Correct Errors Of Usage - 1

1. You must accustom yourself to get up early. (Wrong)

You must accustom yourself to getting up early. (Right )

Reasons for Correction: As a verb, accustom is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.

2. He is addicted to gamble. (Wrong

He is addicted to gambling.(Right )

Reasons: Addicted is always followed by to plus a noun or not addicted to gamble.

3. This is adequate for your needs. (W)

This is adequate to your needs. (R )

Note: Adequate is always followed by the preposition to, not for.

4. He is the adopted father of Joseph. (W)

He is the adoptive father of Joseph. (R )

Reasons: It is the child who is adopted by the parents, not vice versa. Substitute adoptive parents – father, mother; adopted child – son, daughter is correct.

5. It is ten years ago since his father died. (W)

It was ten years ago that his father died. (R ) (or)

It is ten years since his father died. (R )

Note: Ago normally takes the past tense: it refers to point of time in the past, and reckons backwards from the present. It cannot, therefore, be combined with since, which reckons from a point of time in the past up to the present.

e.g: I have not seen him since last Christmas.

6. I agreed with his proposal. (W)

I agreed to his proposal. (R )

We agreed to him. (W)

We agreed with him. (R )

Note: The correct expression is “agree to an idea” or “agree with a person”.

7. Either you or I are to go. (W)

Either you or I am to go. (R )

Note: Agreement of verb and subject:- The rule is that a verb must agree with its subject in number and person.

The following points should be noted:-

(i) When a subject consists of two singular words coordinated by and it normally becomes a plural subject and must take a plural verb;

e.g: Your aunt and uncle have ariived. (R )

Note: Combinations like bread and butter, fish and chips, whisky and soda are singular.

(ii) When we use “Either. . . or”, “Neither. . .nor”, the verb should agree with its nearest subject.

e.g: Neither he nor she was there.

8. This book aims to give a general outline of the subject. (W)

This book aims at giving a general outline or the subject. (R)

Note: The correct idiomatic construction is - “aim at doing something”.

9. He gained admission to the premises under the alias of a police officer. (W)

He gained admission to the premises under the guise of a police officer. (R )

Note: In Latin “Alias” means “at another time”. In English it is used to indicate an assumed name by which a person is known for a certain part of his life or in certain circles.

e.g: Raman alias Gopal.

It may also be used as a noun, with the plural aliases: “He had several aliases”. It should be confined only to names. It cannot be used of a disguise or an assumed character, an incorrect use.

10. It is alright. (W)

It is all right. (R )

Note: The correct form is all right.