Grammar post #8

For my grammar post this week I will be highlighting frequently misused words and explain the proper way to use them.
There is a great list in the back of the SMGTW with information on proper use. This web site also has a great list.
I have used information from both for this post and also a few of my personal pet peeves.
My biggest pet peeve when people use the word seen where they should use the word saw. It drives me crazy when my husband comes home and says, "Guess what I seen on the way home from work?"! He didn't seen anything. He saw something. Seen should ALWAYS be preceded by the word have, had, or has. If he came home and said, "Guess what I have seen around town today." maybe I'd cringe a little less often.
The opposite is true for the word saw. Please don't say, "Have you saw the new Batman movie?" No I haven't, but I have seen it.
While researching this subject one thing I found that I didn't know is that when referring to a flag you only say "half-mast" when the flag is on a ship or at a naval station. A flag anywhere else is at "half-staff".
Another misused word that I found interesting is "unique". "This word literally means one of a kind, without equal. 'Unique' should never be modified by 'truly,' 'rather' or 'very.' Something is either unique or it is not." (Tricky words. www.cmu.edu)
The list of common misused words is quite extensive and as we all have problems with different words I recommend you check out the back of our book or the above mentioned web site for words you have trouble with.