i'm amused when people misuse words... especially the word "ironic" (thank you alanis). i also find it funny when people say the wrong words all together like "should of" instead of "should have".
i came across a list of words and phrases commonly misused... after reading through it, i was humbled and realized i have no business mocking others' vernacular.
the list....
A.D. -anno domini means in the year of the Lord, so should come before the year: A.D. 2000; B.C. comes after the year: 32 B.C.
accomodate -should be accommodate
acronym -should be used only of initialisms that make pronounceable words, like radar or Nafta, not MRI or CIA
actionable -means that which is subject to legal action or litigation, and use should be restricted to law
aggravate -to worsen or increase in severity; does not mean to annoy or vex
agree -sometimes stripped of necessary prepositions; should be agree on, to or with, etc.
alright -should be all right
an -used before words, initials, etc., that have a vowel sound (regardless of the first letter): an MIA soldier; it is affected to use before historic and other words with a sounded initial h
anchors away -should be anchors aweigh
and/or -an ugly construction; state in some other way in newspaper writing
annoint -spelled with one n: anoint
anytime -not one word; spelled any time
approximate -often used unnecessarily for about to add false gravity to a statement
around -often used by consultants as a universal preposition in the erroneous belief that it sounds intelligent: problems around cost-cutting, questions around personnel issues
as follows -not to be used before colons, as it is unnecessary
as per -used often as an inelegant and lazy introduction: As per your request, …
as to whether -as to should be omitted
baited breath -should be bated
balls of brass -the expression is bulls of brass, or the brazen bulls that guarded the golden fleece
begs the question -the logical fallacy of petitio principii: assuming as the premise the very thing to be proved; does not mean prompts the question, as in Budget talks beg the question of deficits.
blatant -originally meant noisy, obstreperous; also means obviously objectionable; should not be used to mean obvious
calender -should be calendar
catholic -lower-case, means universal, not strict or conservative, the views of the church notwithstanding
caveat -means warning or caution, not exception, reservation or clarification
cheap -the thing bought is cheap, not its price; it is nonsense to say the price was cheap; so with expensive
chomp -the expression is champ at the bit
claim -should be used in the sense lay claim to, rather than as a synonym for argue or state
commentate -should be comment
could care less -should be couldn’s care less as in, nothing is less important
could of -should be could have
crescendo -the crescendo is the rising action in music, not the climax itself
data/media -these are plurals, though perhaps not for long
different than -incorrect; should always be different from
dilemna -should be dilemma; as well for trilemma, polylemma etc.; refers to a unavoidable choice between two unattractive options, not just any decision
disconnect -a verb; the noun is disconnection
due to -should follow a form of be or be attached to a noun; Due to budget constraints, there will be no Christmas party is incorrect; The cancellation was due to weather is correct
e.g. -exempli gratia: for example; used to introduce an example; requires a following comma, not necessary to italicize
et al. -means among others; when reading aloud, is read as among others rather than in Latin; not necessary to italicize
facet -refers to a face of a stone, not just any aspect of anything
feel badly -should be feel bad; linking verbs such as be, seem, smell, appear, feel, etc. take adjectives; an adverb would modify the manner in which you feel, not how you feel
forbid -should be followed by to, not from, in all its forms; forbade is pronounced forbad
forte -the e is silent when used to mean one’s strong point; it is sounded when used in the music sense
(even though i know the correct pronunciation of "forte" i still pronouce it "fortay" so people won't look at me funny)
frequent -robbed of its charm by overuse, and much misused; often illogically used to mean visit as a verb without regard to frequency
fulsome -means offensive through excess; not just a synonym for full or complete
gender -refers to the grammatical classification of a word only; sex is proper for male/female distinctions
graduate -a college takes this action, not a student, so one is graduated from college, one does not graduate college
grow -as a transitive verb, it should be restricted to agriculture: you can grow beets, but cannot grow the economy; however, the economy grew is correct
harass -accenting the first syllable is an affectation that grew out of the Clarence Thomas hearings
however -a sentence should still make sense if it is omitted
