Mind Your English

Let's face it: English can be one confusing language. A lot of words sound similar but they are spelled and pronounced differently. An extra "-d/-ed" and "-s/-es" can totally change the meaning of a word. But if you can wrap your head around the explanations below, you should be able to make yourself heard the right way.

1. Wrong: Thanks before*
    Right: Thanks in advance
    How to use it: I would like to thank you in advance for your help.
    S.P: * Thanks before is a common error that actually doesn't entail any meaning in English.

2. Wrong: Thanks God
    Right: Thank God
    How to use it: Thank God I didn't run over the cat!

3. Wrong: I am boring*
    Right: I am bored
    How to use it: I am bored because there is no one at home.
    S.P: * When you say I am boring, you are stating that you are an uninterested and dispassionate person.

4. Wrong: Congratulation for
    Right: Congratulation on
    How to use it: Congratulation on your graduation!

5. Wrong: Worthed*
    Right: Worth it
    How to use it: Although Microsoft may end up investing more than US$ 300 million in cloud computing, the company representative said it will be worth it.
    S.P: * Worthed doesn't even exist in the English vocabulary. The phrase worth it is commonly misspelled as worthed.

6. Wrong: Dateline*
    Right: Deadline
    How to use it: The university announced its plan to extend the registration deadline from June 7 to June 22.
    S.P: * Dateline refers to a line in a written document or a printed publication - including filed news reports - giving its date and/or place of origin.

7. Wrong: expresso
    Right: espresso
    How to use it: Can I order one cup of espresso, please?

8. Wrong: Your welcome / You are welcomed
    Right: You are welcome
    How to use it: It is no big deal, you are welcome!

source: speak! magazine -The Jakarta Post-