Common errors in English

Common errors in English:

All ready	All ready (two words) is used in such sentences as “They are all ready to go”, meaning of all of them are ready.
Already	Already is an adverb meaning previously: “We ran to catch the train, but it had already left”.
All together	All together (two words) is used in such sentences as “They were all together in the same room”, meaning all of them were together.
Altogether	Altogether is an adverb meaning completely: “ You are altogether wrong in your assumption.”
Allusion	Allusion means reference: “He made an allusion to last week’s meeting.”
Illusion	Illusion is an unreality: “that a pair of railroad tracks seems to meet in the distance is an optical illusion.”
Amount	Amount refers to bulk or quantity: amount of sugar, grain, flour, money.
Number	Number refers to objects which are thought of as individual units: number of oranges, children, and diamonds. Notice that most words following amount are singular (coal, butter, water) and that most words following number are plural (apples, bottles, glasses).
Any one	Any one means any single person or thing of a group: “any one of the students in the class was capable of passing the course.”
Anyone	Anyone is an indefinite pronoun meaning anybody: “anyone can tell that you are not so stupid as you pretend”.

 

Bring	Brings refers to action toward the writer or speaker: “Bring the book to me.”
Take	Take refers to action away from the writer or speaker: “Take this bottle back to the store.”
Fetch	Fetch means to go and get something and bring it back. “ If you throw the stick into the lake, the dog will fetch it.” However, get is usually substituted for fetch.
Carry	Carry means to convey from one place to another regardless of direction: “ We need a suitcase to carry all our clothes.”
As like	When used as a preposition, like should never introduce a clause (not like I was saying). When introducing a clause, as is used (as I was saying)
As if	If is implied for some of the words of the clause: “He did it as well as I did.”  “They acted as if they were guilty.”
Can	Can implies ability: “Can you (are you able to) lift that heavy box?
May	May denotes permission: “may I (have I permission to) swim in your pool?”
Compare to	Compare to is used to indicate a definite resemblance: “He compared the railroad to a highway.”
Compare with	Compare with is used to indicate an examination of similarities and dissimilarities: “He compared the middle ages with modern times.”