By Writer’s Relief staff:
There are some grammar guidelines that, no matter how often you review the rules, some writers are still going to mess up. And not just fresh-faced, inexperienced writers, but also seasoned authors who know their way around a style guide. One of the most common grammatical errors is to confuse two seemingly similar words.
If you’re a writer who is confident you would never (ever!) make such a basic mistake, then feel free to move on to stories about upcoming Mardi Gras revelry — let the good times roll! But if you’re not one to let sleeping dogs lie…or lay…here are some helpful reminders of how to deal with commonly confused words:
Lie or Lay?
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“Than” denotes comparison. It’s often seen loitering around with comparatives or words such as “more” or “less.” A handy memory aid: “compare” and “than” both have the letter “a.”
Steve’s soup has more carrots than celery.
I am taller than you.
While these are just a few of the words that can confuse writers… if we affected the way you lay your thoughts on paper, then we’re glad we could help!
