by R. S. Karunaratne

Correct usage of 'according to' and 'across'

'According to' is used when you have external evidence to support a statement.

According to Aristotle, man is a rational animal.

Planet Earth will also perish one day according to scientists.

The robbers had come wearing masks, according to the security guards.

According to the Controller, all the trains will be delayed today.

'According to' is sometimes used to refer to statistics and official reports.

According to the weather report, there will be thunder and lightning followed by rain in most parts of the island.

According to a report by two medical experts, many children are suffering from diabetes.

According to military sources LTTE cadres are regrouping themselves in foreign countries.

'According to' is not used when you refer to yourself. Therefore,you cannot say, According to me, all these figures are wrong.'

Say: In my opinion, all these figures are wrong.

'According to' is used to mean 'in harmony with' or 'in line with.'

We are putting up the new building according to plan.

Everything happened according to my wishes.

Have the police acted according to the law?

Employees get promotions according to their experience and commitment.

Prices of goods vary according to quality.

'In accordance with' is a phrase used in formal English.

The courts will act in accordance with the law.

'Across'

'Across' is a preposition.

Schoolchildren walked across the playground.

There is a road running across the village.

Never use 'across' as a verb. The verb is 'cross.'

If you want to cross the road, use the pedestrian crossing.

'Across' is used to show position.

I sat facing the interviewer across a big table.

'Across' and 'over' are sometimes used synonymously.

Children walked across/over the newly-built bridge.

Current English usage

Being a living language, English is subject to change from time to time. Here's help for you to be in touch with the latest changes.

1. Colour and discoloration

The 'u' found in 'colour' is not found in 'discoloration.'

2. Disinterested and uninterested

In modern usage both words mean 'not interested' or 'indifferent.'

'Disinterested' also means 'impartial' or 'unbiased.'

3. Disassociate and dissociate

Both words are used interchangeably. However, 'dissociate' is the more usual. The director dissociated himself from the statement issued by the company.

4. Distinct and distinctive

'Distinct' means 'definite.' Shyama got the distinct impression that she would get the job. Distinctive means 'distinguishing.' The thumb impression has distinctive markings.

5. Doubtful and dubious

Both words mean 'giving rise to doubt' or 'uncertain.' She was doubtful / dubious about the outcome of the new project. 'Dubious' has the additional meaning of 'possibly dishonest or bad.'

6. Downward and downwards

'Downward' is an adjective. A few huts could be seen on the downward slope of the mountain. 'Downwards' is an adverb. Don't look downwards from the top of the mountain.

7. Draft and draught

'Draft' is a 'preliminary version.' Give me a rough draft of your proposals. 'Draught' is 'a current of air.' There was a cool draught coming through the window.

8.Draughtsman and draftsman

'Draughtsman' is a person who prepares detailed plans of a building. 'Draftsman' is a person who prepares a preliminary version of a plan.

9. Dreamed and dreamt

Both words are used as the past tense and the past participle of the verb 'dream.'

I have dreamed/dreamt the same dream for several days.

10. Drier and dryer

Both words mean a machine or appliance that dries. Do you use a hair-drier/hair-dryer? As an adjective 'drier' is the usual word.

11. Drunk and drunken

'Drunk' is used when somebody is temporarily intoxicated. The drunk man reached home late at night. 'Drunken' is used to describe someone who is in the habit of getting intoxicated, Drunken men came out of the hotel one after the other.

Starters :

How to use 'the' with proper nouns

'The' is used before some proper nouns.

1. Use 'the' before the names of oceans, rivers, seas and straits.

The Indian ocean

The (River) Mahaweli

The Caspian Sea

The Palk Straits

2. Use 'the' before the names of most buildings, landmarks, monuments and natural wonders.

The Hilton Hotel

The Empire State Building

The Taj Mahal

The Grand Canyon

3. Use 'the' before the names of places containing 'of'.

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura

4. Use 'the' before the names of places ending in plural 's'.

The Maldives

The Netherlands

Exceptions

We do not use 'the' before some proper nouns.

(a) The names of continents

Asia, Africa, Australia, America

(b) The names of most countries

England, Japan, India

(c) The names of most towns and cities

Colombo, Bangalore, Tokyo

(d) The names of streets

Main Street, Vauxhall Street, Armour Street

(e) The names of people

Norton, Alexander, Lionel, Shakespeare.

Activity

Fill in the blanks with 'a, an, the"or" ...." (no article), check your answers with the key.

1. ..... boy has .... knife.

2. John is wearing .... man's shirt

3. Grace sang .... song at .... concert.

4. George is .... boy

5. .... teacher spoke to .... John and Margaret.

6. .... teacher gave me .... English lesson.

7. He told me .... story.

8. Mary is in .... class.

9. .... dog jumped over .... gate.

10. Ships sail in .... Indian Ocean.

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Key

1. The boy has a knife.

2. John is wearing a man's shirt.

3. Grace sang a song at the concert.

4. George is a boy.

5. The teacher spoke to - John and Margaret.

6. The teacher gave me an English lesson.

7. He told me a story.

8. Mary is in the class.

9. The dog jumped over the gate.

10. Ships sail in the Indian Ocean.

**************

Spelling rules

The adjectives of words with '-ion', '-tion', '-ive' will end in

'-ible'.

audition : audible

Combustion : combustible

Conversion : convertible

Defensive : defensible

Digestive: : digestible

Repressive : irrepressible

Perception : perceptible

Reversion : reversible

Here is a list of useful adjectives ending in '-able' and

'-ible'.

Affable, attributable, enforceable, equitable, indubitable, inscrutable, remediable, venerable, compatible, deducible, discernible, expressible, flexible, incorrigible, invincible, tangible.