Words that people commonly use incorrectly ...

["Roger"]

... or do they???

[This thread is inspired by another thread currently found in the Lounge, but one in which no specific word usage is being discussed. Respecting the OP, I don't want that thread to be hijacked. She quite understandably does not want the discussion to turn toward "Is X correct or not?" She wants to focus on a different issue. In light of that, I'm starting a new thread where we can discuss the usage of specific words.]

There are a number of words that people regularly misuse. Posters can provide their own examples as they see fit.

One of my little annoyances is that people almost always use the word "insure" when they mean "ensure." "We need take steps to insure that the paper gets the notice in time." Uuumh ... is Llyods of London issuing contracts on when notices reach the newspaper?

One of the things that is interesting about this example is that the misusage is so common that many dictionaries now offer up "ensure" as an alternative meaning for "insure." So, is "insure" (for "ensure") now correct (because it is so commonly used in this alternative way)? At what point should dictionaries give in and accept new (formally mistaken) uses of words?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

"moot" vs "mute" - it's a moot point, not a mute point.

 

[charford]

One of my little annoyances is that people almost always use the word "insure" when they mean "ensure." "We need take steps to insure that the paper gets the notice in time." Uuumh ... is Llyods of London issuing contracts on when notices reach the newspaper?

Roger, that is the one that annoys me too (or is it to or two?). One of the problems with the internet seems to be that people don't take time to edit or spellcheck. They seem to think that as long as it sounds right, it is right. No what I meen?

 

[sstamm]

"moot" vs "mute" - it's a moot point, not a mute point.

I was just about to post that example. That is one of my own personal pet peeves.

Insure and ensure is another fine example. I posted in the other thread about common incorrect usages becoming "alternates." Why not just educate people instead of accepting the wrong usage? Just because it is common does not make it correct.

(Now I am on my very best grammar behavior for fear of making a mistake!)

 

[AwayWeGo]

It's A Moo Point -- You Know, A Cow's Opinion.

That's what Joey (the show's resident doofus) said in some dialogue on the Friends sitcom on TV.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[MILOIOWA]

"ACCEPT" and "EXCEPT"

 

[dlpearson]

"Irregardless" drives me nuts. No such word--it's "regardless".

Also, when people say "anxious" to mean "excited". For example, "we're anxious to see you!" Anxious actually means you're a little nervous and unsettled/stressed about something, but most people use it to mean they're excited about something and can't wait for whatever it is to happen.

David

 

[geekette]

"supposeably" and "flustrated"

ACK!!!

I suppose I'm a bit of a hypocrite as I like to make up words, but usually when I hear these, it's not from people that know they're NOT REAL WORDS!

I look forward to the big football weekend, hearing all kinds of bad grammar and made up words. Almost as good as the commercials.

 

[Nicole D.]

I teach for an online college and I see many. Mind you these are adults looking to improve their situations, but they should have learned these in elementary school.

Effect and Affect
Their and There
Way and Weigh
Plain and Plane

 

[Jestjoan]

I make up words, too, and it drives DH and DDs crazy.

What were those books some years back that had made up words? Our friend's son made up the word "icetration" for not being able to get the ice stuck up in a drinking glass.

Duh, I remembered "Sniglets".

http://bertc.com/sniglets.htm

 

[AKFisher]

"Irregardless" drives me nuts. No such word--it's "regardless".
David

I agree - drives me crazy too. Another pet peeve of mine is substituting "loose" for "lose." I see it all the time!

 

[Diane]

"Very" unique

Unique means one of a kind, being the only one. My pet peeve in this area is hearing "very" unique. That is incorrect.

Diane

 

[jlwquilter]

Muslin vs Muslum

As a child, from a family of seamtresses (which sound MUCH better than from a family of sewers!), I used to make this mistake all the time. It took me years to really understand the joke when my mother always replied "Yes, but what about the Catholics?" Zoom! Right over my head.

To this day, I still watch myself when I say "muslin".

 

[Patri]

jewlery instead of jewelry
at some point in time ('in time' is redundant)
say 'suit' for suite

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

nuckular instead of nuclear

 

[Jestjoan]

I know people who mix up "then" and "than"!

What about "it's" and "its"?

OR the biggie "lie" or "lay"?

 

[regatta333]

Hearing people say "just between you and I" instead of "just between you and me". The examples of the use of the pronoun "I", when it should be "me", are endless.

Then, in instances where "I" is appropriate, they use "me".

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

continuously vs continually. Continuously means uninterrupted. Continually means recurring frequently. My computer is on continuously, and that enables me to continually check for new posts at TUG.

 

[TUGBrian]

I can never remember miss, mrs, or ms as appropriate.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

allusion vs. illusion

climactic vs climatic

appraise vs. apprise

complement vs. compliment

fortuitous vs. fortunate

historic vs. historical

imminent vs. eminent

elicit vs. illicit

 

[tlsbooks]

"all intensive purposes"

 

[CalifasGirl]

conversate

I can't imagine why people use "conversate" instead of converse.

People seem to confuse "loose" with "lose" and "choose" with "chose" in writing all the time.

 

[tlsbooks]

Oh! And the big one. "I did good"

 

[TSchmidt]

How about the use of "myself" instead of "I".

For some reason this one drives me crazy!

 

[Elan]

How about real instead of really as an adverb.