Common English Mistakes – Part 5

1) AGREEANCE / AGREEMENT

When you agree with someone you are in agreement.

2) AHOLD / HOLD

In formal English you just “get hold” of something or somebody.

3) AIN’T / AM NOT, ISN’T, AREN’T

“Ain’t” has a long and vital history as a substitute for “isn’t,” “aren’t” and so on. It was originally formed from a contraction of “am not” and is still commonly used in that sense. Even though it has been universally condemned as the classic “mistake” in English, everyone uses it occasionally as part of a joking phrase or to convey a down-to-earth quality. But if you always use it instead of the more “proper” contractions you’re sure to be branded as uneducated.

4) ALL

Put this word where it belongs in the sentence. In negative statements, don’t write “All the pictures didn’t show her dimples” when you mean “The pictures didn’t all show her dimples.”

5) ALL GOES WELL / AUGURS WELL

Some folks who don’t understand the word “augur” (to foretell based on omens) try to make sense of the common phrase “augurs well” by mangling it into “all goes well.” “Augurs well” is synonymous with “bodes well.”