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Common mistake knew (new)

Common Mistake: Knew vs. New

One of the most common mistakes in the English language is confusing the words "knew" and "new." Despite their similar pronunciation, these two words have completely different meanings and usage. Let's dive into the correct usage of each word and how to avoid mixing them up.

1. Knew

"Knew" is the past tense of the verb "know." It is used to indicate that you had information or understanding about something in the past. Here are a few examples:

  • I knew that she was coming to the party.
  • We knew the answer to the question.
  • She knew all about their secret plan.

2. New

"New" is an adjective that describes something that hasn't existed or been seen before or is recently made, discovered, or learned. It refers to something that is not old or familiar. Here are a few examples:

  • I bought a new car yesterday.
  • This is a brand new invention.
  • She just moved into a new house.

It's important to remember that "knew" and "new" are not interchangeable. Using the wrong word can lead to confusion and misunderstandings in your writing. Double-check your sentence to ensure you are using the correct word based on its intended meaning.

Linguix grammar checker: To avoid this mistake and many others, you can use Linguix grammar checker. It is an excellent tool for catching errors and improving your English writing. With its help, you can easily identify and correct mistakes like confusing "knew" and "new" with just a click.

knew (new) mistake examples

  • Correct:
    The artistic community knew his name.
  • Correct:
    If I only knew how.
  • Incorrect:
    This is very knew to me.

    Correct:
    This is very new to me.

  • Correct:
    They just knew it was fine.
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