Understanding Usage
How is language used differently in different
situations?
Standard and nonstandard English
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Words with related meanings
Formal and informal English
Review A
Review B
How is language used differently in
different situations?
People don’t speak and write the exact same way
all the time.
You probably speak to your
friends in a different way than
you speak to your teachers.
Your e-mails probably don’t
look anything like your
school essays.
How is language used differently in
different situations?
The way you use English will usually depend upon
your audience and your purpose.
Audience
Purpose
To whom are you
speaking or writing?
Why are you speaking
or writing?
Standard and nonstandard English
The kind of English you are expected to use in
school is called standard English.
Standard English is
• grammatically correct
• used in both formal and casual situations
Standard and nonstandard English
Nonstandard English is suitable in casual
speaking situations.
Nonstandard does not mean “wrong.” It means
not appropriate in situations where standard
English is expected, such as at school.
[End of Section]
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Learning standard English means learning to use
words that are often confused or misused. This
can be hard because there are many words that
sound alike but mean different things.
It’s or
Its
?
Their or There or They’re
Whose or Who’s ?
?
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Its/it’s
Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it.
The raccoon washed its face.
It’s is the contraction of it is or it has.
It’s a cloudy day.
It’s been a good trip.
it’s = it is
it’s = it has
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
It’s/its
it is
My cousin has a pet bird. It’s a parrot,
and its name is Bella.
belonging
to Bella
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Their/there/they’re
Their is the possessive form of they.
The children happily flew
their kite.
There is used to mean “at that
place” or to begin a sentence.
We are going there soon.
There are five theaters in town.
“at that place”
begins sentence
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Their/there/they’re
They’re is a contraction of they are.
They’re the two best players
on our team.
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Their/there/they’re
They are
belonging
to them
They’re going to start their garden over there.
at that
place
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Your/you’re
Your is the possessive form of you.
Your Fourth of July picnic
was great!
You’re is a contraction of you are.
You’re a good friend.
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
You’re/your
you are
If you’re planning to walk home,
bring your boots.
belongin
g to you
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Whose/who’s
Whose is the possessive form of who.
Whose backpack is that?
Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has.
Who’s the new student?
Who’s been using the phone?
who’s = who is
who’s = who has
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Whose/who’s
who is
belonging
to whom
Who’s the woman whose home flooded?
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Could of/should of
Do not write of after could, should, would, might,
or must.
Write could have, not could of.
Judy could have
helped
us rake.
of helped
us rake.
Write should have, not should of.
We should have
started
earlier.
of started
earlier.
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
On Your Own
Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use
of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Do you think its a good day for your hike?
2. Let me know when your ready to go.
3. Jamal should of shown up on time.
4. They’re leaving for their vacation tomorrow.
5. Who’s raincoat is lying there on the floor?
[End of Section]
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Some pairs of words are confusing because their
meanings are so close to each other.
Bring/take
Bring means “to come
carrying something.”
Please bring the lemonade to me.
Take means “to go
carrying something.”
Take those boxes when you go.
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Fewer/less
Fewer is used with plural nouns.
Did you say that fewer plants
grow here than there?
Less is used with singular nouns.
Desert plants require less water
than most other plants.
Fewer tells “how many.” Less tells
“how much.”
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Good/well
Good is an adjective and modifies a noun. Do
not use good to modify a verb. Use the adverb
adj.
well.
Mimi is a good athlete.
noun
adverb
She plays soccer well.
verb
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Good/well
Well is usually an adverb that means “ably,”
but it is also used as an adjective to mean
“healthy.”
adj.
adverb
Kim danced well today.
Verb
adverb meaning
“ably”
Kim feels well now.
Noun
adjective meaning
“healthy”
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
On Your Own
Some of the following sentences contain errors in the
use of standard English. Find and correct each error.
If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Please eat less cookies and more vegetables.
2. The goalie played good at yesterday’s game.
3. Bring the paper with you when you go to
Grandma’s house.
4. Go rest if you don’t feel well.
[End of Section]
Formal and informal English
Formal English is language that is appropriate in
serious speaking and writing situations.
Hello. How are you
today?
Informal English is
correct language that is
common in everyday
communication, such as
speaking or writing to a
friend.
Hey. How’s
it goin’?
Formal and informal English
Speeches at ceremonies
When is formal
English
expected?
Serious papers, reports
Tests and exams
Everyday conversations
Personal letters, e-mails
Journal entries
Some newspaper or
magazine writing
When is
informal
English okay?
Formal and informal English
How are formal and informal English different?
Formal English
Informal English
Sentences:
Sentences:
• Longer and more
complex
• Shorter and simpler
Word choice:
• Includes slang and
contractions
• Precise, sometimes
technical or scientific
Tone:
• More serious, dignified
Word choice:
Tone:
• Conversational, casual
Formal and informal English
Many words and phrases that
are fine in informal situations
should be avoided in formal
situations.
How come
In formal situations, use why.
Informal
Formal
How come geese migrate?
Why do geese migrate?
Formal and informal English
Kind of/sort of
In formal situations, use rather or somewhat.
Informal
The bread is kind of stale.
Formal
The bread is rather stale.
Formal and informal English
Try and
In formal situations, use try to.
Informal
I’ll try and answer all your
questions.
Formal
I’ll try to answer all your
questions.
Formal and informal English
On Your Own
Review each sentence. Change informal English to
formal English. If the sentence is written with formal
English, write F.
1. The story Jen wrote is kind of funny.
2. My dad wants me to try and clean my entire room
in one afternoon.
3. This soup is rather spicy.
4. How come you were late for the game?
[End of Section]
Review A
For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses,
according to formal, standard usage.
1. Cory danced (good/well) in the school musical.
2. I borrowed (fewer/less) books from the library this week
than I did last week.
3. At the zoo we watched a snake shed (its/it’s) skin.
4. Jaime (should of/should have) talked to me about the
problem.
5. Turn (your/you’re) test in when (your/you’re) finished.
[End of Section]
Review B
For each sentence, circle any incorrect or informal usage.
Write C if a sentence is correct according to formal, standard
usage.
1. This orange tastes kind of sour to me.
2. Mr. Romero accepted the award and gave a speech.
3. Don’t forget to take your helmet and knee pads with you
to the skate park.
4. Please try and get here earlier next time.
5. Do you know how come there always late for school?
[End of Section]
The End