Common Mistakes : Golden

Golden – Adjective

BAD: It’s a navy blue coat with golden buttons

GOOD: It’s a navy blue coat with gold buttons

BAD: The purse contained six golden coins

GOOD: The purse contained six gold coins

Golden is used in idiomatic expressions such as ‘a golden opportunity’, ‘a golden handshake’, ‘a golden wedding anniversary’, and in the phrase ‘golden hair’ (used mainly in literary styles

To describe something that is made of gold or is the colour of gold, use gold : ‘a gold bracelet’, ‘a black dress with red and gold stripes down the front