What is an error in English?
The concept of language errors is a fuzzy one. I'll leave to
linguists the technical definitions. Here we're concerned only with
deviations from the standard use of English as judged by sophisticated
users such as professional writers, editors, teachers, and literate
executives and personnel officers. The aim of this site is to help you
avoid low grades, lost employment opportunities, lost business, and
titters of amusement at the way you write or speak.
But isn't one person's mistake another's standard usage?
Often enough, but if your standard usage causes other people to
consider you stupid or ignorant, you may want to consider changing it.
You have the right to express yourself in any manner you please, but if
you wish to communicate effectively, you should use nonstandard English
only when you intend to, rather than fall into it because you don't know
any better.
Why don't you cover all important points of grammar?
Other sites do this; mine is dedicated to errors in usage. This is
not a site dealing with grammar in general.
I'm learning English as a second language. Will this site help me
improve my English?
Very likely, though it's really aimed at the most common errors of
native speakers. The errors others make in English differ according to
the characteristics of their first languages.
Speakers of other languages tend to make some specific errors that
are uncommon among native speakers, so you may also want to consult
sites dealing specifically with English as a second language An
outstanding book you may want to order is Ann Raimes' Keys for Writers.
Aren't some of these points awfully picky?
This is a relative matter. One person's gaffe is another's
peccadillo. Some common complaints about usage strike me as too
persnickety, but I'm just discussing mistakes in English that happen to
bother me.
Feel free to create your own page listing your own pet peeves, but I
welcome suggestions for additions to these pages. First, read the
Commonly Made Suggestions page, and if you still want to write me,
please do so, after reading the instructions on that page.
What gives you the right to say what an error in English is?
I could take the easy way out and say I'm a professor of English and
do this sort of thing for a living. True, but my Ph.D. is in comparative
literature, not composition or linguistics, and I teach courses in the
history of ideas rather than language as such. But I admire good writing
and try to encourage it in my students.
I found a word you criticized in the dictionary!
You will find certain words or phrases criticized here listed in
dictionaries. Note carefully labels like dial. (dialectical),
nonstandard, and obsolete before assuming that the dictionary is
endorsing them. The primary job of a dictionary is to track how people
actually use language.
Dictionaries differ among themselves on how much guidance to usage
they provide; but the goal of a usage guide like this is substantially
different: to protect you against patterns which are regarded by
substantial numbers of well-educated people as nonstandard.
Why do you discuss mainly American usage?
Because I'm an American, my students are mostly American, most
English-speaking Web users are Americans, and American English is
quickly becoming an international standard. I am slowly reworking the
site to take note of American deviations from standard British practice.
However, the job is complicated by the fact that Canadians,
Australians, and many others often follow patterns somewhere between the
two. If the standard usage where you are differs from what is described
here, tell me about it; and if I think it's important to do so, I'll
note that fact. Meanwhile, just assume that this site is primarily about
American English. If you feel tempted to argue with me, click here
first.
Does it oppress immigrants and subjugated minorities to insist on the
use of standard English? Language standards can certainly be used for
oppressive purposes, but most speakers and writers of all races and
classes want to use language in a way that will impress others.
The fact is that the world is full of teachers, employers, and other
authorities who may penalize you for your nonstandard use of the English
language.
Feel free to denounce these people if you wish; but if you need their
good opinion to get ahead, you'd be wise to learn standard English. Note
that I often suggest differing usages as appropriate depending on the
setting: spoken vs. written, informal vs. formal; slang is often highly
appropriate.
In fact, most of the errors discussed on this site are common in the
writing of privileged middle-class Americans, and some are
characteristic of people with advanced degrees and considerable
intellectual attainments.
However you come down on this issue, note that the great advantage of
an open Web-based educational site like this is that it's voluntary:
take what you want and leave the rest. It's interesting that I have
received hundreds of messages from non-native speakers thanking me for
these pages and none from such people complaining that my pages
discriminate against them.
But you made a mistake yourself!
We all do, from time to time. If you think you've found an error in
my own writing, first read the "Commonly Made Suggestions" page, then
follow the instructions on that page if you still think I need
correcting. I've changed many aspects of these pages in response to such
mail; even if I disagree with you, I try to do so politely. If you write
me, please don't call me "Brian." My given name is Paul.
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