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Since the English language spread worldwide, many people started believing in several misconceptions revolving around this language. Even native speakers believe in some of these mistakes. Here are 15 common misconceptions about the English language.
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Starting a sentence with a conjunction is bad
Many times, writers are criticized for starting sentences with conjunction words, like ‘but’ or ‘and’. However, the truth is there are no grammatical mistakes when using conjunction words at the start of a sentence. Moreover, it depicts different styles of writing.
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British English is the proper English
Many people, including Britishers, believe that British English is the proper English. However, the reality is that American English has maintained the quality of the real English that they learned from the British immigrants.
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Sentences in paragraphs should be limited
In modern times, there is an illusion about the limitation of using just four to five sentences in a paragraph. This is nothing but a myth. The paragraph is meant to serve the thoughts and opinions about a particular topic. Therefore, one can use as many sentences as they want.
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Use of apostrophe to make a word plural
Many people are still confused about the proper use of apostrophes in the English language. People sometimes prefer using apostrophes to make the word plural; this is considered a wrong practice. One must use the apostrophe to specify possessions.
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English is the most difficult language to learn
Many people consider English a tough language due to its rich vocabulary and grammar. Though it depends on the person’s background and their native language, with rigorous practice and dedication, anyone can be fluent in English.
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Passive voice is wrong
Many scholars and writing tutors believe that the use of passive voice is incorrect and bad for their writing practices. However, this is partially true. English grammar states that if someone is uncertain about the person responsible for some action, then they can use passive voice to address that action.
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Contractions of words are incorrect
In many schools, tutors prohibit the use of contracted words for academic writing. However, since the 17th century, many great writers have used contracted words in their work. Moreover, in many English grammar books, it is advised to use contracted words for better understanding.
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Sentences must not end in a preposition
This rule, which states that sentences must not end with prepositions, is generally taught by teachers. This rule was influenced by the obsession of the 17th-century Latin writers to change the basic principles of the English language.
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English has fixed pronunciation rules
English is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Hence, it is used in different regions all around the world for effective communication. Due to this, people with different dialects pronounce words differently. Therefore, there are no rules for the pronunciation of words.
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Double negations are incorrect
In the English language, double negations are also called litotes. Using double negation indeed causes difficulty in understanding; therefore, many writers avoid using litotes. However, one can use them when one is uncertain about the outcome.
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British English and American English are similar
It is quite clear that both the British and the American English have the same foundation. Therefore, many people believe that both sound similar. However, this is not true because British and American English vary in terms of different pronunciations and spellings for the same words.
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English vocabulary is stagnant
Since the 17th century, the English dictionary has been constantly growing. With technological advancements and various cultural shifts, new words are still getting added regularly. So, it is incorrect to say that English vocabulary has become static.
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‘Caesarean’ word is named after Julius Caesar
Many people believe that the Caesarean section is named after Julius Caesar because he was born via C-section. This is not true, as verified from historical documents. The truth is that Julius’s ancestor was born through a C-section, which gave the family name Caesar.
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Native speakers are fluent in English
This is quite a huge myth regarding the English language. Even though America’s native language is English, many students still face difficulty writing professional essays. This states that no one can master the English language because of its complexities.
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Learning more English words means better communication
Many people believe using complex or lengthy words in sentences enhances their communication. However, this is quite wrong because effective communication requires a good choice of words. Effective communication means stating your thoughts with simple words that are easy to understand.
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