hypocrisy -feigning to be other and better than one is; assuming a false appearance or dissimulation of true nature or beliefs; not necessarily contradicting one’s words in one’s actions
i.e. -id est: that is; used to define, not to give an example; requires a following comma, not necessary to italicize
if and when -an ugly construction; usually the and when can be omitted
if I was -should be If I were; in conditional future (subjunctive), use the plural were even for singular nouns
immolate -to destroy or sacrifice, not necessarily by fire; does not mean set fire to
impact -often used as a verb, though it is properly a noun; the verb to use is affect or influence
impeach -to impugn or charge with a misdemeanor; does not mean to remove from office
inflammable -means the same as flammable: able to catch flame
intensive purposes -should be intents and purposes
ironic/irony -does not mean coincidental, counterintuitive, strangely appropriate, unexpected, or poetically just; it is where the literal meaning and the intended meaning are in opposition, as a light form of sarcasm, usually understood by part of the audience and at the expense of the rest; or, a turn of events that is the opposite, and as if in mockery, of what was to be expected
irregardless -no such word; use regardless
judgment -no e
just assume -should be just as soon
just deserts -spelled with one s because it is what is deserved
limpid -transparent, diaphonous; not a fancy synonym for limp
literally -does not mean very; means according to the literal meaning of words, not the figurative; if someone is literally a jackass then he has actually taken the form of donkey
livid -of a blue-leaden color, as if bruised
long-lived -means having a long life, long-lifed; should be pronounced like the adjective live, not the verb
lowest common denominator -a mathematical term, often incorrectly used to denote the worst or most base element: daytime t.v. appeals to the lowest common denominator
medieval -not spelled midevil or any other such way; eval means time or age
metaphysical -does not mean beyond physical, supernatural; speculative inquiry into the first principles of things, including such concepts as being, substance, essence, time, space, cause, identity, etc.
militate -to have weight or effect; usually used with against
millenium -spelled millennium, with two ns
mischievious -should be mischievous; pronounce without the third i,too
momento -should be memento
moot -open to discussion; academic or hypothetical (as in the practice sessions of law students); does not mean obviated by developments or circumstances; a moot point is still debatable, not rendered inconsequential
motivate -transitive, so it must take an object; I finally motivated to go out is a bad way to say I got off my arse; also, does not mean to state the motivation: Motivate your answer is an incorrect way to say Explain the reasoning behind your answer.
much to do -should be much ado about nothing
myself -should not be used to replace I or me; should only be used as a reflexive (action taken upon oneself: I kicked myself.) or intensive (for emphasis: I myself am honest.)
noisome -foul-smelling; harmful or injurious; related to annoy, not noise
nor -must be paired with neither, not in all negative constructions: he was not fat nor tall is incorrect
octupi -incorrect plural; the original Greek would be octopoda or octopodes, but octopuses is best
one in the same -should be one and the same
orientate -should be orient
peruse -to thoroughly examine or read; often misused to mean take a cursory look
plethora -a favorite word of the semiliterate; means undesirable overabundance, not simply a multitude; from the disease plethora, a morbid overabundance of blood
plus -should be limited to its mathematically sense, and not substituted for and or in addition to: it is wrong to say I met my dad plus my mom.
predominately -should be predominantly
reticent -often used too broadly; means quiet, reserved, not reluctant
seperate -should be separate
supposably -should be supposedly
the fact that -should be avoided as a way to cautiously abstract a condition: I hate the fact that she dates someone else. Omit the fact.
they -incorrectly used as a gender-neutral third person singular; avoid this use by rephrasing the sentence
this point in time -redundant; at this point or at this time is sufficient
transpire -to escape from secrecy; to become public: news quickly transpired; should not be used as a fancy alternative to happen or occur
try and -should be try to
upmost -should be utmost
utilize -often replaces use to vainly add gravity to a statement; use use
wet of an appetite -should be whet, meaning to sharpen or make more acute
whether or not -or not should be omitted
zoology -pronounced ZOH-ology, not ZOO-ology
i came across a list of words and phrases commonly misused... after reading through it, i was humbled and realized i have no business mocking others' vernacular.
the list....
