Common English Grammar Mistakes: Lend and Loan

Homophones and Homonyms

Homophones are words that sound like another when spoken but have different meanings and use, different spelling and origin.

Homonyms are words that are spelled like another but of a different meaning.
(e.g., bank= a place where you keep money,
bank= the edge of a river.

Words from the first group are the most common misused words in the English language when writing.

Most of the mistakes I see in writing on websites and blogs are words that are used quite often in the English language. Most of them fall into the homophones category. I see a lot of blogs that contain these common mistakes. Needless to say after a while I quit reading the blogs. So this is a reminder to all bloggers READ what you post and look for these common mistakes. I'm sure your readers will be very thankful.

Word for the week :Phantomnation

Learn a new word every week to expand your vocabulary.

erotem: noun; The symbol used in writing known as a question mark...?

Phantomnation: "rare" noun; a perfect example of a ghost word--a word that exists only in a dictionary and has never actually been used.

neologism: noun ; coining of new words, new word or meaning

enormity: noun;heinousness, evilness, wickedness, monstrous, great size

abscond: verb; to run away and hide, depart hurriedly, avoid arrest.

samizdat: noun; clandestine publication of banned literature

anomaly: noun; something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified; deviation from the normal or common order, or form, or rule; a person who is unusual

obfuscate: verb; To make something obscure or hard to understand. ( Like the tax codes)

quintessence: noun; purest and most perfect form, manifestation, type, or embodiment

Lipogram: noun; A piece of writing that avoids one or more letters of the alphabet. From Greek lipo- (lacking) + gram (something written).]

triskaidekaphobia: noun; Fear of the number 13.

anomalous: adjective; irregular, deviant, abnormal

diatribe: noun; a bitter verbal attack or speech

ennui: noun; mental weariness, boredom

aficionado: noun; devotee of a sport or pastime

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Lend and Loan

The words lend and loan are 2 commonly misused words and for some reason they are popping up more and more on websites and blogs in incorrect usage.
You can't loan money, you have to lend it.

Lend: verb: to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned.
I will lend you the money for that item.

Loan: noun: the temporary provision of money (usually at interest)
I will need to get a loan for the car.

3 comments:

David said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; July 30, 2009 4:05 PM
David said...: Oh, this is a good one, and I am probably guilty of it. I will have to remember that loan is a noun. Thanks!

Had to edit my post - this blog makes me very self conscious. :); July 30, 2009 4:07 PM
Anonymous said...: Really awesome, Now i know what is the difference and glad to see this Blog. Here i can learn easily English Grammar here.; September 25, 2009 10:59 PM