I have seen many Americans and Europeans go wrong with this, but none so often as the Indians๐
Wrong❌: The data is incorrect/erroneous.
Right ✅ : The data are incorrect/erroneous.
Data is the plural form of datum.
Confusing Singular & Plural Forms:
Alumni is a plural form of alumnus. Similarly, data, criteria and fora are plural forms of datum, criterion and forum respectively .
Incorrect❌: I am an alumni of Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore.
Correct ✅: I am an alumnus of Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore.
The Curious Case of Police, Cattle and People:
Although most collective nouns are considered singular, reference to "police", "cattle" and "people" is taken as an exception to the rule, and these words are used in plural forms.
Examples:
The army is marching towards the enemy.
The police are coming towards us.
Pronunciation of The
The is pronounced as 'tha' when it comes before a non-vowel sound. It is pronounced as 'thee' when it comes before a vowel sound.
Examples:
Tha climax.
Thee end
Usage Note:
Both whatever and what ever may be used in sentences such as Whatever/What ever made her say that?
Critics have occasionally objected to the one-word form, but many respected writers have used it. The same is true of the forms whoever, whenever, wherever, and however.
In adjectival uses, however, only the one-word form is used: Take whatever (not what ever) books you need.
When a clause beginning with whatever is the subject of a sentence, no comma should be used: Whatever you do is right.
In most other cases, a comma is needed: Whatever you do, don't burn the toast.
When a noun followed by a restrictive clause is preceded by whichever or whatever, it is regarded as incorrect to introduce the clause with that in formal writing: whatever book that you want to look at; one should write instead Whatever book you want to look at will be sent to your office or Whichever book costs less (not that costs less) is fine with us
A few common spelling mistakes that people commit :
Defination✖️ ️ instead of definition✔️.
Grammer✖️ instead of grammar✔️.
Commitee✖️ instead of committee✔️.
Tution✖️ instead of tuition✔️.
Seperate✖️ instead of separate✔️.
Af·fix :
verb
3rd person present: affixes
ษหfiks/
1.stick, attach, or fasten (something) to something else.
"he licked the stamp and affixed it to the envelope"
synonyms: stick, glue, paste, gum
We Indians just never learn, and keep on using a verb in the past tense after didn't.
For example-
I didn't knew. ✖️
(correct : I didn't know✔️)
- This particular error is so infuriatingly common!
I didn't understood✖️ what you said.
(correct : understand✔️ )
Note that using 'did' or its negative counterpart covers the past tense.
Hence another past tense form cannot be used in the same sentence ("know" here).
This makes "I didn't knew" a grammatically wrong sentence
Using an unnecessary 'to' in sentences, like - I am going to home.
Another very common mistake Indians make is the usage of an extra 'more'in cases where a comparative adjective alone would have sufficed.
Example
Indian usage : You look more prettier in this photograph than any of the previous ones.
Correct usage✔️:prettier.
Indian usage : I hope the bond of friendship that we share grows more and more stronger as the years pass by.
Correct usage✔️: stronger and stronger or more and more strong.
