Common Errors - Worse

worse

adjective

BAD: It was the worse journey I had ever made.

GOOD: It was the worst journey I had ever made. 

BAD: People's lack of responsibility makes the problem even more worse.

GOOD: People's lack of responsibility makes the problem even worse.

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bad, worse, (the) worst : 'The medicine just made me feel worse.' 'It's the worst film I've ever seen.'

Common Errors - Worst

worst

adjective

BAD: The next time I saw her she looked even worst.

GOOD: The next time I saw her she looked even worse.

BAD: The day finished worst than it began.

GOOD: The day finished worse than it began.

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See note at WORSE (↑worse)

Common Errors - Worth

worth

I

noun

BAD: The ring has great sentimental worth.

GOOD: The ring has great sentimental value.

BAD: They do not appreciate the worth of life.

GOOD: They do not appreciate the value of life.

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Worth is usually used as a preposition: 'A four-bedroomed house in the middle of town is probably worth about £200,000.'

The noun related to worth is value : 'The current value of property is very low compared with this time last year.'

Compare: 'That watch is worth fifty pounds.' 'That watch has a value of fifty pounds.'

II

preposition

1

BAD: The missing ring worths about two thousand pounds.

GOOD: The missing ring is worth about two thousand pounds.

BAD: A holiday doesn't worth all the effort it takes preparing for it.

GOOD: A holiday isn't worth all the effort it takes preparing for it.

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be worth £20/very little/a fortune etc : 'These old computers aren't worth much nowadays.'

2

BAD: It's also worth to visit the north of England if you have time.

GOOD: It's also worth visiting the north of England if you have time.

BAD: The museum was certainly worth to see.

GOOD: The museum was certainly worth seeing. 

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it's worth doing sth; sth is worth doing (NOT to do ): 'It's worth remembering that these old cars can be very expensive to run.'

Common Errors - Worthwhile

worthwhile

adjective

BAD: The film reviews are always worthwhile looking at.

GOOD: The film reviews are always worth looking at.

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it's worth/worthwhile doing sth : 'It might be worth having one or two copies made.' 'Is it worthwhile talking about it now, or shall we leave it until our next meeting?'

sth is worth doing (NOT worthwhile ): 'Some of these so-called professional teams aren't worth watching.'

Compare: 'Was the long drive up to Scotland really worthwhile?'

Common Errors - Worthy

worthy

adjective

BAD: It's not worthy taking your own car.

GOOD: It's not worth taking your own car.

BAD: The cathedral is certainly worthy to be visited.

GOOD: The cathedral is certainly worth visiting.

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it's worth doing sth; sth is worth doing (NOT worthy ): 'Do you think it's worth having the engine tuned?' 'The letter isn't worth worrying about.'

Common Errors - Would

would

modal verb

1

BAD: If I would live in the countryside, I would be much healthier.

GOOD: If I lived in the countryside, I would be much healthier.

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When you are talking about the present or the future and you imagine something that is untrue or unlikely, use the past tense ('lived') in the if clause (NOT would ): 'If I knew her address, I'd send her a postcard.' 'If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a new car.'

2

BAD: If you would have caught the earlier train, we could have travelled together.

GOOD: If you had caught the earlier train, we could have travelled together.

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When you are talking about the past and you imagine something that is impossible, use the past perfect tense ('had caught') in the if clause (NOT would have ): 'If he hadn't got on the plane, he would still be alive.'

3

BAD: If you would have any more questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

GOOD: If you should have any more questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

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When you are talking about the present or the future and you imagine something that is possible but unlikely, use if ... should (NOT if ... would ): 'If anyone should need me, I'll be back in half an hour.'

Common Errors - Wound

wound

verb

BAD: Only the driver was wounded in the accident.

GOOD: Only the driver was injured/hurt in the accident.

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See note at DAMAGE 1 (↑damage)

Common Errors - Wrapping

wrapping

noun

BAD: Manufacturers should dispense with all unnecessary wrapping.

GOOD: Manufacturers should dispense with all unnecessary packaging.

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wrapping (also wrappings ) = paper or paper-like material that is put round something: 'I wanted to tear off the wrapping and see what was inside.' 

packaging = the container or material that something is placed in by a manufacturer, especially to protect it or make it look attractive: 'Packaging should be biodegradable and kept to a minimum.' 

Note that both wrapping  and packaging  are used in connection with food: 'Somewhere on the packaging/wrapping there should be a date stamp.'

Common Errors - Write

write

verb

1

BAD: I'd like to apologize for not having written you before.

GOOD: I'd like to apologize for not having written to you before.

