🔤 Garbl's Editorial Style and Usage Guide: Commonly Confused Words

Entries from a, an, the through will, would.

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Introduction | Punctuation | Commonly Confused Words

a, an, the The articles a, and, and the are adjectives that modify nouns. Use the to point to a specific noun; use a and an to point to a general, nonspecific noun: Please bring me the newspaper suggests a specific newspaper, while Please bring me a newspaper doesn’t specify which newspaper. See number.

Use a before consonant sounds: a European country, a B.A., a historic event, a one-year term, a style manual, a utopia. Use an before vowel sounds: an 18-year-old candidate, an environmental disaster, an FDA study, an MBA, an heir apparent, an honorable man, an hour ago, an NBC sitcom, an SBA loan. If the letter h is sounded, use a: a hamburger, a history book, a house, a hotel.

among, between Between introduces two items. Among introduces more than two: The host divided the pie between Don and Phil. The host divided the pie among Peter, Paul, John, George, Gordon, and Mary. Amongst is archaic and pretentious; use among instead.

However, use between to express the relationships of three or more items considered one pair at a time—when the action described can take place between only two of the several at once: Officials scheduled meetings between the community college and the Lake Washington, Bellevue, and Issaquah school districts. See Myths and Superstitions of Writing in Plainly, Garbl.

Also, any pronouns that follow these prepositional words must be in the objective case: among us, between her and him, between you and me. And note the correct use of between ... and in this sentence: They had a choice between wide shoulders and sidewalks. Using between ... or instead is incorrect: They had a choice between wide shoulders or sidewalks.

amount, number Use amount with singular, uncountable mass nouns or things that are measured in bulk; use number with plural nouns and individual items that can be counted: a large amount of asphalt, a large number of speed bumps; a number of people, not an amount of people. Amount refers to “how much,” number to “how many.” See fewer, less.

as, like Often confused when comparing things. Both mean “equally” or “the same as.” Use the conjunction as, however, to introduce a clause (a group of words with its own subject and verb), he should in this example: Jennifer saves her computer work as she should. Use like as a preposition to make a direct comparison of nouns or pronouns. It needs an object, an expert in this example: Jennifer saves her computer work like an expert. Memory tip: As is followed by a noun and a verb while like is followed by only a noun. See including, such as.

because, since Both words can be used to mean “for the reason that.” Because is the stronger conjunction for pointing out a direct cause-effect relationship: They went to the concert because they had been given tickets. Since is milder in suggesting a cause-effect relationship: Since I love folk music, I went to the concert. When readers might confuse since with its meaning “from the time that,” use because. See Myths and Superstitions of Writing in Plainly, Garbl.

between you and I/between you and me Between you and me is both preferred and correct. Why? Because between is a preposition, and grammar rules say objective pronouns, not nominative pronouns, must follow prepositions--or be the object of the preposition. Me is an objective pronoun, and I is a nominative pronoun. See I, me.

each It applies to one person or thing in a group and takes a singular verb when each is the subject of a sentence: Each of us was asked to testify. When each comes before the noun or pronoun it refers to, make the verb singular: Each candidate wants to speak. When each follows the noun or pronoun, make the verb plural: They each were asked to testify.

either, neither Use either when writing about one or the other of two people, places, or things: I’ve visited both Los Angeles and Chicago, but I wouldn’t enjoy living in either city. Use neither when not including one or the other of two people, places, or things: Neither city appeals to me. When used as the subject of a sentence, both words take singular verbs: Neither of the candidates was found guilty. When used as adjectives, the nouns they modify always take a singular verb: Either answer is correct.

farther, further Farther suggests measurable physical distance: The plant was farther away than they thought. Memory aide: The far in farther refers to physical distance.

As an adjective, further means “more” or “additional” in time, degree, amount, or quantity: She had further news. But consider using simpler more instead. Further is also used as an adverb meaning “in addition” or “moreover.” As a verb, further means to “advance or promote”: She worked to further his career. But consider using simpler help.

fewer, less Fewer (or few) stresses number, and less stresses degree or quantity. Use fewer for plural nouns, count nouns, and individual items that can be counted, less for singular nouns, nouns of mass, and a bulk, amount, sum, period of time, or idea that is measured in other ways: Fewer than 10 applicants called. I had less than $50 in my pocket. Fewer dollars, less money. Less food, fewer calories. See amount, number.

her Do not use this pronoun to refer to nations, ships, storms, or voice assistants except in quotations. Use it instead.

he/she, his/her Avoid awkward constructions such as he/she, his/her, or repeated use of he or she.

Instead, rewrite the sentence in the plural or use the gender-inclusive pronoun they when appropriate:
Change: A chef should taste his or her creations before serving them. To: Chefs should taste their creations before serving them.
Change: A student must bring his or her laptop. To: Students must bring their laptops.

The singular they is widely accepted when the gender is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary. See singular they, their/there/they’re.

I/me, we/us The pronouns I and we (like he, she, and they) are always the subject of sentences and clauses. And the pronouns me and us (like him, her, and them) are always the object of verbs and prepositions: I hugged her. He talked to me. She hugged him. We talked to them. They talked to us.

The rule does not change when joined with other nouns. Correct uses when the sentence has a conjunction (such as and or or): He talked to Linda and me. Linda and I talked to him. To be polite, me or I usually follow the conjunction.

If you’re unsure, remove the other name and check the sentence: He talked to Linda and me → He talked to me (correct). Linda and I talked to him → I talked to him (correct).

Also see between you and I/between you and me, who/whom.

in, into, in to In shows location: She was in the shoe store. Into shows movement toward or inside: She walked into the store. Use in to when in belongs with a verb and to begins a separate phrase: He turned himself in to the police.

Beware of this type of absurdity: He turned himself into the police (despite what a vigilante might want to do).

If you can replace into with inside, it’s probably correct: She walked inside the store.

it is I/it’s me It’s me is standard in modern usage, including formal writing. Same with It’s just Mike and me. It is I and It’s just Mike and I may sound stuffy or artificial.

When possible, rewrite the sentence to avoid the wordy, weak construction: Just Mike and I are still in the office.

its, it’s Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it, meaning “belonging to it.” The possessive its never takes an apostrophe: Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow. It’s is a contraction that means “it is” and sometimes “it has.” The contraction always takes an apostrophe: It’s a beautiful day. If you often mix up these words, consider using only it is or it has and its; drop it’s.

off of Wordy. Change: Stay off of the highway. To: Stay off the highway. Or use from. Change: She moved off of the campus. To: She moved from the campus.

more than, over Both are acceptable to indicate greater numerical value: More than 300 people attended. Over 300 people attended.

Use over for physical position: The plane flew over Bellevue.

shall Avoid this formal, ambiguous word:

Use is when something is fact: The senior editor is [not shall be] responsible for reviewing all documents for clarity and consistency.
Use may instead to give permission: Members may borrow up to three books a month.
Use must instead to express legal obligation: Tenants must pay rent by the 15th of each month.
Use have to, must, need to, or required instead to express other requirements: Each student must take the exam.
Use should when recommending a course of action: We should move ahead with the project by Friday.
Use will instead to express what someone plans to do or expects: I will be there. You will like it.

Also see will, would.

she Do not use this pronoun to refer to nations, ships, storms, or voice assistants except in direct quotations. Use it instead.

should, would Use should to express an obligation, a condition (an “if” statement), or an expectation: If I win the lottery, I should give at least 10 percent to charity. They should be back in 15 minutes. Use would to express a usual action, a hypothetical situation, or a preference: In summer trips to our cabin, we would spend hours waterskiing. He would do it if he could.

singular they The singular they is widely accepted in modern usage. It may refer to a person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary.

Example: If a student has a question, they should ask.

Singular they is similar to the pronoun you, which takes a plural verb whether referring to one person or many.

When possible, rewriting in the plural may improve clarity: Students who have questions should ask.

Also see he/she, his/her; their/there/they’re.

that (conjunction) Use the conjunction that to introduce a dependent clause if the sentence sounds or looks awkward without it. When in doubt, include that to prevent confusion. It may be omitted when a dependent clause immediately follows a form of the verb to say: The governor said he would veto the legislation.

that/which That introduces essential clauses—information necessary to identify something: The camera that is broken is in the shop. Which introduces nonessential clauses—extra information about something already identified: The camera, which is broken, is in the shop. Test: If removing the clause changes the meaning, the information is essential.

Use commas with which clauses. Do not use commas with essential that clauses. This guide follows the common American distinction between that and which.

Also, use that or which for things: The book that is missing is on the table. Use who (or whom) for people and animals with a name: The person who called left a message. See who/whom for choosing the right word.

their/there/they’re Commonly confused, misspelled, or mistyped. And computer spellcheckers won’t catch the mistaken substitution of one of these homonyms for the other—nor for there’s and the plural possessive theirs. Their is the possessive form of the pronoun they, meaning “belonging to them.” Don’t misspell it as thier. They’re is a contraction of they are. (And there’s is a contraction of there is.) There (like here) refers to place.

us, we See I/me, we/us

who/whom Who is the subject of sentence, clause, or phrase (the one doing the action): The man who rented the car did not fill the tank.

Whom is the object of a verb or preposition (the one receiving the action): The man to whom the car was rented did not fill the tank.

In formal writing, use whom as the object. In most everyday writing, who is acceptable.

To test: Substitute he, she, or they for who and him, her, or them for whom. If him, her, or them fits, use whom.

Also see that/which.

will, would Often confused. Use will when expressing certainty. Use would when noting that something is conditional, that it will happen if something else happens first. The stadium will cost $362 million means the stadium has been approved by taxpayers, or the stadium board is omniscient and knows it will be approved by taxpayers (a real leap of faith). The stadium would cost $362 million means taxpayers haven’t decided yet if building the stadium is worth $362 million.

Also, beware of saying something will happen unless you have total control or a crystal ball: The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. or The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., not The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. They plan to leave on Friday, not They will leave on Friday.

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Introduction | Punctuation | Commonly Confused Words

Also see Garbl’s Plain Language Writing Guide for Choosing Words Your Readers Understand.