[en] Example Sentences With Missed Mistakes

Development
1

I am using the standalone LanguageTool v3.9.

These were errors not caught using en-US or en-GB:

Example 1:

You couldn’t tell the difference a real gift and a fake, so I gave you to the later. (Wrong)
You couldn’t tell the difference a real gift and a fake, so I gave you to the latter. (Correct)

Example 2:

The putrid smell of garbage started to envelope my face. (Wrong)
The putrid smell of garbage started to envelop my face. (Correct)
I felt the smell envelope me. (Wrong)
I felt the smell envelop me. (Correct)

Example 3:

I looked at the clock and seeing it was already 2pm. (Wrong)
I looked at the clock and saw it was already 2pm. (Correct)

Example 4:

The brown color complimented her eyes. (Wrong)
The brown color complemented her eyes. (Correct)
The beautiful blouse complimented her blue heels. (Wrong)
The beautiful blouse complemented her blue heels. (Correct)

Example 5:

They have some great deserts on this menu. (Wrong)
They have some great desserts on this menu. (Correct)
Why don’t we get desert and chocolate cake before we leave? (Wrong)
Why don’t we get dessert and chocolate cake before we leave? (Correct)
The waitress took our desert order. (Wrong)
The waitress took our dessert order. (Correct)

Example 6:

After I came too, I woke up in the hospital. (Wrong)
After I came to, I woke up in the hospital. (Correct)

Example 7:

The genie will fulfill your every desired. (Wrong)
The genie will fulfill your every desire. (Correct)

Example 8:

Come of over Stephanie, the party is great. (Wrong)
Come on over Stephanie, the party is great. (Correct)

Example 9:

I crashed face first into the snow. (Wrong)
I crashed face-first into the snow. (Correct)

Example 10:

Joey, I think you should read though this contract. (Wrong)
Joey, I think you should read through this contract. (Correct)

Example 11:

I have added addition funds to your bank account. (Wrong)
I have added additional funds to your bank account. (Correct)

Example 12:

Don’t fall for the trick, its actually very simple once you understand. (Wrong)
Don’t fall for the trick, it’s actually very simple once you understand. (Correct)

Example 13:

Put on the maids uniform and start cleaning. (Wrong)
Put on the maid’s uniform and start cleaning. (Correct)

Example 14:

He thought of the princesses comfort. (Wrong)
He thought of the princess’s comfort. (Correct)
The goddesses shoes were radiating light. (Wrong)
The goddess’s shoes were radiating light. (Correct)

Example 15:

Joey was visible shaking with anger. (Wrong)
Joey was visibly shaking with anger. (Correct)

Example 16:

I was visibly shake with rage. (Wrong)
I was visibly shaking with rage. (Correct)

Example 17:

Joey had black and white stripped pants. (Wrong)
Joey had black and white striped pants. (Correct)

Example 18:

I loved math, the topic peaked my interest. (Wrong)
I loved math, the topic piqued my interest. (Correct)

Example 19:

Ten minutes passed before the person move or spoke. (Wrong)
Ten minutes passed before the person moved or spoke. (Correct)

Example 20:

I reach out and caressed her cheek gently. (Wrong)
I reach out and caress her cheek gently. (Correct)
I reached out and caressed her cheek gently. (Correct)

Example 21:

His manipulation of the cards was frightening good. (Wrong)
His manipulation of the cards was frighteningly good. (Correct)

Example 22:

I am so easy beating you at this card game. (Wrong)
I am so easily beating you at this card game. (Correct)

Example 23:

You just made it as out little game ended. (Wrong)
You just made it as our little game ended. (Correct)

Example 24:

I saw the monster as it started to cast it’s long shadow across the room. (Wrong)
I saw the monster as it started to cast its long shadow across the room. (Correct)

Example 25:

I felt like true royalty, it’s value was immense. (Wrong)
I felt like true royalty, its value was immense. (Correct)

Example 26:

Feel it’s awesome unforgiving power course through you. (Wrong)
Feel its awesome unforgiving power course through you. (Correct)

Example 27:

Yes Joey, it will all the sweeter now that you waited. (Wrong)
Yes Joey, it will be all the sweeter now that you waited. (Correct)

Example 28:

I jumped as her tried to put her arm around me. (Wrong)
I jumped as she tried to put her arm around me. (Correct)