A.D. -anno domini means in the year of the Lord, so should come before the year: A.D. 2000; B.C. comes after the year: 32 B.C.
accomodate -should be accommodate
acronym -should be used only of initialisms that make pronounceable words, like radar or Nafta, not MRI or CIA
actionable -means that which is subject to legal action or litigation, and use should be restricted to law
aggravate -to worsen or increase in severity; does not mean to annoy or vex
agree -sometimes stripped of necessary prepositions; should be agree on, to or with, etc.
alright -should be all right
an -used before words, initials, etc., that have a vowel sound (regardless of the first letter): an MIA soldier; it is affected to use before historic and other words with a sounded initial h
anchors away -should be anchors aweigh
and/or -an ugly construction; state in some other way in newspaper writing
annoint -spelled with one n: anoint
anytime -not one word; spelled any time
approximate -often used unnecessarily for about to add false gravity to a statement
around -often used by consultants as a universal preposition in the erroneous belief that it sounds intelligent: problems around cost-cutting, questions around personnel issues
as follows -not to be used before colons, as it is unnecessary
as per -used often as an inelegant and lazy introduction: As per your request, …
as to whether -as to should be omitted
baited breath -should be bated
balls of brass -the expression is bulls of brass, or the brazen bulls that guarded the golden fleece
begs the question -the logical fallacy of petitio principii: assuming as the premise the very thing to be proved; does not mean prompts the question, as in Budget talks beg the question of deficits.
blatant -originally meant noisy, obstreperous; also means obviously objectionable; should not be used to mean obvious
calender -should be calendar
catholic -lower-case, means universal, not strict or conservative, the views of the church notwithstanding
caveat -means warning or caution, not exception, reservation or clarification
cheap -the thing bought is cheap, not its price; it is nonsense to say the price was cheap; so with expensive
chomp -the expression is champ at the bit
claim -should be used in the sense lay claim to, rather than as a synonym for argue or state
commentate -should be comment
could care less -should be couldn’s care less as in, nothing is less important
could of -should be could have
crescendo -the crescendo is the rising action in music, not the climax itself
data/media -these are plurals, though perhaps not for long
different than -incorrect; should always be different from
dilemna -should be dilemma; as well for trilemma, polylemma etc.; refers to a unavoidable choice between two unattractive options, not just any decision
disconnect -a verb; the noun is disconnection
due to -should follow a form of be or be attached to a noun; Due to budget constraints, there will be no Christmas party is incorrect; The cancellation was due to weather is correct
e.g. -exempli gratia: for example; used to introduce an example; requires a following comma, not necessary to italicize
et al. -means among others; when reading aloud, is read as among others rather than in Latin; not necessary to italicize
facet -refers to a face of a stone, not just any aspect of anything
feel badly -should be feel bad; linking verbs such as be, seem, smell, appear, feel, etc. take adjectives; an adverb would modify the manner in which you feel, not how you feel
forbid -should be followed by to, not from, in all its forms; forbade is pronounced forbad
forte -the e is silent when used to mean one’s strong point; it is sounded when used in the music sense
(even though i know the correct pronunciation of "forte" i still pronouce it "fortay" so people won't look at me funny)
frequent -robbed of its charm by overuse, and much misused; often illogically used to mean visit as a verb without regard to frequency
fulsome -means offensive through excess; not just a synonym for full or complete
gender -refers to the grammatical classification of a word only; sex is proper for male/female distinctions
graduate -a college takes this action, not a student, so one is graduated from college, one does not graduate college
grow -as a transitive verb, it should be restricted to agriculture: you can grow beets, but cannot grow the economy; however, the economy grew is correct
harass -accenting the first syllable is an affectation that grew out of the Clarence Thomas hearings
however -a sentence should still make sense if it is omitted
hypocrisy -feigning to be other and better than one is; assuming a false appearance or dissimulation of true nature or beliefs; not necessarily contradicting one’s words in one’s actions
