Common Mistakes

Preface
Preface to the first edition
Pearson Education Limited
This book has been designed to meet the requirements of
Edinburgh Gate, Harlow
students whose mother tongue is not English. Its main
Essex CM20 2JE, England
purpose is to help to correct the common mistakes to which
and Associated Companies throughout the world
foreign learners of English are liable.
www.longman-elt.com
The method adopted throughout this work is uniform. All
the errors dealt with are singled out, for they have to be
This edition © Pearson Education Limited 2002
recognised before they can be corrected; then correct forms
are substituted for incorrect ones; finally, simple
The right of Timothy Fitikides to be identified as author of
explanations are given wherever necessary to justify
this work has been asserted on his behalf in accordance
particular usages. Exercises are set at the end to ensure that
with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
the principles may become firmly fixed in the students'
minds.
All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be
It is not claimed that this manual is exhaustive.
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
Nevertheless, the difficulties tackled are real, and the
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
examples are representative of the mistakes commonly
photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the
made by foreign students of English, being the result of
express permission of the Copyright holders.
observations made over a long period of time.
Much care has been given to the preparation of the Index,
First published 1936
Second edition 1937
which it is hoped will make the book a useful work of
Third edition 1939
reference.
Fourth edition 1947
My acknowledgements are due to Mr W. H. G. Popplestone,
Fifth edition 1963
who has read my manuscript and made many valuable
Sixth edition 2002
suggestions.
T. J. F.
Printed in Malaysia
August 1936
ISBN 0 582 34458 1
Formatted by CjB Editorial Plus
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Common Mistakes
in English
with Exercises
by T. J. Fitikides, B.A., F.I.L.
Senior English Master
The Pancyprian Gymnasium, Nicosia
Author of Key Words for Easy Spelling
Lessons in Greek-English Translation
Errors, like straws, upon the surface f l o w ;
He w h o w o u l d search for pearls must dive below.
John Dryden

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Contents
Preface to the Sixth Edition
Part 1 Misused forms
Using the wrong preposition
1
It is now more than 60 years since this book was first
Misuse of the infinitive
13
published. It has gone through many revisions, and additions
Use of the wrong tense
18
have been made at different times in its history. With the
Miscellaneous examples
28
millennium approaching it was decided that there were some
Un-English expressions
40
points of usage which are no longer relevant and so this new
edition has been prepared. The content has been completely
Part 2 Incorrect omissions
reviewed in the light of modern English usage, and the type-
Omission of prepositions,
46
faces and design up-dated for clarity.
Miscellaneous examples
49
And yet the original concept and, indeed, most of the
Part 3 Unnecessary words
original mistakes listed, are still pertinent to students of
Unnecessary propositions
61
English even in the year 2000. This little book has sold
Unnecessary articles
63
several hundred thousand copies all over the world and
Use of the infinitive
69
seems likely to go on doing so.
Miscellaneous examples
70
Part 4 Misplaced words
The author's note on how the book should be used is on
page vii, with an addition for this edition.
Wrong position of adverbs
75
Miscellaneous examples
77
Part 5 Confused words
Prepositions often confused
83
Verbs often confused
89
Adverbs often confused
107
Adjectives often confused
109
Nouns often confused
116
Confusion of number
122
Confusion of parts of speech
129
Exercises
137
Index
182
iv
v

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Useful lists and summaries
How this book should be used
Have another look at...
This book is intended for two uses. It may be used as a
Prepositions after certain words
14
reference book and as an ordinary text book.
Use of the gerund
19
As a book of reference it should be consulted with every
Use of certain tenses
27
composition. The teacher may refer the student to the
Negatives
37
appropriate section dealing with his mistake by a number in
Third person singular, simple present
50
the margin of his exercise book. For example, a misuse of a
Indefinite article
53
preposition of time (at, on or in) is indicated by 383 in the
Verb TO BE 56
margin to enable the student to look up his mistake and
Definite article
68
correct it. This method has been tested and found more
Questions
79
effective than the common practice of writing the correct
Correct order of words
82
form for the student. It is axiomatic that the greater the
Use of certain prepositions
88
student's individual effort, the more thorough will be his
Use of will and shall
106
learning.
Singular and plural
130
With regard to its second use, as an actual text book, we
strongly recommend that the teacher should start off with
regular verbs in everyday use
the exercises on pages 137 to 1 8 1 . These are arranged under
bear to lie
198-199
the headings of the various parts of speech: nouns,
light to write
200-201
adjectives, pronouns, etc. However, before an exercise is
attempted, the teacher should make certain that the students
have comprehended the particular usage involved. An
occasional reference to some specific section may be made
whenever this is deemed necessary, but under no
circumstances is it advisable to go through the various
sections of the book consecutively, or to commit to memory
rules concerning usage.