Example 29:

This really got the on looking crowd riled up. (Wrong)
This really got the onlooking crowd riled up. (Correct)

Example 30:

The sales assistants face turned red as she became embarrassed. (Wrong)
The sales assistant’s face turned red as she became embarrassed. (Correct)

Example 31:

The waitress took our drinks orders as we sat. (Wrong)
The waitress took our drink orders as we sat. (Correct)
The waitress took our drinks order as we sat. (Correct)

Example 32:

They were the last one’s out of the restaurant. (Wrong)
They were the last ones out of the restaurant. (Correct)

Example 33:

I was knelt on the ground in pain. (Wrong)
I was kneeling on the ground in pain. (Correct)

Example 34:

I was stood in front of the truck. (Wrong)
I was standing in front of the truck. (Correct)

Example 35:

Perhaps it I serve you fancier food instead? (Wrong)
Perhaps if I serve you fancier food instead? (Correct)

Example 36:

I snapped my fingers, which ensure I had your full attention. (Wrong)
I snapped my fingers, which ensured I had your full attention. (Correct)

Example 37:

The pattern matches the one’s I generated yesterday. (Wrong)
The pattern matches the ones I generated yesterday. (Correct)

Example 38:

The king was in the final throws of death. (Wrong)
The king was in the final throes of death. (Correct)
The country was in its death throws during the revolution. (Wrong)
The country was in its death throes during the revolution. (Correct)
I was in the last throws of my career. (Wrong)
I was in the last throes of my career. (Correct)

Example 39:

These paragraphs likely sums up my thoughts exactly. (Wrong)
These paragraphs likely sum up my thoughts exactly. (Correct)

Example 40:

I jumped up to face her them at the basketball court. (Wrong)
I jumped up to face her at the basketball court. (Correct)
I jumped up to face them at the basketball court. (Correct)

Example 41:

Her face was awash will happiness. (Wrong)
Her face was awash with happiness. (Correct)

False positive (en-US + en-GB):

I have firsthand experience with this topic. (Correct)
I have firsthand experienced with this topic. (Recommended)

I moved my hand over an started to rub the genie bottle. (Wrong)
I moved my hand over a started to rub the genie bottle. (Recommended)
I moved my hand over and started to rub the genie bottle. (Correct)

False positive (en-GB):

Math is my favourite topic in school. (Correct)
Match is my favourite topic in school. (Recommended)

2

@Tex2002ans, thank you for your report.

The following problems are already corrected in the most recent daily build (Index of /snapshots/)

Example 16: I was visibly shake with rage. (Wrong)
Example 24: I saw the monster as it started to cast it’s long shadow across the room. (Wrong)
Example 41: I moved my hand over a started to rub the genie bottle. (Recommended)

It is possible to find some problems by using the ngram data (Finding errors using n-gram data - LanguageTool Wiki):
Example 5: The waitress took our desert order. (Wrong)
Example 23: You just made it as out little game ended. (Wrong)
Example 38: The king was in the final throws of death. (Wrong)
Example 38: I was in the last throws of my career. (Wrong)

3

The following problems are already corrected in the most recent daily build […]

Fantastic! :slight_smile:

It is possible to find some problems by using the ngram data […]

Didn’t test using the ngram data, I’ll be sure to do it in the future examples.

Example 42:

I was sure she wouldn’t mind screwing me over without a moments thought. (Wrong)
I was sure she wouldn’t mind screwing me over without a moment’s thought. (Correct)

Example 43:

I asked her if it was okay, and she responded with a nodded. (Wrong)
I asked her if it was okay, and she responded with a nod. (Correct)

Example 44:

The lunch breaks over now, so I threw the rest of my food away. (Wrong)
The lunch break’s over now, so I threw the rest of my food away. (Correct)

Example 45:

Did you put the bobby traps in the temple to stop people from stealing it? (Wrong)
Did you put the booby traps in the temple to stop people from stealing it? (Correct)

Example 46:

It took me two second to make the adjustment. (Wrong)
It took me two seconds to make the adjustment. (Correct)
It took me two minute to make the adjustment. (Wrong)
It took me two minutes to make the adjustment. (Correct)

Example 47:

The alarm went off at two o’ clock in the morning. (Wrong)
The alarm went off at two o’clock in the morning. (Correct)