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In British English you write to a person or place (WITH to ): 'Wingate wrote to his father, asking for more money.' 

In American English to is optional: 'I'll write (to) you and give you all the latest news.'

2

BAD: Dear ... I write to you to ask for your advice.

GOOD: Dear ... I am writing to you to ask for your advice.

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For actions which are happening at the time when they are mentioned, use the present progressive tense (NOT the present simple): 'I'm writing to tell you that I'll be coming to London next Thursday.'

Common Errors - Wrong

wrong

adjective

BAD: The belief that Spanish is easy to learn is wrong. 

GOOD: The belief that Spanish is easy to learn is mistaken. 

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To describe a belief or idea that is wrong although people do not know it is wrong, use mistaken : 'Some people have the mistaken idea that cats need to drink milk.' 'I'm afraid you must be mistaken.'

Common Errors - Year

year

noun

1

BAD: I've been playing the piano since I was seven years.

GOOD: I've been playing the piano since I was seven.

GOOD: I've been playing the piano since I was seven years old.

GOOD: I've been playing the piano since I was seven years of age.

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When stating someone's age, use just a number on its own OR a number + years old/years of age (NOT years ): 'I'm almost eighteen.' 'My sister is fifteen years old.' 

2

BAD: Robert was a little boy of ten years.

GOOD: Robert was a little boy of ten.

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a boy/girl/son etc  + of  + number (WITHOUT years ): 'a child of six', 'a man of fifty'

3

See AGE 2 (↑age), 6, 7

4

See OLD 1 (↑old), 2 

5

See RECENT (↑recent)

Common Errors - Yearly

yearly

adjective

BAD: More houses are built yearly.

GOOD: More houses are built every year.

BAD: Thousands of people die from cancer yearly.

GOOD: Thousands of people die from cancer every year.

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Yearly usually means that something is done or takes place once a year: 'The interest is paid yearly or, if you prefer, every six months.' 'The front of the house was getting its yearly coat of white paint.'

Yearly is also used to connect a total number or amount with a period of one year: 'We were manufacturing and selling about 20,000 tonnes yearly.' 'The yearly catch rose to a peak of 52,000 tonnes.'

When you simply want to say that something happens 'all the time', use every year or each year (NOT yearly ): 'The country's tourist industry is growing every year.'

Common Errrs - Yet

yet

adverb

1

BAD: He left the house at five in the morning, when the family was yet asleep.

GOOD: He left the house at five in the morning, when the family was still asleep.

BAD: I've only been here two weeks and everything is strange yet.

GOOD: I've only been here two weeks and everything is still strange.

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Yet means 'up to the moment of speaking' and is used mainly in questions and negative sentences: 'Do you feel any better yet?' 'The post office isn't open yet.'

When you want to say that an earlier state or situation has not changed, use still : 'I've taken the medicine but I still feel terrible.' 'Does Hilary still go to the same school?'

2

BAD: I didn't finish my thesis yet.

GOOD: I haven't finished my thesis yet.

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Yet  (= up to the moment of speaking) is usually used with the present or present perfect tense (NOT the past tense): 'Has the taxi arrived yet?' 'Is the taxi here yet?' 

3

See note at BUT (↑but)

Common Errors - Yours

yours

pronoun

1

BAD: Dear Mary ... Yours faithfully ...

GOOD: Dear Mary ... Yours/With love/With best wishes ...

BAD: Dear John, ... Yours sincerely ...

GOOD: Dear John, ... Yours/With love/With best wishes ...

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Yours faithfully  and Yours sincerely are used only in formal letters.

At the end of a letter to a friend or relative, use Yours, With love, With best wishes, etc. 

2

BAD: Dear Sir, ... Yours,

GOOD: Dear Sir, ... Yours faithfully,

◆◆◆

When a formal letter begins with Dear Sir or Dear Madam , it usually ends with Yours faithfully .

Common Errors - Youth

youth

noun

BAD: There'll be a lot of youths at the party and so you should be able to enjoy yourself.

GOOD: There'll be a lot of young people at the party and so you should be able to enjoy yourself.

BAD: Life in a city is more interesting for the youth because there are more things to do.

GOOD: Life in a city is more interesting for young people because there are more things to do.

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Youth  (countable) is used, often in a disapproving way, to refer to a boy/young man between the ages of about fifteen and twenty: 'He was attacked and robbed by a gang of youths.' 

Youth  (uncountable) is used mainly in formal styles to refer to all young people considered as a group in society: 'The youth of industrialized nations need to be made aware of global problems.'

The usual phrase for 'people between the ages of about fifteen and twenty' is young people : 'These holidays are designed for young people like yourselves.'