Which One Is Correct in English?

Undoubtedly, the English language presents numerous challenges for users when using specific words or phrases in varying contexts. The following is an evolving list of common confusions that users may encounter across different categories. We encourage you to contribute to this ongoing list by sharing your own examples through our live chat or by completing the contact form provided below. Your input will help enrich and expand our resources for all English language users.

A. Confusions with Answers and Explanations Solutions

a. Noun

Greetings/greeting to all readers?
1. Answer: Greetings
2. Explanation: Only the plural form, greetings, is used and we do not say greeting in its singular form.
I watch a movie everyday/every day?
1. Answer: every day
2. Explanation: Everyday is an adjective to describe something being seen or used every day, while every day is a phrase denoting each day.

b. Pronoun

The man whom/who you met yesterday is my brother?
1. Answer: whom
2. Explanation: Whom is the object form of who used to refer to people in a formal way of writing.

c. Verb

I made the paper plane fly/to fly/flying easily?
1. Answer: fly
2. Explanation: Made is a causative verb.
I loose/lose/loss/lost it already?
1. Answer: lost
2. Explanation: Lost is the past form of lose, which means not able to find something in the past.
There/Here is/are the keys?
1. Answer: are
2. Explanation: The keys is a plural subject.
Can you lend/borrow me your pencil?
1. Answer: lend
2. Explanation: Lend means to give something to another person expecting to get it back.
I can also/also can do it?
1. Answer: Both
2. Explanation: Both are fine, but splitting an infinitive is uncommon.
Attached is/are the documents?
1. Answer: are
2. Explanation: Documents (more than 1 document) is the subject.

d. Adjective

I arrived later/more late than she did?
1. Answer: later
2. Explanation: More late sounds unnatural if compared with later, which normally the -er is used with a one-syllable adjective in the comparative form.

e. Adverb

Besides/besides that, it's not your fault?
1. Answer: Besides
2. Explanation: Besides means moreover while besides that refers to something after having mentioned it before.
We go back altogether/all together after tuition?
1. Answer: all together
2. Explanation: Altogether means entirely, while all together means in a group.

f. Preposition

In or on the home page?
1. Answer: On
2. Explanation: Home page is a web page.
I look forward to meet/meeting you?
1. Answer: meeting
2. Explanation: Use -ing instead of infinitive after a preposition.
Put the books on/at the table?
1. Answer: on
2. Explanation: On the table means that it is on top of the table.
She got married to/with my friend?
1. Answer: to
2. Explanation: It refers to who was married at the wedding.
We must reach on/in time?
1. Answer: on
2. Explanation: On time means before the deadline, while in time implies not too late that matters.
I attach the file to/in/with your email?
1. Answer: to
2. Explanation: You attach something to something.
Please answer in/on the test paper?
1. Answer: on
2. Explanation: The act of writing is on the test paper, while the written content is found in the paper.
To/for me, this is the best choice?
1. Answer: To
2. Explanation: For me means it benefits you in a certain way; to me is more of your views on something.
Thanks for your trust in/on me?
1. Answer: in
2. Explanation: Trust in refers to somebody and trust on refers to something.
Does he present a paper at/in the conference?
1. Answer: at
2. Explanation: At the conference means attending the event, while in the conference means being in the conference room.

g. Determiner

These findings are essential to refine the tool, the design, and the procedure before taking the next step?/These findings are essential to refine the tool, design, and procedure before taking the next step?
1. Answer: ...design, and procedure...
2. Explanation: There is no need to use the same articles over and over again in a series unless each noun needs a different type of article.

h. Punctuation

...a pencil, two rulers, and an eraser/...a pencil, two rulers and an eraser?
1. Answer: Both
2. Explanation: The use of the Oxford comma is stylistic, but omitting it can sometimes cause misunderstandings.
E-learning/e-Learning/Elearning/E-Learning/eLearning is my field of interest.
1. Answer: E-learning
2. Explanation: According to the Oxford Dictionary, e-learning is the correct spelling—"learning conducted via electronic media, typically on the Internet" and compound adjectives should be hyphenated; the first word alone including hyphenated e-constructions, receives capitalisation when starting a sentence.