Lesson 1: Glossary of Usage A

Definition

Accept is a verb meaning “to receive favorably.” The word except can be a preposition or a verb. When except is a preposition, it means “excluding.” When except is a verb, it means “to leave out.”

Explanation

Think of accept as taking something offered to you, like a compliment or a package. It's a welcoming action! Except is all about exclusion. As a preposition, it separates one thing from the rest. As a verb, it means to purposely omit something or someone.

Examples

• Will you accept the award? [The verb accept means “to receive favorably.”]
• She liked all of the movies except the scary one. [The preposition except means “excluding.”]
• The committee should not except him from the new rule. [The verb except means “to leave out.”]

Definition

A lot is always two words and is always informal. A lot can be used as a noun or as an adverb. When a lot is used as a noun, it means “a large amount” or “a large number.” When a lot is used as an adverb, it means “a great deal” or “very much.”

Explanation

Remember that a lot is two separate words, just like "a little" or "a bunch." Never mash them together into "alot"! You can use it as a noun to talk about a large quantity of things, or as an adverb to describe how much something is done.

Examples

• The charity collected a lot of canned goods. [A lot is used as a noun and is two words.]
• My sister looks a lot like our grandmother. [A lot is used as an adverb describing like and is two words.]

Definition

At should not end questions or clauses that begin with where.

Explanation

Have you ever asked, "Where's the remote at?" While common in casual speech, it's grammatically incorrect in formal writing. The word where already asks about location, so adding at at the end is redundant. Just drop the at to make your sentence clean and correct.

Examples

• NONSTANDARD: Where is the cafeteria at?
• STANDARD: Where is the cafeteria?
• NONSTANDARD: I can't remember where I put my phone at.
• STANDARD: I can't remember where I put my phone.

Definition

Beside is a preposition meaning “next to.” Besides can be a preposition or an adverb. When besides is a preposition, it means “in addition to.” When besides is an adverb, it means “moreover.”

Explanation

Here's an easy trick: Beside points to a side—something is physically next to something else. Besides, with the extra 's', adds something on. Think of the 's' as meaning "plus." It can mean "in addition to" or, as an adverb, "also."

Examples

• Please put the mail beside the lamp. [Beside means “next to.”]
• No one else volunteered besides Maria. [Besides means “in addition to.”]
• The movie wasn't very exciting; besides, I had other work to finish. [The adverb besides means “moreover.”]

Definition

Use between when referring to only two items or to more than two items when each item is being compared to each of the other items. Use among when you refer to more than two items and are not comparing each item to each of the other items.

Explanation

Use between for two specific items (like, "between you and me"). You can also use it for more than two if you're highlighting the individual relationships of each one. Use among for a group of three or more when they're considered collectively and not as separate individuals.

Examples

• The child stood between his mother and his grandmother. [Between is used because only two items are referred to.]
• Let's discuss the differences between soccer, basketball, and football. [Between is used because each sport is being compared to the others individually.]
• The pirates divided the treasure among themselves. [Among is used because more than two items are referred to as a group.]

Definition

Done is the past participle of the verb do. Did is the past form of the verb do. Always use a helping verb before the past participle done. Do not use done instead of did.

Explanation

Done needs a helper! It can't stand alone as the main verb in a simple past tense sentence. You must pair it with a helping verb like have, has, or had. If there's no helping verb in front of it, the correct word to use is almost always did.

Examples

• NONSTANDARD: She already done the project.
• STANDARD: She had already done the project. [The verb had done includes the helping verb had and the past participle done.]
• STANDARD: She already did the project. [The verb did is the past form of the verb do.]