Despite the fact that this book has been designed for two
separate uses, the writer is of the opinion that the best
results will be achieved if it is used by the student both as a
text book and as a book of reference.
T.J.F.
January 1961
While the above is still true, there is also a self-study use
for this little book. With more varied teaching materials
available now, it can also be used as a self-study book by
vi
vii

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Part 1
How this book should be used
students of English as a foreign language who are preparing
work either as part of their studies or for their occupations.
Misused forms
With a view to this, it is suggested that, when a question of
correct usage arises, the student should look first for the core
word in the index and so find the section detailing the usage.
For example, is it by foot or on foot? Look up foot in the
Using the wrong preposition
index and you will be directed to Section 13 which will
explain that on foot is correct.
Students and teachers will decide for themselves what is
Mistakes are often made by using the wrong preposition
the best way to use this book. What is constant is the quality
after certain words. The following list includes the words
of content and how helpful it is to all those who use English
which most often give trouble:
as a foreign language.
1 Absorbed (= very much interested) in, not at.
Don't say: The man was absorbed at his work.
/ Say: The man was absorbed in his work.
2 Accuse of, not for.
Don't say: She accused the man for stealing.
/ Say: She accused the man of stealing.
Note: Charge takes with: The man was charged with murder.
3 Accustomed to, not with.
Don't say: I'm accustomed with hot weather.
/ Say: I'm accustomed to hot weather.
Note: Also used to: He is used to the heat.
4 Afraid of, not from.
Don't say: Laura is afraid from the dog.
/ Say: Laura is afraid of the dog.
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Part 1
Misused forms
5 Aim at, not on or against.
10 Believe in, not to.
Don't say: She aimed on (or against) the target.
Don't say: We believe to God.
/ Say: She aimed at the target.
/ Say: We believe in God.
Note: Use the preposition at to denote direction: throw at, shout at, fire
Note: To believe in means to have faith in. To believe (without the in) means
at, shoot at. Shoot (without the at) means to kill: He shot a bird (= he hit
to regard something as true: I believe everything he says.
and killed it).
11 Boast of or about, not for.
6 Angry with, not against.
Don't say: James boasted for his strength.
Don't say: The teacher was angry against him.
/ Say: James boasted of (or about) his strength.
/ Say: The teacher was angry with him.
Note 1: We get angry with a person but at a thing: We was angry at the
12 Careful of, with or about, not for.
weather (not: with the weather).
Don't say: Elke's very careful for her health.
Note 2 Also annoyed with, vexed with, indignant with a person, but at
/ Say: Elke's very careful of/about her health.
a thing.
Or: You should be more careful with your money.
7 Anxious (= troubled) about, not for.
Note: Take care of: He takes care of his money.
Don't say: They're anxious for his health.
/ Say: They're anxious about his health.
13 Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc.
Don't say: He travelled with the train yesterday.
Note: Anxious meaning wishing very much takes for. Parents are anxious
/ Say: He travelled by train yesterday.
for their children's success.
Note: We say: by train, by boat by plane, by bike; also, by land, by sea,
8 Arrive at, not to.
by air, by bus; in a bus or on a bus; by car or in a car, by taxi or in a taxi;
on horse-back, on a donkey, on a bicycle; on foot.
Don't say: We arrived to the village at night.
/ Say: We arrived at the village at night.
14 Complain about, not for.
Note: Use arrive in with countries and large cities. Mr Smith has arrived in
Don't say: Annette complained for the weather.
London (or New York, India, etc.)
/ Say: Annette complained about the weather.
9 Ashamed of, not from.
Note: When talking about illness we use complain of. We say: She
complained of a sore throat.
Don't say: He's now ashamed from his conduct.
/ Say: He's now ashamed of his conduct.
15 Composed of, not from.
Note: It isn't correct to use ashamed of meaning shy. Ashamed means
Don't say: Our class is composed from thirty students.
feeling shame or guilt about something. Shy means feeling nervous with
/ Say: Our class is composed of thirty students.
someone. Instead of saying: I'm ashamed (or shamed) of my teacher, say:
I'm shy of my teacher.
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Part 1
Misused forms
16 Confidence in, not to.
23 Deprive of, not from.
Don't say: I have great confidence to you.
Don't say: Nelson Mandela was deprived from his
/ Say: I have great confidence in you.
freedom.