Example 48:

People are paying more taxes now, but our fortress are less defensive against rebels. (Wrong)
People are paying more taxes now, but our fortress is less defensive against rebels. (Correct)
People are paying more taxes now, but our fortresses are less defensive against rebels. (Correct)

Example 49:

The couple are distantly related by blood. (Wrong)
The couple is distantly related by blood. (Correct)

Example 50:

This particular group follow Christianity. (Wrong)
This particular group follows Christianity. (Correct)

LanguageTool Doesn’t See Error

I caught these two using Microsoft Word:

Example 51:

However, the risk of turning heretic were great and the church still strong. (Original)
However, the risk of turning heretic was great and the church still strong. (Correct)
However, the risks of turning heretic were great and the church still strong. (Correct)

Example 52:

Your device are a failure. (Wrong)
Your device is a failure. (Correct)
Your devices are a failure. (Correct)

Wrong (en)

Our people is being encouraged to find any way to avoid the tax. (Wrong)
Our people be being encouraged to find any way to avoid the tax. (Recommended)
Our people are being encouraged to find any way to avoid the tax. (Correct)

Wrong (en-GB)

It’s one of the few places to have a harbor on this coast. (Wrong)
It’s one of the few places to have a Harbor on this coast. (Recommended)
It’s one of the few places to have a harbour on this coast. (Correct)

4

Nitpick: Example 45 could also be corrected through capitalization, making it a trap for either a British cop or someone by that name.

5

I have just fixed the following errors:

1 Like
6

#38 could also be corrected as “I was in the last few throws of my (professional) career.” when it refers to, for example, a sport where throwing something is important, like Darts. (It could even indicate that his career ended due to becoming, for example, a family-man instead of deteriorating skill as implied with “throes”)

7

Good nitpick. Probably more/better examples of “throes” would also need to be gathered.

Fantastic!

Another good catch. I grabbed a few example sentences of “throes” off the internet as supplements after I found one in my book. That word could probably use more/better examples. I’ve only ever really come across it as “death throes”.

I found a handful more examples.

Example 53:

You will do whatever I tell you too or face the consequences. (Wrong)
You will do whatever I tell you to or face the consequences. (Correct)

Example 54:

I was so stunned by the spectacle, I was at a lost of words. (Wrong)
I was so stunned by the spectacle, I was at a loss of words. (Correct)

Example 55:

I haven’t done any empirical analysis yet, but I am thinking “the later” at the very beginning or very end of a sentence is most likely “the latter”. Probably would bring many false positives though.

The later was to be expected. (Wrong)
The latter was to be expected. (Correct)

The magic ball was probably hidden under the left or the right hat, I chose the later.
The magic ball was probably hidden under the left or the right hat, I chose the latter.

Example 56:

I am of to the kitchen to prepare the meals. (Wrong)
I am off to the kitchen to prepare the meals. (Correct)

Example 57:

I will not give in to the president’s idol threats. (Wrong)
I will not give in to the president’s idle threats. (Correct)

Example 58:

After the promotion, I received the lions share of the benefits. (Wrong)
After the promotion, I received the lion’s share of the benefits. (Correct)

Example 59:

The crowd got pleasure out my reaction. (Wrong)
The crowd got pleasure out of my reaction. (Correct)

Example 60:

I and going to invite you to the party. (Wrong)
I am going to invite you to the party. (Correct)

Example 61:

The king wanted you to relinquish power and you desire for me. (Wrong)
The king wanted you to relinquish power and your desire for me. (Correct)

LanguageTool Wrong Recommendations:

I can have it ready in thirty minutes. (Correct)
I can have it readies in thirty minutes. (Recommended Wrong)

Where did this confidence appear from all of sudden? (Wrong)
Where did this confidence appear from all of the sudden? (Recommended Wrong [a very informal and colloquial usage])
Where did this confidence appear from all of a sudden? (Correct)

I failed him and he deserved better. (Correct)
I failed him and he deserved to better. (Recommended Wrong)
I failed him and he deserved to well. (Recommended Wrong)

I felt Joey stop for a moment, then he continued. (Correct)
I felt Joey stops for a moment, then he continued. (Recommended Wrong)
I felt Joey stopped for a moment, then he continued. (Recommended Wrong)

False Positive

“rollercoaster” is a perfectly valid word (“roller-coaster” + “roller coaster”):