i.e. -id est: that is; used to define, not to give an example; requires a following comma, not necessary to italicize
if and when -an ugly construction; usually the and when can be omitted
if I was -should be If I were; in conditional future (subjunctive), use the plural were even for singular nouns
immolate -to destroy or sacrifice, not necessarily by fire; does not mean set fire to
impact -often used as a verb, though it is properly a noun; the verb to use is affect or influence
impeach -to impugn or charge with a misdemeanor; does not mean to remove from office
inflammable -means the same as flammable: able to catch flame
intensive purposes -should be intents and purposes
ironic/irony -does not mean coincidental, counterintuitive, strangely appropriate, unexpected, or poetically just; it is where the literal meaning and the intended meaning are in opposition, as a light form of sarcasm, usually understood by part of the audience and at the expense of the rest; or, a turn of events that is the opposite, and as if in mockery, of what was to be expected
irregardless -no such word; use regardless
judgment -no e
just assume -should be just as soon
just deserts -spelled with one s because it is what is deserved
limpid -transparent, diaphonous; not a fancy synonym for limp
literally -does not mean very; means according to the literal meaning of words, not the figurative; if someone is literally a jackass then he has actually taken the form of donkey
livid -of a blue-leaden color, as if bruised
long-lived -means having a long life, long-lifed; should be pronounced like the adjective live, not the verb
lowest common denominator -a mathematical term, often incorrectly used to denote the worst or most base element: daytime t.v. appeals to the lowest common denominator
medieval -not spelled midevil or any other such way; eval means time or age
metaphysical -does not mean beyond physical, supernatural; speculative inquiry into the first principles of things, including such concepts as being, substance, essence, time, space, cause, identity, etc.
militate -to have weight or effect; usually used with against
millenium -spelled millennium, with two ns
mischievious -should be mischievous; pronounce without the third i,too
momento -should be memento
moot -open to discussion; academic or hypothetical (as in the practice sessions of law students); does not mean obviated by developments or circumstances; a moot point is still debatable, not rendered inconsequential
motivate -transitive, so it must take an object; I finally motivated to go out is a bad way to say I got off my arse; also, does not mean to state the motivation: Motivate your answer is an incorrect way to say Explain the reasoning behind your answer.
much to do -should be much ado about nothing
myself -should not be used to replace I or me; should only be used as a reflexive (action taken upon oneself: I kicked myself.) or intensive (for emphasis: I myself am honest.)
noisome -foul-smelling; harmful or injurious; related to annoy, not noise
nor -must be paired with neither, not in all negative constructions: he was not fat nor tall is incorrect
octupi -incorrect plural; the original Greek would be octopoda or octopodes, but octopuses is best
one in the same -should be one and the same
orientate -should be orient
peruse -to thoroughly examine or read; often misused to mean take a cursory look
plethora -a favorite word of the semiliterate; means undesirable overabundance, not simply a multitude; from the disease plethora, a morbid overabundance of blood
plus -should be limited to its mathematically sense, and not substituted for and or in addition to: it is wrong to say I met my dad plus my mom.
predominately -should be predominantly
reticent -often used too broadly; means quiet, reserved, not reluctant
seperate -should be separate
supposably -should be supposedly
the fact that -should be avoided as a way to cautiously abstract a condition: I hate the fact that she dates someone else. Omit the fact.
they -incorrectly used as a gender-neutral third person singular; avoid this use by rephrasing the sentence
this point in time -redundant; at this point or at this time is sufficient
transpire -to escape from secrecy; to become public: news quickly transpired; should not be used as a fancy alternative to happen or occur
try and -should be try to
upmost -should be utmost
utilize -often replaces use to vainly add gravity to a statement; use use
wet of an appetite -should be whet, meaning to sharpen or make more acute
whether or not -or not should be omitted
zoology -pronounced ZOH-ology, not ZOO-ology