/ Say: Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom.
Note: In confidence: Let me tell you something in confidence (= as a secret)
24 Die of an illness, not from an illness.
17 Conform to, not with.
Don't say: Many people have died from malaria.
Don't say:'We must conform with the rules.
/ Say: Many people have died of malaria.
/ Say: We must conform to the rules.
Note: People die of illness, of hunger, of thirst, of or from wounds; from
Note: comply takes with. We'll comply with your request.
overwork; by violence, by the sword, by pestilence; in battle; for their country,
for a cause; through neglect; on the scaffold; at the stake.
18 Congratulate on, not for.
Don't say: I congratulate you for your success.
25 Different from, not than.
/ Say: I congratulate you on your success.
Don't say: My book is different than yours.
/ Say: My book is different from yours.
19 Consist of, not from.
Don't say: A year consists from twelve months.
26 Disappointed by, about or at, not from.
/ Say: A year consists of twelve months.
(a) by/at/about:
Don't say: Phillipa was disappointed from the low
Note: Take great care never to use consist in the passive form.
mark she got in the test.
20 Covered with, not by.
/ Say: Phillipa was disappointed by/about/at the low
Don't say: The mountains are covered by snow.
mark she got in the test.
/ Say: The mountains are covered with/in snow.
(b) with/in:
Don't say: Jane was disappointed from her son.
21 Cure of, not from.
/ Say: Jane was disappointed with/in her son.
Don't say: The man was cured from his illness.
Note: Before a person we use with or in, before a thing we use at, about or
/ Say: The man was cured of his illness.
by and before a gerund we use at; Keith is very disappointed at not winning
the prize. We use that (optional before a new clause): I was disappointed
Note: The noun cure takes for There is no cure for that disease.
(that) I didn't get an invitation.
22 Depend on or upon, not from.
27 Divide into parts, not in parts.
Don't say: It depends from her.
Don't say: I divided the cake in four parts.
/ Say: It depends on (or upon) her.
/ Say: I divided the cake into four parts.
Note: Rely on or upon. I can't rely on (or upon) him.
Note: A thing may be divided in half or in two: Paul divided the apple in half
(or in two).
4
5

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Part 1
Misused forms
28 No doubt (n) of or about, not for.
34 Get rid of, not from.
Don't say: I've no doubt for his ability,
Don't say: I'll be glad to get rid from him.
/ Say: I've no doubt of (or about) his ability.
/ Say: I'll be glad to get rid of him.
Note: Doubtful of: I am doubtful of his ability to pass.
35 Glad about, not from or with.
Don't say: Francis was glad from (or with) receiving
29 Dressed in, not with.
your letter.
Don't say: The woman was dressed with black.
/ Say: Francis was glad about receiving your letter.
/ Say: The woman was dressed in black.
Note: The woman was in black is also correct.
36 Good at, not in.
Don't say: My sister's good in maths.
30 Exception to, not of.
/ Say: My sister's good at maths.
Don't say: This is an exception of the rule.
Note 1: Bad at, clever at, quick at, slow at, etc. However, weak in: He's
/ Say: This is an exception to the rule.
weak in grammar.
Note: We say with the exception of: She liked all her subjects with the
Note 2: He's good in class means that his conduct is good.
exception of physics
37 Guard against, not from.
31 Exchange for, not by.
Don't say: You must guard from bad habits.
Don't say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes
/ Say: You must guard against bad habits.
by some foreign stamps.
/ Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes for
38 Guilty of, not for.
some foreign stamps.
Don't say: He was found guilty for murder.
Note: In exchange for: He gave them his old car in exchange for a new one.
/ Say: He was found guilty of murder
32 Fail in, not from.
39 Independent of, not from.
Don't say: Steven failed from maths last year.
Don't say: Clare's independent from her parents.
/ Say: Steven failed in maths last year.
/ Say: Clare's independent of her parents.
Note: We say dependent on: A child is dependent on its parents.
33 Full of, not with or from.
Don't say: The jar was full with (or from) oil.
40 Indifferent to, not for.
/ Say: The jar was full of oil.
Don't say: They're indifferent for politics.
Note: Fill takes with: Jane filled the glass with water.
/ Say: They're indifferent to politics.
6
7

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Part 1
Misused forms
41 Insist on, not to.
47 Married to, not with.
Don't say: He always insisted to his opinion.
Don't say: Angela was married with a rich man.
/ Say: He always insisted on his opinion.
/ Say: Angela was married to a rich man.
Note: Persist takes in: He persisted in his silly Ideas.
