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There are some mistakes in writing (and speaking) that will hurt you more than others. Using “ain’t” is an example. No matter how smart you are, when you use “ain’t” in your writing or speech, you might as well don a dunce’s hat and go sit in the corner. Unfair and judgmental as that is, it’s a reality.

Using “off” in certain contexts instead of “from” is another one of those damning errors. Here are a few examples:

• Mary took the big yellow sofa off Uncle Buck.
• She got the goldfish off Aunt Mary.

In each of the preceding sentences, the “off” should be replaced with “from.”

Don’t go overboard with this and start replacing every “off” with “from.” Even in the two sentences we just read, the use of “off” could be correct in certain contexts. For instance …

• Mary took the big yellow sofa off Uncle Buck. (After it fell on him when they were moving it.)
• She got the goldfish off Aunt Mary. (Her aunt had a fish fetish and liked to cover herself with goldfish.)

Excuse the quirky goldfish thing, but sometimes I have to stretch to illustrate my point. In coming posts, you’ll learn how to avoid other mistakes that will make you seem less intelligent that you really are.

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