I felt like I was on the peak of a rollercoaster. (Correct)
I felt like I was on the peak of a roller-coaster. (Recommended Correct)
I felt like I was on the peak of a roller coaster. (Recommended Correct)

“placemat” is a perfectly valid word (“place-mat” + “place mat”):

She took the plates to the table and put them on the placemat. (Correct)
She took the plates to the table and put them on the placeman. (Recommended Wrong)
She took the plates to the table and put them on the place mat. (Recommended Correct)

“homemade” is a perfectly valid word (“home-made” + “home made”):

I made some homemade blueberry pie. (Correct)
I made some home-made blueberry pie. (Recommended Correct)
I made some home made blueberry pie. (Recommended Correct)

8

There are quite some examples of ‘throes’ in my English text collection, mostly ‘throes of’, but some ‘death throes’ and only a few others.
Interested?

9

I have fixed (no errors for):

According to Roller-coaster Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster only roller-coaster and roller coaster are correct.

I could not find “placemat” at Oxford Languages | The Home of Language Data or Place mat Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster .

Same for homemade.

10

I must admit, I’ve only ever seen the non-hyphen forms.

You could also look at the Google ngram data for all three:

(Forgive the formatting, I can only “add two URLs” since I’m a new user)

Google ngram for “rollercoaster” “roller-coaster” “roller coaster”:

In the case of these two, the non-hyphenated form blows other variants out of the water:

Google ngram for “placemat” “place-mat” “place mat”

Google ngram for “homemade” “home-made” “home made”

Strange, I see “homemade” when I look at M-W’s site.

11

I have fixed the following problems:

Sorry, my mistake! I wanted to write that i do not understand the problem here. Languagetool accepts “homemade”, “home-made”, and “home made” in AmE. In BrE, only “home-made” and “home made” are accepted which seems to be correct according to Oxford Languages | The Home of Language Data

12

Fixed: Joey had black and white stripped pants. (Wrong)

13

just a minor question: are we talking “black-and-white striped pants” or “both black and white striped pants”?

14

Of course! The more example sentences the better! :slight_smile:

Hmmm… If you look at Google’s ngram data though, it shows “homemade” almost as high as “home-made”:

Google British English ngram “homemade” vs. “home-made” vs. “home made”

Both are used much more often than “home made”.

I suspect the hyphen will be officially gone soon. Could definitely be something to contact Oxford Dictionaries to ask about! :slight_smile:

I took it to mean 1 pants like a zebra: 1 Black+White stripes.

Not 2 separate pants: 1 black stripes + 1 white stripes.

Example 62:

Get out of my site, you look filthy! (Wrong)
Get out of my sight, you look filthy! (Correct)

(Although you COULD be talking about a “website”. But I think “site” ↔ “sight” is a very common typo. Probably better example sentences could be used.)

Example 63:

My mom kissed my cut to sooth the pain. (Wrong)
My mom kissed my cut to soothe the pain. (Correct)

Example 64:

I wondered what she was going to make we do in front of all these people. (Wrong)
I wondered what she was going to make me do in front of all these people. (Correct)
I wondered what she was going to make us do in front of all these people. (Correct)

Example 65:

Our people have a long tradition of fight against the storms. (Wrong)
Our people have a long tradition of fighting against the storms. (Correct)

Example 66:

The catapult destroyed all the troops in one fail swoop. (Wrong)
The catapult destroyed all the troops in one fell swoop. (Correct)

This “one fell swoop” article on Grammarist has a few other example sentences. I just substituted the “fail” typo instead of “fell”:

  • The board could have listened patiently, collected its thoughts and forcefully addressed that hyperbolic message in one fail swoop.
  • The only winner was of course French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who achieved his dual agenda in one fail swoop.
  • Waiting at the checkout may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but it’s a way to get your shopping sorted in one fail swoop.
15

nitpick: If it’s a case of friendly fire it can be read as:
The catapult destroyed all of its own troops in one (epic) failure of a swoop.

16

It could… it could…

A hawk could also swoop in and miss the little chicks in one fail(ing) swoop. :stuck_out_tongue:

17

You can download the selection here:
www.taaltik.nl/temp/throes.txt
It is about 2 Mb of texts in the format : date/time, site, text, separated by |

Have fun.

18

Fixed: