I saw this in a message about a reorganization.
Problem:
One does not “fulfill” a role.
Explanation:
The verb “fulfill” means to bring into realization.
What the message writer meant to say was that he had asked his team members to perform the duties of new roles (that he described later in the message).
One meaning of the verb “fill” is to perform the duties of.
This leads us to the solution.
Solution:
“I have asked my team members to fill the following roles.”
I have posted to this blog a few times about words that start with the “re-” prefix.
Here are some examples:
A common English blunder these days is to add “back” after any of the “re-” verbs.
The reason that it’s a blunder is that the “re-” prefix in these verbs means back.
The other meaning of the “re-” prefix is again or anew.
Unless you know that you are dealing with an again or anew instance, it is safest to avoid putting “back” after a “re-” verb.
I heard this on a radio program today.
Problem:
The speaker used the wrong pronoun.
Explanation:
The pronoun “myself” can be used properly in two ways:
Unfortunately, it is becoming an increasingly common English blunder to put “myself” where it does not belong.
Specifically, “myself” is used improperly — in place of the personal pronouns “I” and “me” — in three ways:
Misuse of “myself” has become so common that I hear it almost every day now. These days, even supposedly educated U.S. presidential hopefuls such as Barack Obama are using “myself” where it does not belong.
The solution to the problematic phrase heard on the radio comes from using (instead of “myself”) the pronoun that means something that belongs to me.
Solution:
“… a long-time friend of mine.”