not only is this word two letters shorter, you will irk fewer people along the way.

Less Than vs. Fewer Than

The simple rule is to use less or less than for things you can’t count and fewer or fewer than for items you can count.

• Correct: According to my navigation system, we have fewer than 10 miles to go.

• Correct: I drank less milk today than yesterday.

Lie vs. Lay

As a noun lie means an untruth; as a verb, it means to recline. Lay, on the other hand, is also a verb but it requires an object. Therefore:

• Correct: I’m going to lie down to rest.

• Correct: Before I go to bed, I need to lay the book on the table.

Nauseous vs. Nauseated

If something (or someone) causes nausea, it is nauseous. When you experience nausea, however, you are nauseated. Therefore, don’t say you are nauseous unless you are 100% sure you have that effect on others.

• Correct: I feel nauseated.

• Correct: That gas is both nauseous and toxic.

That vs. Which

That connects an essential clause to its subject and which connects nonessential clauses. Nonessential clauses are also set off by commas. Consider these two sentences:

• Correct: The car that I rode last week belongs to my brother.

• Correct: The yellow vintage car, which I rode last week, belongs to my brother.

In the first sentence, the phrase "I rode last week" is essential because, without it, we would not be able to know the car the speaker is referring to. However, in the second sentence, the use of the adjectives "yellow" and "vintage" describe the car. As a result, "I rode last week" becomes nonessential to the sentence's meaning.

Upmost vs. Utmost

These two words are often used as synonyms, but they mean completely different things. Upmost is short for uppermost and means "to be the highest in location or farthest up." Utmost, on the other hand, means "the most extreme" or "of the greatest urgency or intensity."

• Correct: I hid the toy on the upmost shelf in the closet.

• Correct: I have nothing but the utmost respect for you.

Who vs. Whom

Who is used when referring to the subject of a sentence, while whom is used when identifying the object of a verb or preposition. Many of us typically don’t use whom in everyday speech, however, breaking this rule should be done with the utmost care. For example:

• Correct: Who are you calling?

• Correct: To whom should I address this letter?

In Short

English grammar can be tricky, especially when you’re working on a writing assignment that is due right away. Bookmark this page and use it as a reference guide when you need a refresher, and feel free to share it with others.

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