-Prof
Department of English Language,
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University,
Meerut
We all are living in an amazing era of globalization and digitalization; we are rushing with time in accomplishing our professional goals without giving heed to how correctly we write or speak? English is a second or foreign language to every nation of India and in my perception, a couple of English language proficiency tests cannot define the accessibility of the English language in our profession. For sure, we all are not from an English background and chances are we commit mistakes in our job holdings while speaking and writing. Never mind! I’m bringing up a shot for you to keep an eye on your professional writings.
According to the principles of Standard English Language, the following words should steer clear of while writing formal/official reports, essays, research papers, and all other types of formal writing at your workplace:
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- A lot
– Alot is a common misspelling of a lot (two words). Please holdfast that alot is considered an error.
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- and etc.
– Abbreviation etc. (from the Latin et cetera) means “and so on,” and etc. is redundant. So in any case, avoid using etc. in your essays because it gives an impression that you simply can’t think of anything else that can be added to support your content.
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- could of
– Don’t confuse this nonstandard form with the contraction could’ve. Could of can and should be replaced by could have. Avoid practising them both ways in writing and in life.
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- Hisself
– It is a commonly heard alternative form of the reflexive pronoun himself, but in the formal writings using hisself should be kept at bay.
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- Furtherest
– In correct usage, comparative form of far is farther or further while the superlative form is farthest or furthest. Combining the two forms costs the meaning.
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- Irregardless
– Using double negatives (ir- in the beginning and -less at the end) should always be avoided. Instead using the word regardless is used for purposeful and effective communication.
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- Its’
– Its is a possessive pronoun (like his or her) while it’s is a contraction of it is or it has, leaving no place for the use of its’.
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- Let’sus
– Let’s us means “let us us”, which is a blunder in English grammar and to avoid repetition, write lets or let’s or let us.