Common English Mistakes

**Jabuuty671** · 10-23-2010

Some of the words i'm listing below are based on oral to text mistakes, by that I mean like if somebody was to hear a word, they would mistake it for another word, and therefore make an incorrect sentence. The sentence may be understandable though. We all need criticism and help in our life, as we're only human, not near perfection, and as you get older, you should have greater English (especially if it's your 1st language) when you go to college, you'll need to have exceptional English.

words you'll need to know:
Contraction - a shortened version of a word, easiest way to identify is if you see an apostrophe ( ' ) ie: You're, Don't, Won't.
Proper Noun - Specific names of people, places, etc;. ie: Dave, Arun, Liz, Obama, King, MPGH, Google, Jabuuty671
& - means and

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of & have

Could of/ Should of/ Would of
Could have / Should have / Would have

Those are 2 totally different sets.
The 2nd line is correct though, as most people mistake that for the contraction(s)
Could've & Would've, though the word Should Have isn't an official word, it's counted as slang... so I don't recommend you getting used to it, I believe you mayn't get a positive from that in school, as your teacher may count is as a mistake.

Explanation:
The word 'of' is like saying:
'belonging' | 'associated with' | 'connected too'
The word 'have' is like saying:
'done' | 'completed | 'own' | 'possess'

example sentences:
Wrong | Correct
I could of went to school, but I was sick, so I didn't.
I could have went to school, but I was sick, so I didn't.
I could've went to school, but I was sick, so I didn't.

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then & than
rather then, better then, cooler then, (adj) then
rather than, better than, cooler than, (adj) than

Those are 2 totally different sets.
The 2nd line is correct though, as it's commonly mistaken by the way people hear it
(same with of/have above)

Explanation:
The word 'then' is like saying:
'when it comes' | 'in that time' |'at a certain time'
The word 'than' is used to compare things, and in most cases, people compare two or more things with the word 'then' instead of the correct word, 'than'.

example sentences:
Wrong | Correct
I like Halo 3 more then Halo Reach
I like Halo 3 more than Halo Reach

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your & you're
your a noob, your a (adj), your mom, your (noun)
you're a noob, you're a (adj), you're mom, you're (noun)

Explanation:
Those are 2 totally different sets, and are used in different ways.
your is used to show ownership
you're is a contraction (which means a shorter word, ie: would've / don't) which means YOU ARE

example sentences:
Wrong | Correct
Your such a fucking noob, rat!
You're such a fucking noob, rat!
You're mom is my bitch!
Your mom is my bitch!

Explanation for sentences:
as you can see, the first sentence is wrong, because you basically said:
You own a 'such a fucking noob'
the second sentence is correct, because you said:
You are such a fucking noob, rat! - meaning you're calling somebody a 'fucking noob' & 'rat'.

the third one is wrong, because you're saying:
You are my mom is my bitch.
It may be seen as:
You are my mom, is my bitch. which could be taken as:
"You are my mom" is a username of a person or a name/nickname. even in that case, you don't use contractions (you're) to shorten a username because it's a proper noun (ie: Dave, Obama, MPGH, Google, Facebook) names basically.

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more'll be added later.