I’m having a moan. I know, I know – most unlike me.
Anyway, contrary to what many of my followers think, I don’t spend my days trawling websites and social media platforms looking for written English errors (honest!) but I have noticed a growing number, particularly from businesses.
As I often say, I’m not being judgemental. The problem is caused by many factors, and the state of the education system over the past ten or fifteen years is making this worse. How can anyone be aware of errors in their writing if they’ve never been taught?
So, for those of you who have ever been unsure of your vocabulary at any time (and that includes me, by the way) here’s a list of the most common vocabulary errors I have noticed on business communications recently:
- I am not adverse to this … (averse)
- The affect on sales … (effect)
- Who overseas that account…? (oversees)
- This maybe a profitable move … (may be)
- We need to pour over these accounts… (pore)
- We await your response with baited breath … (bated)
- For a steak in the profits … (stake)
- Please bare in mind … (bear)
- We must except responsibility … (accept)
- This infers that they want our business… (implies)
- I have lead many successful businesses… (led)
- There’s an access of paperwork … (excess)
And of course, several of these old chestnuts:
- We help business’s improve there profiles …
- How do you know if your making the right impression?
- You can never have to many contacts…
Is it just me?
Please add your own examples to the comments.
You never know: you may have spotted one that’s new to me!