Common_Errors_in_English_usage

OLD­TIMER'S DISEASE/ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
I've always thought that "old­timer's disease" was a clever if tasteless
pun on "Alzheimer's Disease"; but many people have assured me that this
is a common and quite unintentional error.
Some medical authorities prefer the form "Alzheimer Disease," though
that is seldom used by nonprofessionals.
OLD WISE TALE/OLD WIVES' TALE
An absurd superstition is an "old wives' tale": according to sexist
tradition a story popular among credulous old ladies. It's not an "old
wise tale" or­­even worse­­an "old wives' tail."
ON ACCIDENT/BY ACCIDENT
Although you can do things on purpose, you do them by accident.
ON THE LAMB/ON THE LAM
When a criminal hides out, he's on the lam. He wouldn't get far on a
lamb.
ON TOMORROW/TOMORROW
You can meet on Monday or on the 21st of March, but it's an error to say
"on tomorrow," "on yesterday" or "on today" Just leave "on" out (except,
of course, in phrases like "let's meet later on today" using the phrase
"later on").
ONCE/ONES
"Once" always has to do with time and answers the questions, "how many
times?" or "when?" For instance: "I only played handball once." "Once I
got my boot off, I saw my sock had a hole in it."
In contrast, "ones" have to do with things. In your tool collection, the
ones you should keep handy are the ones you use most.
ONCE AND A WHILE/ONCE IN A WHILE
The expression is "once in a while."
ONE OF THE (SINGULAR)
In phrases like "pistachio is one of the few flavors that appeals to
me," I think you should use the singular form for the verb "appeals"
because its subject is "one," not "flavors." However, note that usage
experts are all over the place on this subject and you're not likely to
get into much trouble by using the plural, and some authorities
absolutely prefer it.
ONE­DIMENSIONAL/TWO­DIMENSIONAL