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Common Errors in Diction and Usage
Common Errors in Diction and Usage
Common Errors in Diction and Usage
Allen (2010) stated that diction also includes both vocabulary (individual words) and syntax
(the order or arrangement of words. It is then important to know the different words which are
commonly mistaken in usage. This can be a guide for one to have an enriched and grammatically
correct well-written pieces.1
Rico-Lopez et al. (ND) enumerated some words which are often misused:2
2. Adapt, adept, adopt. To adapt is “to change or adjust in order to deal with a
new condition or to make more suitable.” Adept means “good at
something”; handy; skillful. To adopt is “to take or use one’s own: to
endorse.”
4. Affect, effect. Affect (v.) means “to have an influence on, to effect a change.”
Effect, as a noun means “result”; as a verb, it means “to bring about,
accomplish, and produce”.
5. All ready, already. All ready means “all set, all prepared”; already, means
“previously or by the designated time.”
Ex: All activities for this year’s gathering were all ready few weeks before the
1
Janet Allen. Holt McDOUGAL. Literature (British Literature) (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, 2010),
R109.
2
Merna Rico-Lopez, Study &Thinking Skills in English (M. Malones Printing Press), 394-412.
schedule of the event.
The president has already approved the date of opening of classes.
Ex: Jane has not delivered the piece well also (or too). (wrong)
Jane has not delivered the piece well either.
8. Among, between. Use among for more than two, between for two.
Ex: Among the provinces in Panay, Iloilo has the highest number of business
establishments.
Between the two brothers, Frits is smarter.
12. Beside, besides. Beside means “alongside of”; it can also mean “other than”
or “aside from.” Besides means “in addition to” or “moreover”.
13. Cite, site, quote. Cite, a verb, means “to mention.” Site, a noun, means
“location.” Use quote only when the exact language of the
source is given.
16. Emigrant, immigrant. Emigrants are individuals going out the country, and
immigrants are individuals coming into it.
17. Former, latter. Former means “the first of two”. Latter means “the second
of two”.
Ex. Jayvee and John Frances were student journalists. The former was
qualified for NSPC.
Jayvie and Jomel are the only remaining cartoonists in the school. The
latter is the older.
Ex. The teacher implied that the she is going to give an exam tomorrow.
The students inferred that the teacher will give the exam.
19. Oral, verbal. Oral means “uttered by the mouth or spoken; verbal means in
words either spoken or written.