Common Knowledge (or it should be)

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:37 am

(Before hand: this is simply a long suggestion list. I don't literally EXPECT you to do crap with it, let alone glance here when you see the wall of text, but I would prefer if you are having trouble with something, that you refer back to it. It is a TOOL, put here for you, so make use of it.)

Names, of any kind, if you are having trouble... I suggest you use: www.squid.org - there is a random name generator in the RPG Tools section.

For common spelling and grammar error, I suggest: www.dictionary.com and its affiliates.

Other than that, for quick reference, I will be posting a list of the common usage problems here:

Here are some that are listed that I think everyone should already know:
(a, an), (ain't... yuck.), (A.M., P.M.), (adverbs such as anyway, anywhere, nowhere, everywhere, somewhere should NEVER end in "s"), (as- not to be used for "because" or "since"), (as to- this is awkward. Avoid using it.), (at- do not use with it or about. (i.e. at about or at it) it's awkward.), (because- do not use with "the reason". NO: The reason is because... YES: The reason is that...), (being as, being that- Don't use either expression.), (but that- just don't use it), (can, may), (can't help but- don't use it with but, just use "can't help" and the present progressive), (try not to use too many clipped words; it's too much like txt tlk (i.e. gym, phone, photo) only in the formal stuff though), (doesn't, don't), (done- please use with a helping verb of sorts), (use different from over different than), (plurals not ending in -s: criteria, media, phenomena, etc.), (so- do not use in place of so that), and finally, (take and- do not use).

And here are some lesser known, but still preferred ones:

