Focuses on the real mistakes students make in the Proficiency exam and shows how to avoid them.

Most often we are judged by our language and misjudged because of the common errors in our language. A person interacting with you for the first time does mind your language and your language does make a favourable or unfavourable impression on the person and it does account for your success or failure in any attempt you make to achieve something. In fact, no great people of the world would have been great if they had not had the language they had. Unlike other books on common errors, the errors in this book have not been categorized into different chapters based on grammar.

This book analyzes the errors most commonly made in spoken and written English and presents them in a systematic, down-to-earth manner. It does not dictate grammar to the reader; rather, it presents the guidelines for English usage currently being observed by the most competent and careful speakers and writers. The most troublesome words and phrases—as well as grammatical terms—are listed alphabetically within 18 subject areas to enable the reader to check quickly on questions of usage. In each case, illustrative examples are given, and the guiding principle is stated for the reader to follow in avoiding the mistake and others similar to it. An extensive index for additional ease of reference helps make this book a handy tool for the modern reader who realizes that mere knowledge is no longer sufficient—that one must be able to express his knowledge clearly, forcefully, and correctly.

Online version of Common Errors in English Usage written by Paul Brians.