adjective
BAD: We opened the window to get some pure air.
GOOD: We opened the window to get some fresh air.
BAD:I always keep a few bottles of pure water on the boat.
GOOD: I always keep a few bottles of fresh/drinking water on the boat.
Use pure when you mean 'completely clean': 'The water in the lake is so pure that you can drink it.'
The usual word for describing air and water is fresh : 'Her doctor has prescribed a good holiday and lots of fresh air.'
noun
1
BAD: I thought that offering to help him might improve our relation.
GOOD: I thought that offering to help him might improve our relationship.
BAD: The relation between teachers and students is very friendly.
GOOD: The relationship between teachers and students is very friendly.
RELATION · RELATIONSHIP ·RELATIONS Relation (1) the way in which one person or thing is connected with another: ‘We’ve been studying the relation between gender and income.’ ‘This latest murder bears no relation to the earlier killings.’
(2) someone who belongs to your family; relative: ‘She took me back home to meet all her friends and relations.’
Relationship the way that two people, groups or countries feel about each other and behave towards each other: ‘What kind of relationship did you have with your father?’ ‘Successful companies know the importance of establishing good relationships with their customers.’ ‘This decision will not affect the relationship between France and its European partners.’
Relations (plural noun) the way that two groups, countries or regions publicly or officially feel about and behave towards each other: ‘Relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated in recent years.’ ‘The police are making great efforts to improve relations with the public.’
2
BAD: The new government is trying to improve its relation with America.
GOOD: The new government is trying to improve relations with America.
adjective
BAD: Many of these illnesses are related with smoking.
GOOD: Many of these illnesses are related to smoking.
One thing is related to another thing (NOT with): 'Poverty is often directly related to unemployment.'
BAD: The size of a family is deeply related to parental income.
GOOD: The size of a family is closely related to parental income.
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closely related (NOT deeply ): 'His thesis is that drugs, boredom and juvenile crime are closely related.'
indefinite article
1
BAD: I hope you all have a enjoyable stay.
GOOD: I hope you all have an enjoyable stay.
Always use an (NOT a ) before a word beginning with a vowel sound: 'an egg' , 'an envelope'.
2
BAD: The child had been a deaf since birth.
GOOD: The child had been deaf since birth.
BAD: One of the girls I share with is a British.
GOOD: One of the girls I share with is British.
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Do not use a/an before an adjective (e.g. 'deaf', 'British') unless the adjective is followed by a noun: 'Her husband is disabled.' Compare: 'The footbridge cannot be used by the disabled.' (= all people who are disabled)
3
BAD: My husband is doing a MSc in civil engineering.
GOOD: My husband is doing an MSc in civil engineering.
Use an (NOT a ) before an abbreviation that begins with a vowel sound: 'an MSc' 'an MP'.
4 5
BAD: Sometimes it is difficult to live a honest life.
GOOD: Sometimes it is difficult to live an honest life.
Use an (NOT a ) before words beginning with h when the h is not pronounced: 'an honour', 'an hour'.
pronoun
1
BAD:Rio has another important sights such as the famous football stadium.
GOOD: Rio has other important sights such as the famous football stadium.
another + singular: 'another child'
other + plural: 'other children'
BAD: He gave the class another homework.
GOOD: He gave the class some more homework.
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another + singular countable noun: 'We need another chair.'
(some) more + uncountable noun: 'We need (some) more furniture.'
BAD: I hate horror films. Let's watch another.
GOOD: I hate horror films. Let's watch something else.
BAD: If Henry is busy, get another man to help you.
GOOD: If Henry is busy, get someone else to help you.
BAD: Can't you use another's computer?
GOOD: Can't you use someone else's computer?
◆◆◆
When you mean 'a different person/thing/place', use someone else, something else, somewhere else : 'I got fed up with the job and decided to do something else.'
4
BAD: There is also another point that is worth mentioning.
GOOD: There is another point that is worth mentioning.
BAD: Also another way to lose weight is to eat less.
GOOD: Another way to lose weight is to eat less.
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another (NOT also another ): 'Another problem, of course, is finding a job.'
5
BAD: Families fall into two categories. One is the composite family; another is the nuclear family.
GOOD: Families fall into two categories. One is the composite family; the other is the nuclear family.
◆◆◆
When you are talking about two people or things, use the other (NOT another ): 'One of the twins is called Youki and the other is called Azusa.'
6
BAD: Without a car, it takes a long time to get from a place to another.
GOOD: Without a car, it takes a long time to get from one place to another.
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from one ... to another (NOT from a/an ... to another ): 'The job involves travelling from one country to another.'
it's
BAD: The cat sat in front of the fire, cleaning it's whiskers.
GOOD: The cat sat in front of the fire, cleaning its whiskers.