1. (IT'S, ITS) (this one is number one because it is my biggest peeve.) IT'S is a contraction for IT IS; ONLY use it when you can substitue IT IS. ITS means BELONGING TO IT; a POSSESIVE term ONLY.
2. (allot, a lot) allot- to divide in parts or give out shares, a lot- a great amount. NEVER USE alot. That is nonstandard spelling, though few seem to know that.
3. (their, there, they're) their- belonging to them; possessive, there-location or as an expletive or adverb, they're- only use as a contraction for they are.
4. (affect, effect) affect- to influence, effect- reult, or to bring about
5. (lay, lie) lay- to put or set something down. lay, laying, laid, laid; usually followed by a direct object. lie- to reclinelie, lying, lay, lain; never followed by a direct object. (I.E. Lay: Lay the books on the table. They are laying carpet. He laid eggs in the basket. She had laid her glasses somewhere. Lie: Lie down. The children were lying on the couch. After a while of feeling sick, I lay down and rested. The dog has lain there for hours.)
6. (to, too, two) to- a preposition, too- ALSO, two- the NUMBER.
7. (all ready, already) all ready- completely functioning; in order, already- by or before the time at hand
8. all right- the proper way. alright is nonstandard as well as alot. Please refrain from using them in the RP areas.
9. (all together, altogether) all together- unanimous; all at once, altogether- completely, or in all.
10. (amoung, between) amoung- three or more things and also "with", between- two things, or "in the distance of objects"
11. (amount, number) amount- things that cannot be easily counted, number- smaller, visible quantities.
12. anxious- worried, uneasy, fearful. Do not use it for "eager"
13. (anyone, any one, everyone, every one) anyone- any person, everyone- every person, any one- any single person, every one- every last person
14. (awhile, a while) awhile- for a while(rest awhile), a while- used after "for": stay for a while.
15. (beat, win) beat- to overcome, win- to achieve victory in
16. (beside, besides) beside- close to, or at the side of, besides- in addition to
17. (bring, take) bring- to carry from far away to near, take- just the opposite.
18. bunch: bunch- a number of things of the same kind, not to be used in place of "group"
19. (burst, bust, busted) burst- present, past, past participle of burst, bust and busted are nonstandard.
20. (condemn, condone) condemn- to express strong feeling against or disapproval, condone- to pardon or overlook
21. (continual, continuous) continual- occurring in succession, continuous- occurring without interruption
22. dove- past tense of dive, but sometimes dived is actually preferred, though it sounds awkward. both: He dove into and he dived into are correct... but dived is actually preferred.
23. due to- should only be used when "caused by" can be substituted directly and it still makes sense.
24. (each other, one another) both are interchangeable, but usually used only for two things.
25. (emigrate, immigrate) emigrate- to leave a country for new residency, immigrate- to enter a country to establish residency
26. (enthused, enthusiastic) enthused- nonstandard. You should use enthusiastic instead at all times.
27. (farther, further) farther- distance, further- additional or to a greater degree or extent
28. (fewer, less) fewer- things that can be counted, less- qualities that cannot be counted (i.e. fewer problems, less coffee, fewer complaints, less trouble or incentive)
29. (former, latter) former- the first of two previously mentioned items, latter- the second of the two
30. (get, got, gotten) these are bland terms. They are acceptable, but it is easier to find better descriptive words, such as obtain(ed), aquire(d), to have achieved, etc.
31. (hanged, hung) hanged- executed, hung- suspended
32. (healthful, helthy) things are healthful, people are healthy
33. (if, whether) Interchangeable conjunctions when using whether
34. (in, into) in- position, into- suggests motion
35. irregardless- just use regardless
36. (judicial, judicious) judicial- relating to the administration of justice, judicious- showing wisdom
37. (kind of, sort of) kind of- don not use to mean rather or somewhat. Never use "a" following either expression.
38. aggravate- to make worse, not to annoy.
39. (leave, let) leave- to allow or remain, let- to permit
40. like- do not use in place of as
41. (loose, lose) loose- not tight or stable, lose- to misplace or the opposite of win
42. mad: mad- insane, informally means angry.
43. (maybe, may be) maybe- perhaps, may be- could possibly
44. of- do not ever use directly following a helping verb (should, would, could, must) or with (outside, inside, off, atop); use "have" instead.
45. (OK, O.K, Okay) OK and O.K. are nonstandard, use okay in formal writing and all these are subtitutes for all right.
46. ought- don't use with have or had
47. outside of- don't use this expression for besides or except.
48. parameter- this is only acceptable in mathematical context, which designs a varible. Do not use it to mean border, limit, scope, or detail
49. (persecute, prosecute) persecute- to subject ill treatment, prosecute- to bring a lawsuit against
50. (precede, proceed) precede- to go before, proceed- to go forward
51. (principal, priciple) principal- most important or a person of authority, principle- a fundamental law
52. (raise, rise) raise- takes a direct object (raise the flag), rise- never takes a direct object (smoke rises from chimneys)
53. real- authentic, it is not formal to use as very or really.
54. says- do not use in place of said.
55. seen- only to be used as a verb when paired with a helping verb.
56. (set, sit) set- to put <insert> somewhere (set, setting, set, set); usually followed by a direct object. sit- never followed by a direct object (sit sitting, sat, sat)
57. shape- nonstandard it means condition, but that should be avoided; instead use it for spatial form
58. (than, then) than- used in comparisans, then- usually refers to time
59. (that, which, who) that- things and people, which- just things, who- just people
60. (advice, advise) advice- an opinion or guidance, advise- to give that opinion or guidance
61. (them, that, those, this) NEVER to be followed by "here" or "there", unless it is dialogue; accents
62. (till, 'til, until) until is always preferred, unless it is dialogue
63. (accuse, allege) accuse- to blame, allege- to claim
64. unique- ONE OF A KIND. Not meant for use as unusual, odd, rare, or interesting.
65. (want in, want out) nonstandard for want to come in, or want to go out. The same rule applies to down, off, and up, only "from" should be used.
66. ways: plural. do not use after "a"; instead just use way. (i.e. I have a considerable way to walk yet.)
67. (when, where) do not use either after a linking verb, and do not use where as a substitute for "that"
68. The suffix -wise: avoid using this to create a new word; likewise, energywise, etc. Try using the other ways around that; similar to that, or energy-efficient.
69. (accept, except) accept- to recieve, except- other than
70. (teach, learn) teach- to give knowledge to, learn- to obtain knowledge.

((Please notify me of any mistakes; I typed most of this up when I was barely coherent, eh heh.))