Roll the Ball

ROLL THE BALL

The word roll usually has a circular, spherical or cylindrical connotation. For example:

Roll a cigar
Roll the film
Roll away.

Let the last two letters of 'ball' bring 'roll' to mind.

The "A" in RAISE

THE LETTER 'A' IN RAISE

The letter 'a' in raise can serve as a reminder that the verb 'to raise' acts on something. (This means it has a direct object.)

 


I raised my eyebrows.
(In this example, it is acting on 'my eyebrows'. Therefore, the direct object is 'my eyebrows'.)

 

She raised a question.
(In this example, the direct object is 'question'.)

Provided is preferable to Providing...

·       PROVIDED IS MORE FORMAL


Some writers maintain that 'provided' is preferable to 'providing' as a conjunction meaning 'on condition that'.

Both are acceptable. However, as some of your readers may prefer 'provided', it is safer to choose this option.

A1 Principal

·       A1

If you imagine that the l on the end of principal looks like a '1', then the last two letters become 'A1'. This may help you to remember that principal denotes 'the most important' or 'main'.

My principal concern is the safety of the dove.
(my A1 concern, i.e., main concern)
You can explain your absence to the principal.
(to the A1, i.e., the most important person in the department)

 

 

 

Practice or Practise?

A LITTLE TRICK TO SPOT 'PRACTICE'

Try using the word 'preparation' (or 'lessons') instead of 'practice'. If the sentence still makes sense, then 'practice' is almost certainly correct.
(This trick works because 'practice' is a noun, just like the words 'preparation' and 'lessons'.)

A LITTLE TRICK TO SPOT 'PRACTISE'

Try using the verb 'to prepare' (in its various forms; e.g., preparing, prepared, prepares) instead of 'practise'. If the sentence still makes sense, then 'practise' is almost certainly correct. However, if you find yourself using 'preparation' then you should be using 'practice', because both are nouns.
(This trick works because 'to practise' is a verb, just like 'to prepare'. )

NO CONFUSION

There should be no confusion with 'practising' or 'practised'. These are always verbs.

PRACTICE IN AMERICA

Whilst many in the US have adopted 'practise' as the verb and 'practice' as the noun, it is acceptable to use 'practice' for both noun and verb in American English.

I must keep practising/practicing that accent.
(both versions acceptable in American English)

Pour out soup

POUR OUT SOUP

The word poor does not usually cause grammar mistakes; however, there is often confusion over pour and pore.

If you remember that 'pour out soup' contains three sets of the letters 'ou', it will help you remember the meaning of 'pour', which only has one meaning. Therefore, everything else must be 'pore'.

Plain or Plane?

Confusion arises mostly between 'plain' meaning expanse of lowland and 'plane' meaning a flat surface or a level.

A plain (lowland) is always on the ground; whereas, a plane (a surface or a level) is nearly always above the ground...like an airplane.

Therefore, if it's above the ground, it's almost certainly 'plane'.

Substitute with "went past"

·       SUBSTITUTE WITH 'WENT PAST'

When referring to movement (i.e., not passing tests or handing stuff over), only use 'passed' when it is the past tense of the verb 'to pass'.

 

To test whether 'passed' is correct, substitute it with 'went past'. If your sentence still makes sense, then 'passed' is the correct version.

He passed the shop.
He went past the shop.
(Still makes sense - passed is correct)

·       He skipped passed the shop.

·       He skipped went past the shop.
(Not correct - passed is wrong)

SUBSTITUTE WITH 'GONE PAST'

On occasion, it may be necessary to use 'gone past' to test whether 'passed' is correct. This is because 'passed' is also the past passive participle of 'to pass'.


He has passed the dockyard.
He has gone past the dockyard.
(Still makes sense - passed is correct)