Common English usage misconceptions: Difference between revisions

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'''Misconception:''' ''The [[English passive voice|passive voice]] is incorrect.'' It is a misconception that the passive voice is always incorrect in English<ref>[[#Wal04|Walsh 2004]]. pp. 61, 68–69.</ref> and some "writing tutors" believe that the passive voice is to be avoided in all cases.<ref>[[#Pul09|Pullum 2009]].</ref> However, "there are legitimate uses for the passive voice," says Paul Brians.<ref name="Brians 2009. p. 169">[[#Bri09|Brians 2009]]. p. 169.</ref> [[Mignon Fogarty]] also points out that "passive sentences aren't incorrect,"<ref>[[#Fog10a|Fogarty 2010]]. "Active Voice Versus Passive Voice."</ref> and "If you don't know who is responsible for an action, passive voice can be the best choice."<ref>[[#Fog10a|Fogarty 2010]]. "Active Voice Versus Passive Voice."</ref>{{Ref label|D|d|none}} When the active or passive voice can be used without much awkwardness, there are [[disputes in English grammar#Examples|differing opinions]] about which is preferable. [[Bryan A. Garner]] notes, "Many writers talk about passive voice without knowing exactly what it is. In fact, many think that any BE-VERB signals passive voice."<ref>[[#Gar03|Garner 2003]]. p. 592.</ref>

'''Misconception:''' ''"[[Double negative]]" describes an incorrect usage.'' While some people use the term "double negative" only to refer to the [[nonstandard dialect|nonstandard]] use of a second negative to emphasise an already existing negation, the term can also refer to the usage of two negatives in an expression that can be interpreted as either a positive or a neutral statement, which is generally considered standard. For example, one could say "I am not unconvinced of that" to mean that one is convinced but with an emphasis on the absence of skepticism.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/double-negative|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130627233213/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/double-negative|url-status = dead|archive-date = June 27, 2013|website = Lexico|publisher = Oxford|title = double negative}}</ref>

==Usage==

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* {{cite web |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com|title=The Free Dictionary|publisher=Farlex|access-date= 27 September 2012|ref=FreeDictionary}}

* {{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com|title=Dictionary.com|publisher=Dictionary.com LLC|access-date= 27 September 2012|ref=Dictionary.com}}

* {{cite web |url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010516042450/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 16, 2001|title=The Oxford English Dictionary|publisher=Oxford University Press|___location=Oxford|access-date= 27 September 2012|ref=Oxford}}

* {{cite web |url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org|title=Cambridge Dictionaries Online|publisher=Cambridge University Press|___location=Cambridge|access-date= 27 September 2012|ref=Cambridge}}

* {{cite web |url=http://www.yourdictionary.com|title=YourDictionary|publisher=Love To Know Corporation|access-date= 27 September 2012|ref=YourDictionary}}