03.01 Common English errors

Logo of a pointer cursor being drawn by a fountain pen

ENGLISH USAGE PROBLEMS

Line drawing of Shakespeare with his face upside down in his head.

Allows to isn’t allowed

Sign forbidding geese

Allows to isn’t allowed

The homeowners' association allows to plant triffids.
 

 

The sign forbids to juggle geese.

 

Allows to isn’t allowed

The homeowners' association allows to plant triffids.

The homeowners' association allows residents (not landlords?) to plant triffids.

The sign forbids to juggle geese.

The sign forbids people (not robots?) to juggle geese.

Allows to isn’t allowed

The homeowners' association allows to plant triffids.

The homeowners' association allows planting triffids.

The sign forbids to juggle geese.

The sign forbids juggling geese.

If you want to use in case

Leather suitcase

If you want to use in case

 

In case you want to go back in time 13 seconds, use the Omega-13 device.
In case of Mak’tar crewmembers, the standard bed is replaced with retractable spikes.

If you want to use in case

Use if

In case you want to go back in time 13 seconds, use the Omega-13 device.
 

If you want to use in case

Use if

In case you want to go back in time 13 seconds, use the Omega-13 device.
If you want to go back in time 13 seconds, use the Omega-13 device.

If you want to use in case of

Use for

In case of Mak’tar crewmembers, the standard bed is replaced with retractable spikes.
 

If you want to use in case of

Use for

In case of Mak’tar crewmembers, the standard bed is replaced with retractable spikes.
For Mak’tar crewmembers, the standard bed is replaced with retractable spikes.

Be bossy!

Policeman from Monopoly

Be bossy!

It’s necessary to bring the Emperor to Athoek Station.

The ancillary should be connected to the main AI.

Be bossy!

It’s necessary to bring the Emperor to Athoek Station.

Bring the Emperor to Athoek Station.

The ancillary should be connected to the main AI.

Connect the ancillary to the main AI.

Might and may

Line drawing of a frog

Might and may

Unlikely: The frog from the garden might be poisonous.

Might and may

Unlikely: The frog from the garden might be poisonous.
Possible: The frog from the garden may pee on your hands.

Might and may

Unlikely: The frog from the garden might be poisonous.
Possible: The frog from the garden may pee on your hands.
Certain: The frog from the garden will jump away if I let go of it.

Might and may

Unlikely: The frog from the garden might be poisonous.
Possible: The frog from the garden may pee on your hands.
Certain: The frog from the garden will jump away if I let go of it.

Could and can

Unlikely: The toad you found could make you hallucinate.
Possible: The toad you found can pee on your hands.
Certain: The toad you found will jump away if you let go of it.

Apples pie

Captain Decker flew the USS Constellation into the planets killer.

Apples pie

Captain Decker flew the USS Constellation into the planets killer.
Captain Decker flew the USS Constellation into the planet killer.

Apples pie

An apple pie baked and photographed by Ben Wolfe

Simple presents are best

A fancy and a simple present

Simple presents are best

The monster is lurking in the garbage masher.

Simple presents are best

The monster is lurking in the garbage masher.
The monster lurks in the garbage masher.

Simple presents are (usually) best

Don’t go into the garbage masher while the monster is lurking there..

Capitalization

Image of a shift key

Capitalization

Things that are capitalized in English (but not in some other languages):

  • I

  • Day and month names

  • Language and country names

Capitalization

Things that are not capitalized in English (but are in some other languages):

  • The formal you

  • Normal nouns (words for a person, place, or thing)

Fin

Line drawing of a fish