Note: Also engaged t o : Sally was engaged to Peter for a year before they got
married.
42 Interested in, not for.
Don't say: She's not interested for her work.
48 Opposite to, not from
/ Say: She's not interested in her work.
Don't say: Their house is opposite from ours.
/ Say: Their house is opposite to ours.
Note: Also take an interest in: She takes a great interest in music.
Note: Opposite ours is also correct.
43 Jealous of, not from.
Don't say: He's very jealous from his brother.
49 Pass by a place, not from a place.
/ Say: He's very jealous of his brother.
Don't say: Will you pass from the post-office?
/ Say: Will you pass by the post-office?
44 Leave for a place, not to a place.
Note: Also pass the post-office is correct.
Don't say: They're leaving to England soon.
/ Say: They're leaving for England soon.
50 Play for a team, not with a team.
Don't say: He plays regularly with that team.
45 Live on, not from.
/ Say: He plays regularly for that team.
Don't say: He lives from his brother's money.
/ Say: He lives on his brother's money.
51 Pleased with, not from.
Don't say: The teacher is pleased from me.
Note: Feed on: Some birds feed on insects.
/ Say: The teacher is pleased with me.
46 Look at, not to.
Note: We say pleased at or pleased w i t h if an abstract noun or a clause
Don't say: Look to this beautiful picture.
follows: They were pleased at (or with) what he said; They were pleased at
/ Say: Look at this beautiful picture.
(or with) her results.
Note: Also gaze at, stare at, etc. But: look after (= take care of); look for
52 Popular with, not among.
(= try to find); look over (= examine); look into (= examine closely); look on
or upon (= consider); look d o w n on (= have a low opinion of), look up to
Don't say: John's popular among his friends.
(= respect); look out for (= expect); look f o r w a r d to (= expect with pleasure);
/ Say: John's popular with his friends.
look to (= rely on)
53 Prefer to, not from.
Don't say: I prefer a blue pen from a red one.
/ Say: I prefer a blue pen to a red one.
Note: Also preferable to: This car is preferable to my old one.
8
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Part 1
Misused forms
54 Preside at or over, not in.
61 Sit at a desk etc., not on a desk etc.
Don't say: Who presided in the last meeting?
Don't say: The bank manager was sitting on his desk.
/ Say: Who presided at (or over) the last meeting?
/ Say: The bank manager was sitting at his desk.
55 Proud of, not for.
Note: Also sit at a table. But on a chair, on a bench, on a sofa, etc.; in an
arm-chair, in a tree or up a tree. A bird sometimes perches {= sits) on a tree.
Don't say: He's very proud for his promotion.
/ Say: He's very proud of his promotion.
62 Spend on, not for.
Note: We say take (a) pride in A craftsman takes a pride in his work .
Don't say: I spend a lot of time for my computer.
/ Say: I spend a lot of time on my computer.
56 Rejoice at or in, not for.
Don't say: We rejoiced for her success.
63 Succeed in, not at.
/ Say: We rejoiced at (or in) her success.
Don't say: I hope he'll succeed at his work.
/ Say: I hope he'll succeed in his work.
57 Related to, not with.
Note: A person succeeds to a property, a title, or an office: Queen Elizabeth II
Don't say: Are you related with Simon in any way?
succeeded to the throne in 1952. Also one person can succeed another.
/ Say: Are you related to Simon in any way?
Note: Also relation to: Is he any relation to you?
64 Superior to, not from or than.
Don't say: This is superior from (or than) that.
58 Repent of, not from.
/ Say: This is superior to that.
Don't say: He repented from his crime.
Note: Also inferior to, junior to, senior to, subsequent to, prior to.
/ Say: He repented of his crime.
65 Sure of, not for.
Note: Repentance takes for: He fee/5 repentance for his sin.
Don't say: I'm quite sure for her honesty.
59 Satisfied with, not from.
/ Say: I'm quite sure of her honesty.
Don't say: Are you satisfied from your marks?
Note: Also certain of: I am quite certain of it
/ Say: Are you satisfied with your marks?
Note: Also content with, delighted with, unhappy with, happy with,
66 Surprised at or by, not for.
displeased with, dissatisfied with, disgusted with.
Don't say: Harold was surprised for the loud bang.
/ Say: Harold was surprised at/by the loud bang.
60 Similar to, not with.
Don't say: Your house is similar with mine.
Note: Also astonished at/by, amazed at/by, alarmed at/by, puzzled at/by,
shocked at/by
/ Say: Your house is similar to mine.
10
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