GRAMMAR WORLD

WORD CHOICE

Word choice errors involve the incorrect use o one word in place
of another. These two words may be related forms (other and
another, for example) or they may be completely different (do
and make, for example).

WRONG CHOICE OF MAKE OR DO

The verb to do is often used in place of to make, and to make in

place of to do. In its basic sense, to make means to produce, to
create, to construct, while to do means to perform, to act, to
accomplish. These verbs are also used in a number of set
expressions:

Make advances in Make an investment

Make an attempt Make a plan

Make a comparison Make a prediction

Make a contribution Make a profit

Make a decision Make a promise

Make a distinction Make an offer

Make a forecast Make a suggestion

Make a law Make a sound/noise

Make a point

To make is also used in this pattern: make + someone + adjective

(the gift made her happy.)

Common expressions with do

Do an assignment Do business with

Do one´s duty Do research

Do someone a favor Do one´s work

Do a job (errand, chore)

The auxiliary verb is used rather than repeat main verbs: (my
computer doesn´t operate as fast as theirs does.)

WRONG CHOICE OF SO, SUCH, TOO, AND AS

The words so, such, and too are used in the following patterns:

So + adjective + that clause

These boxes are so heavy that we can´t lift them

(So is also used with many...that and much . . .that.)

There were so many people in the auditorium that could

barely get in front door.

Such + adjective + noun + that clause

It was such a pretty view that he took a photograph.

Too + adjective + infinitive

It´s too cold to go swimming today.

Notice that so and such are both allowed y that clauses, but too
is followed by an infinitive.

The words as and so are sometimes confused:

Jane did so well as I did on the economics exam. (INCORRECT)

The coffee was as hot that I couldn´t drink it. (INCORRECT)

In the first sentence, the word as should be used in place of so;
in the second, so should be used in place of as.

Also look for so much or too much in place of so or too.

WRONG CHOICE OF ANOTHER OR OTHER

Another means “one more and additional one.” It can be used as

an adjective before a singular noun or alone as a pronoun.

He needs another piece of paper.

I have one class in that building and another in the building

across the quadrangle.

Other is used as an adjective before a plural noun. It is also

used as an adjective before a singular noun when preceded by a
determiner such as the, some, any, one, no, and so on. It can also
be used alone as a pronoun when preceded by a determiner.

There are other matters I’d like to discuss with you.

One of the books was a novel; the other was a collection of

essays.

There´s no other place I’d rather visit.

 EXERCISES

Focus: correctly choosing between do and make

Directions: underline the word that correctly completes each

sentence below

1. The tips of high-speed dental drills are (done/made) of tungsten

steel and often contain diamonds.

2. A cottage industry is a form of manufacturing (done/made) at

home.

3. Margaret mead (did/made) fundamental contributions to both

the theory and fieldwork of anthropology.

4. Many universities receive grants to (do/make) research for the

federal government.

5. Research in genetics in the early nineteenth century (did/made)

much to improve agriculture.

6. Futurologists study current trends to (do/make) predictions

about the future.

7. Filmmaker George Lucas has (done/made) many advances in the

production of motion pictures, especially in the use of special

effects.

8. The distinction between wildflowers and weeds is one that is

often difficult to (do/make).

 Focus: correctly choosing between so, such, too, and as
Directions: underline the word that correctly completes each
sentence below.
1. The mineral talc is (so/such) soft that it can be scratched with a

fingernail.

2. Oceanographers use robots and unmanned submarines to explore

parts of the ocean that are (so/too) deep for people to explore

safely.

3. (So/As) much paper money was printed during the revolutionary

war that it became almost worthless.

4. The walking stick is an insect with (so/such a) close resemblance

to a twig that it escapes the notice of its enemies.

5. At presents, solar cells are (so/too) expensive and inefficient to

be used in the commercial generation of electricity.

6. Acrylic plastics are very hard and are (so/as) clear as glass.

7. Founded in 1682, Nortfolk developed (so/such a) prosperous sea

trade that quickly became the largest town in the colony of

Virginia.

8. Continental islands are (so/so much) close to continents that

their plant and animal life are identical to life on the mainland.
 Focus: correctly choosing between other and another
Directions: underline the word that correctly completes each
sentence below.
1. Lightning is a rush of electrical current from a cloud to the

ground or from one cloud to (another/other)

2. A ballet dancer´s techniques and skills are very different from

those of (another/other) dancers.

3. The commercial center of New York City, the island of

Manhattan is joined to the (another/other) boroughs by

bridges and tunnels.

4. The legal surrender of a criminal suspect from one state or

country to (another/other) is called extradition.

5. Life expectancy for both males and females is higher in Hawaii

than it is in any (another/other) state.

6. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is one type of disease that is

carried by ticks, and Colorado tick fever is (another/other).

7. The art of photography has often been influenced by and has

influenced (another/other) fine arts.

8. (Another/Other) than the cheetah, all cats have retractable

claws.

9. Few (another/other) Supreme Court justices have had as much

impact on Americans law as William O. Douglas did during his

thirty-six years on the bench.

 Focus: correctly choosing between much or many and similar
words
Directions: underline the words that correctly complete each
sentence below.
1. (Many/Much) industrial products can be made from soybeans.

2. Desert plants compete fiercely for the (few/little) available

water.

3. The American designer Louis Comfort Tiffany took (many/much)

of his inspiration from nature.

4. A (few/little) simple precautions can prevent accidents at home

and on the job.

5. In a formal debate, the same (number/amount) of persons speak

for each team, and both teams are granted an equal

(number/amount) of time in which to make their arguments.

6. Bats do (few/little) damage to people, livestock, or crops.

7. Even small (numbers/amounts) of zinc can have a significant

effect on the growth of plants.

8. The adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney, secrete

(many/much) important hormones.

Focus: correctly choosing between other commonly confused

words

Directions: underline the words that correctly complete each

sentence below.
 1. In 1941, nylon was first used to make stockings, and the year

(ago/before), it was first used to make toothbrush bristles.

2. The Missouri river is about (double/twice) as long as the

Colorado River.

3. Catherine Esther Beacher established schools in Connecticut and

Ohio, and (after/afterward) founded the American Women’s

Educational Association.

4. (Most/Almost) antibiotics are antibacterial agents, but some are

effective against fungal, protozoal, or yeast infections.

5. At eight weeks of (age/old), red foxes begin to get their adult

markings.

6. Chuck Berry was one of the (soonest/earliest) and most

influential performers of rock music.

7. Long before Columbus, various thinkers believed that the Earth

was (around/round).

8. Apricots, (some/somewhat) smaller than peaches, are known for

their delicate taste.

9. Huge radio telescopes aimed into space may someday (say/tell)

us whether intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe.

10. Except from humans and apes, all mammals can produce vitamin C

in their livers, so they (ever/never) suffer from a lack of it.

 KEYS

MAKE OR DO

1. Made 5. Did

2. Done 6. Make

3. Made 7. Made

4. Do 8. Make

SO, SUCH, TOO, AND AS

1. So 5. Too

2. Too 6. As

3. So 7. Such a

4. Such a 8. So

ANOTHER OR OTHER

1. Another 6. Another

2. Other 7. Other

3. Other 8. Other

4. Another 9. Other

5. Other

MUCH AND MANY OR SIMILAR WORDS

1. Many 5. Number/amount

2. Little 6. Little

3. Much 7. Amounts

4. Few 8. Many

OTHER WORD FORM PROBLEMS

1. Before 6. Earliest

2. Twice 7. Round

3. Afterwards 8. Somewhat

4. Most 9. Tell

5. Age 10. never