Everyone makes mistakes. I wanted to share some common mistakes that I have seen native English speaking friends, colleagues, teachers, and family make! I hope this is helpful. Please ask any questions you might have or practice using some of these tough words below!
1. They're, Their, There
They're --> They are
I think they're coming to the party.
Their --> possession
Their cat ran away.
There --> place
I want to go there.
Everyone I know has gotten these wrong at some point!!
2. "I could care less" --> "I couldn't care less."
This is for situations you truly don't care about. When you ex-partner starts dating someone new and you tell your friend, "I could care less!!!" This is incorrect, but a common mistake. It should be "I couldn't care less."
I could care less --> Suggests you do care already
I couldn't care less/ I could not care less --> Suggests you don't care AT ALL so it is impossible to care even less.
CORRECT: I couldn't care less about sports.
3. Except/Accept
They sound exactly the same, but mean something completely different.
I will expect an invitation to the party.
--> They think they will get an invitation to the party.
I would accept an invitation to the party.
--> They would say yes to an invitation to the party.
In the comments below can anyone explain this sentence?? --> I except she will accept an invitation to the party.
4. Envy / Jealousy
People think they mean the same thing, but there is a subtle difference.
Envy = you want what someone else has (usually objects or good fortune)
I am envious of my friend's car.
I envy her good luck.
Jealousy = used in terms of relationships or partners
I was jealous when my boyfriend danced with her.
My partner was jealous she asked for my number.
5. Since/Because
Incorrect: I want to go since it will be fun. NOOOOOOOOOO
Correct: I want to go because it will be fun.
Since is used with time:
Since I graduated, I have started exercising.
Because is used for causation (why or how something happened)
I have more time to exercise because I graduated.
"When I was a child I would wear clothes handed down by my sisters."
1) Although it is illogical, and although it is a usage that has only become current in my lifetime, "I could care less," meaning "I couldn't care less," isn't really a mistake. It's informal, it's colloquial, but at this point in time, it's accepted. It seems to have emerged in the 1960s and might be related to Yiddish-influenced New York Jewish regional speech. See:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm
It's just like "cheap at half the price," which logically should be "cheap at twice the price."
2) I have to disagree with you on #5. Because is one of the legitimate meanings of the word since. See
(American Heritage dictionary)
https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=since&submit.x=26&submit.y=26
conj. 3. Inasmuch as; because: Since you're not interested, I won't tell you about it.
(Oxford)
I agree with everything you wrote EXCEPT that I would use "since" in more situations than just those having to do with time . It doesn't sound wrong to me to say " I want to go to that party , since I know that movie stars will be there."
Another mistake native speakers frequently make is " '.... the reason for that is because etc...
Hello Jeri! This is a very useful and encouraging information. I didn't know only about "care less".
Could you explain another thing please? What is the "d" in the past sentences like "When I was a child I'd wear clothes handed down by my sisters."
