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Common mistake oft chance (off chance)

One common mistake in English is using "oft chance" instead of "off chance". The correct phrase is "off chance".

Example:

Incorrect: I hope that I have an oft chance of winning the lottery.

Correct: I hope that I have an off chance of winning the lottery.

Using "off chance" implies that the chance is unlikely or unexpected. On the other hand, "oft chance" is a non-standard phrase that may sound awkward or incorrect to native English speakers.

Misuse of Its and It's

Another common mistake is confusing the usage of "its" and "it's".

Example:

Incorrect: The dog wagged it's tail.

Correct: The dog wagged its tail.

The word "its" is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership or possession, while "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has". It's important to use "its" when the word is referring to something belonging to the object being mentioned. Using "it's" in this context would be grammatically incorrect.

Confusing Their, They're, and There

One of the most common mistakes in English involves the misuse of "their", "they're", and "there".

Example:

Incorrect: They're car is parked over there.

Correct: Their car is parked over there.

Explanation:

The word "their" is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership by multiple people. The word "they're" is a contraction of "they are". Meanwhile, "there" is an adverb indicating a location or a point in a sentence. Making mistakes with these words can lead to confusion and misunderstandings in writing.

(Linguix grammar checker is a powerful tool that can help you identify and correct these common mistakes as you write)

oft chance (off chance) mistake examples

  • Incorrect:
    On the oft chance that you get home by nine, could you turn on the oven?

    Correct:
    On the off chance that you get home by nine, could you turn on the oven?

  • Correct:
    On the off chance you're alive, could you call me?
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