Improve Your Language

Everyone has the right to express him/herself in any way they choose. However, if you do wish to communicate effectively, you must use the right words and in the right context. Here is a rough guide to help you navigate your way through the English language maze.
Common grammatical errors
1 .Accept, except
Correct usage:
* Usha and Ravi accepted my invitation to dinner.
* Everyone went out to dinner except me.Point to remember: Accept is a verb while except is a preposition.
2 .Advice, advise
Correct usage:
* Ravi’s advice was invaluable.
* I was advised to buy a better guidebook.
Point to remember: Advice is a noun while advise is a verb.
3. Affect, effect
Correct usage:
* My mother told me that pollution affects everyone.
* However the word will change when you say ‘The effects of pollution include diseases like asthma.’
* Similarly, ‘Your anger does not affect me.’ But the word changes when you say ‘Your anger has no effect on me.’
Point to remember: Affect is a verb which means to influence; to attack or infect, as a disease, to act on the emotions of; touch or move. Effect could be either a noun or a verb. The verb means to cause; to happen; while the noun means the result.
4 .Almost, most
Correct usage:
* Almost all the dinner I cooked was eaten.
* Most of us are studying hard these days.
Point to remember: Almost is an adverb while most is used to modify a noun and is used to form the superlative.
5 .Already, all ready
Correct usage:
* The paper had already begun by the time we reached the examination hall.
* Ravi, Seema and I were all ready for the examination.
Point to remember: Already means ‘before the specified time’ while all ready means ‘completely prepared.’
6. Altogether, all together
Correct usage:
* The thought of another tsunami is altogether too scary.
* Ravi, Seema and I were all together in the park.
Point to remember: Altogether means ‘completely, thoroughly’ while all together means ‘in a group.’

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