These commonly misused English words are improperly used in conversations as well as in written form. Once you get acquainted with them, you will be more conscious of their proper use and be able to avoid making common errors.
Fewer and Less
Few and less have different uses even though they basically mean the same thing.
“Less” should be used when something can’t be counted or it has no plural.
- I have less juice than I had yesterday.
- She has less energy than her team mate.
“Fewer”should be used with things that can be counted, as well as with plurals.
- Jenny has fewer medals than Jane.
- I want fewer apples this time.
More Than and Greater Than
“More than” and “greater than” are antonyms of “fewer” and “less” but are misused just as much. There are two simple rules to obey when using them.
First, use “greater than” when there has been an increase in a single statistic or figure, e.g.:
- The population of the UK is now greater than 60 million.
- The number of whales in the Antarctic region is now three times greater than when whaling was legal.
Second, if you are counting things and NOT referring to the number, the population, or any other single statistic, use “more than”, e.g.:
- There should be more than a dozen cupcakes left after the party.
- There are more people in California than in New York.
Than and Then
Some people manage to interchange these words too. “Than” is supposed to be used for comparisons and “then” is an adverb that denotes time-based events:
- My lunchbox is bigger than yours.
- I walked home and then I did my homework.
There, Their and They’re
“There” can be used as an adverb for specifying a place but it can also be used as an expletive.
- I was standing there by the corner. (adverb)
- There is nothing left for you. (expletive)
“Their” is a possessive pronoun.
- Their backyard is very clean.
- Their car needs to be fixed.
“They’re” is merely a contraction of “they are.”
- Sheila and Trevor are buying plane tickets tomorrow because they’re going on vacation next week.
- The Johnson family just moved next door. They’re probably looking forward to meeting new people.
Your and You’re
“Your” is a possessive pronoun whereas “you’re” is a contraction of “you are.”
- I saw your red shirt on the floor this morning. You’re very messy.
- I heard that your husband works for the police. You’re very lucky.
To, too, and two
“To” is a preposition and “too” is an adverb. “Two” refers to the number 2.
- I’m going to learn English by watching these videos.
- George is feeling queasy. I think I am, too.
- There are two knives in the drawer.
What are some other misused words in English? Do you have your own rules for remembering which word to use? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Judene Macariola is an experienced English writer for BroadbandExpert.com, one of the world’s leading internet providers. She takes an interest in writing English tips and tutorials during her spare time.
