Common_Errors_in_English_usage

US from Hawaii.
POPULACE/POPULOUS
The population of a country may be referred to as its populace, but a
crowded country is populous.
PORE/POUR
When used as a verb, "pore" has the unusual sense of "scrutinize," as in
"She pored over her receipts." If it's coffee or rain, the stuff pours.
POSSESSED OF/POSSESSED BY/POSSESSED WITH
If you own a yacht, you're possessed of it. If a demon takes over your
body, you're possessed by it. If that which possesses you is more
metaphorical, like an executive determined to get ahead, he or she can
be possessed by or with the desire to win.
PRACTICE/PRACTISE
In the United Kingdom, "practice" is the noun, "practise" the verb; but
in the US the spelling "practice" is commonly used for both, though
the distinction is sometimes observed. "Practise" as a noun is, however,
always wrong in both places: a doctor always has a "practice," never a
"practise."
PRACTICLE/PRACTICAL
Some words end in "­icle" and others in "­ical" without the result being
any difference in pronunciation. But when you want somebody really
practical, call on good old AL.
PRAY/PREY
If you want a miracle, pray to God. If you're a criminal, you prey on
your victims. Incidentally, it's "praying mantis," not "preying mantis."
The insect holds its forefeet in a position suggesting prayer.
PRECEDE/PROCEED
"Precede" means "to go before." "Proceed" means to go on. Let your
companion precede you through the door, then proceed to follow her.
Interestingly, the second E is missing in "procedure."
PRECEDENCE/PRECEDENTS
Although these words sound the same, they work differently. The pop star
is given precedence over the factory worker at the entrance to the dance
club. "Precedents" is just the plural of "precedent": "If we let the
kids adopt that rattlesnake as a pet and agree to let them take it for a
walk in Death Valley, we'll be setting some bad precedents."
PRECIPITATE/PRECIPITOUS