◆◆◆
it's (WITH an apostrophe) = 'it is' or 'it has': 'It's still raining.' 'It's been raining again.'
its (WITHOUT an apostrophe) = a possessive form like my, his, their, etc: 'The dog has hurt its nose again.'
out
adverb
BAD: When we came out the restaurant, it was half past eleven.
GOOD: When we came out of the restaurant, it was half past eleven.
BAD: She suddenly stood up and ran out from the room.
GOOD: She suddenly stood up and ran out of the room.
◆◆◆
verb of movement + out : 'I'm afraid Mr Baker has just gone out.'
verb of movement + out of + somewhere (NOT out or out from ): 'I've just seen Mr Baker going out of the building.'
In informal conversation, out is sometimes used instead of out of : 'I saw someone jump out the window.' However, careful users consider this to be incorrect.
eat
verb
1
BAD: Instead of having a proper meal, he just eats a few pills.
GOOD: Instead of having a proper meal, he just takes a few pills.
◆◆◆
take a pill, tablet, aspirin, medicine, etc (NOT eat ): 'Why do you take sleeping pills every night?'
2
See BREAKFAST 3
breakfast
noun
1
BAD: After the breakfast, we went shopping.
GOOD: After breakfast, we went shopping.
BAD: Before my breakfast I usually go for a run.
GOOD: Before breakfast I usually go for a run.
◆◆◆
When breakfast/lunch/dinner etc refer to an event (rather than to the meal itself), they are used without a/the/this/my etc: 'What shall we do after lunch?' 'Pam and Simon have invited us to dinner.' 'What time do you have breakfast?'
You use a/the/this/my etc when you refer to the meal itself: 'We enjoyed the evening, even though the dinner was cold.' 'I don't usually have time for a cooked breakfast.'
2
BAD: Before I have a breakfast, I usually make my bed.
GOOD: Before I have (my) breakfast, I usually make my bed.
BAD: Every morning my first job is to prepare a breakfast.
GOOD: Every morning my first job is to prepare (the) breakfast.
◆◆◆
have (your) breakfast/lunch/dinner etc (NOT a ): 'Have you had (your) breakfast yet?'
make/prepare (the/your) breakfast/lunch/dinner etc (NOT a ): 'Whose turn is it to make the dinner tonight?'
Use a/an with breakfast/lunch/dinner etc only when you describe the meal: 'a cooked breakfast', 'a big breakfast', 'an American breakfast'.
3
BAD: There wasn't enough time to eat breakfast.
GOOD: There wasn't enough time to have breakfast.
BAD: While I am taking breakfast, I listen to the radio.
GOOD: While I am having breakfast, I listen to the radio.
◆◆◆
have (your) breakfast/lunch/dinner etc (NOT eat/take): 'We had dinner in the hotel restaurant.'
have sth for breakfast/lunch/dinner etc: 'What did you have for lunch?'
Do not use eat unless you wish to emphasize the activity of eating.
Compare: 'We prefer to have dinner in the evening.' 'James always takes a long time to eat his dinner.'
wait
verb
1
BAD: I'm waiting a letter from my boyfriend.
GOOD: I'm expecting a letter from my boyfriend.
BAD: Anyway, I'll wait for you next weekend.
GOOD: Anyway, I'll expect you next weekend.
◆◆◆
wait = stay somewhere until someone or something comes: 'I'll wait here until you get back.' 'It's quicker to walk than wait for a bus.'
expect = believe that someone or something is going to come: 'The train is expected to arrive in the next five minutes.' 'I can't leave the house - I'm expecting visitors.'
2
BAD: I stopped and waited the truck to pass.
GOOD: I stopped and waited for the truck to pass.
BAD: I'll wait you outside.
GOOD: I'll wait for you outside.
◆◆◆
wait for sb/sth : 'I'll wait for you outside the post office.' 'What can I do while I'm waiting for the paint to dry?'
3
BAD: I'm waiting to see the photographs with great impatience.
GOOD: I can't wait to see the photographs.
◆◆◆
In informal styles, to show that you are really looking forward to something, use I (just) can't wait or I can hardly wait : 'I can't wait to see you again.' 'I can hardly wait for the holidays to begin.'
way
noun
1
BAD: He explained the ways how we can help to protect the sea.
GOOD: He explained how we can help to protect the sea.
◆◆◆
describe/explain/examine (etc) how ... (WITHOUT the way/s ): 'You have to know how their minds work.' 'In this morning's talk I'll be looking at how smaller companies are dealing with these problems.'
Note the alternative: 'He explained the ways in which we can help to protect the sea.'
2
BAD: She loves the farm and refuses to change her way of living.
GOOD: She loves the farm and refuses to change her way of life.
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See note at LIFE 2
