Here is an example of a mistake I’ve found recently in a few different books. Hopefully this will clear up any confusion.

Led means guided. It is the past tense of to lead.

Lead is a type of metal. It rhymes with red.

I’ve found the word lead used many times when the author meant led. Not only is the wrong word being used, but it makes the reader pause to determine if the sentence is in the past or present tense.

This Tuesday Tip is based on an error I found in a book I finished reading today.

Sink: where you wash dirty clothes (or dishes, or hands), to submerge, to descend to a lower level

Sync or Synch: To match up, to coincide, to synchronize

These homophones have very different meanings and uses.

Right means correct, or opposite of left. It can be a noun, adjective, verb or adverb.

     Example: Turn right at the next corner.

The noun rite is a ritual, formal ceremony or religious practice.

     Example: Graduation is a rite of passage

Write is a verb meaning to compose or form letters or words.

     Example: I am going to write a letter.

Everyday (one word) is an adjective meaning ordinary.

     Example: These are my everyday clothes.

Every day (two words) uses the adjective every to modify the noun day.

     Example: I wear clothes every day.

Here’s a quick tip to help: If you’re not sure which to use, replace everyday/every day with each day. If the sentence still makes sense with each day in its place, then you want to use the two-word (every day) form.

This tip is a problem I see quite often. Here’s a quick  way to know which to use, and when.

Who’s:  This is a contraction for who is or who has.

Example: Who’s coming over for dinner?

Whose: This is the possessive case of who or which.

Example: Whose house are we going to for dinner?

Here’s an easy trick: If you were to replace it with who is or who has, would the meaning change? If no, you want who’s. If yes, you want whose.

There is always BIG confusion when it comes to these LITTLE words. Here’s a breakdown for you regarding when and how to use them.

TO: in the direction of, toward

TOO: also, in addition

TWO: a pair, the number after one

Here are three general guidelines to help you know whether you should be using one word, or two.

1. Use onto (one word) to mean “on top of,” or “upon.”

2. Use onto (one word) when you mean you are “informed about something,” or “fully aware of something.”

3. Use on to (two words) when on is part of the verb, such as “logging on to a computer.”

The first difference between suppose and supposed is that suppose is a verb and supposed is an adjective. Now we can begin to understand the differences in meanings. Here are three examples and an explanation of their meanings.

1) I suppose I should go.
2) I am supposed to go.
3) He is the supposed leader.

In the first example, suppose has a meaning similar to think. Suppose generally expresses a belief that lacks certainty or an opinion.

In the second example, supposed means required or obliged.

In the final example, supposed means either mistakenly believed or based on not very strong evidence.

“Could’ve,” “would’ve” and “should’ve” are legitimate verb contractions. When you speak these words, they sound like they end in “of,” but this is just plain wrong. Instead they are the contractions for “could have” “would have” and “should have.”

Today’s Tuesday Tip comes straight from Grammar Girl herself at www.quickanddirtytips.com.

“Then” has an element of time. For example, it can mean “next” or “at that time.”

“Than” conveys a comparison.

Quick and Dirty Tip: Both “than” and “comparison” have the letter “a” in them, and “then” and “time” both have the letter “e.”

Check out the entire post, including some examples, by clicking here:
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/then-versus-than