Today's error has to do with the words 'than' and 'then'. I commonly find this error in written communications of all kinds. Business e-mail messages, web sites, pamphlets, EVERYWHERE! On lots of ocassions, I even hear people speak these words incorrectly.
The word 'then' is an adverb and has to do with time, as in "Then he went to the store".
The word 'than' is a conjunction and is used in comparisons. "I would rather go to the store than stay here and clean!"
Often I have seen erroneous sentences like:
"We will be participating in the meeting than having a potluck."
"I'm smarter then him!"
Most commonly, 'then' is used in the comparison mode.
And . . . . one freebie Hint of the Day:
Make sure you re-read your blog before posting, preferably in another font. It helps you catch your own errors before posting.
Reflections -- in thoughts and art -- from Abby's attic . . . and Abby's crafty diary!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Common Writing Errors
Since this is a Creative Writing blog, today I want to start a new column (continuing blog post), to be posted on Saturdays, entitled "Common Writing Errors". Those of you who blog might be interested in this on-going discussion. I will not be posting anything on Sundays, so you can visit anytime on the weekend and find this column. Don't get me wrong, I don't have all the answers, and YOU WILL find errors in my writing, but I want to do better, and I am sure that you do too!
I will do the research, and I hope that you will benefit as much as I do.
Today's error has to do with the words 'than' and 'then'. I commonly find this error in written communications of all kinds. Business e-mail messages, web sites, pamphlets, EVERYWHERE! On lots of ocassions, I even hear people speak these words incorrectly.
The word 'then' is an adverb and has to do with time, as in "Then he went to the store".
The word 'than' is a conjunction and is used in comparisons. "I would rather go to the store than stay here and clean!"
Often I have seen erroneous sentences like:
"We will be participating in the meeting than having a potluck."
"I'm smarter then him!"
Most commonly, 'then' is used in the comparison mode.
And . . . . one freebie Hint of the Day:
Make sure you re-read your blog before posting, preferably in another font. It helps you catch your own errors before posting.
Today's error has to do with the words 'than' and 'then'. I commonly find this error in written communications of all kinds. Business e-mail messages, web sites, pamphlets, EVERYWHERE! On lots of ocassions, I even hear people speak these words incorrectly.
The word 'then' is an adverb and has to do with time, as in "Then he went to the store".
The word 'than' is a conjunction and is used in comparisons. "I would rather go to the store than stay here and clean!"
Often I have seen erroneous sentences like:
"We will be participating in the meeting than having a potluck."
"I'm smarter then him!"
Most commonly, 'then' is used in the comparison mode.
And . . . . one freebie Hint of the Day:
Make sure you re-read your blog before posting, preferably in another font. It helps you catch your own errors before posting.
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3 comments:
It is important to proofread your blog and sometimes even THEN little things sometimes escape, like a typo or a forgotten letter. For some reason I always seem to forget the r at the end of you when I am typing "your." Many times I even read over my already published blog and find little things and THEN I go back and fix it! :-)
Hee Hee! :) Me too! I am forever finding things that "slip thru".
good info! and the "change the font" tip make a lot of sense! thanks!!!
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