List of English words with frequent misuse
Many words are commonly misused by speakers and writers of
English. This article lists some of the most widely misused words, along with examples of incorrect and correct usage.
- Flout and flaunt are not interchangeable, but one routinely hears people use either when the other is meant. One flouts a rule or law by flagrantly ignoring it. One flaunts something by showing it off.
- Incorrect: If you've got it, flout it.
- Correct: If you've got it, flaunt it.
- Incorrect: He continually flaunted the speed limit.
- Correct: He continually flouted the speed limit.
- It's and its are not interchangeable: use the apostrophe only if the words it is or it has could replace it's in the sentence. (see apostrophe)
- Incorrect: Its good to be the king.
- Correct: It's time to eat!
- Incorrect: The bicycle tire had lost all it's pressure.
- Correct: My cell phone has poor reception because its antenna is broken.
- Correct: It's been nice getting to meet you.
- Literally - is not an emphatic, unless the thing to which it refers is actually true. It is used to disambiguate a possible metaphorical interpretation of a phrase.
- Incorrect: The party literally went with a bang. (No it didn't, unless there was an actual explosion).
- Correct: He literally painted the town red; he was the council painter and decorator.
- Me, Myself and I. Often used carelessly and interchangeably. If you are talking about yourself and another person, whether to use "Me" or "I" causes confusion. The answer is to imagine the sentence without the other person - does it still make sense?
- Incorrect: Me and Jim went into town. This is incorrect because if Jim wasn't there, you wouldn't say "Me went into town". Here you should use I.
- Incorrect: It was clear to Jim and I that the shop was shut. Incorrect because if Jim wasn't there, you wouldn't say "It was clear to I...". Here you should use Me.
- Myself is often abused, particularly when someone is trying to be "extra correct". The result simply makes them sound pompous. It should never be used when talking about yourself and another person.
- Incorrect: As for myself, I prefer the red. You should just use Me here.
- Incorrect: He is an American like myself. Just use I am.
- Correct: I did it myself. I'll take it there myself. I want to enjoy myself.
- Incorrect: He gave the paper to Jim and myself. Just use Me
- Of should not be used in place of have. When spoken quickly, the word "have" often sounds like the word "of", but the two are not interchangeable.
- Incorrect: I should of known that the store would be closed.
- Correct: Susan would have stopped to eat, but she was running late.
- Redundant does not mean useless or unable to perform its function.
- Incorrect: Over-use of antibiotics risks making them redundant.
- Correct: A new pill that will instantly cure any illness has made antibiotics redundant.
- Sight and site. A site is a place, a sight is something seen. The internet may be dazzling to some, but it is not a web-sight!
- Incorrect: I found lots of sights on the internet.
- Correct: You're a sight for sore eyes.
- Correct: I literally founds lots of sights on the internet - I was looking at a tourist site for Rome.
- There, Their and They're all have separate, definite meanings, and are not interchangeable. There refers to the location of something. Their means 'belonging to them'. They're is a contraction of "They are".
- Correct: They're all coming to dinner, we'll meet them there. They have already made their reservations.
- You're - meaning "you are", is never spelt "your," or vice versa. When in doubt, just see whether you can logically expand it to "you are".
- Incorrect: You're mother called this morning.
- Correct: When driving, always wear your seatbelt.
- Incorrect: Your the first person to notice my new haircut today!
- Correct: If you're going out, please be home by ten o'clock.
- Except and accept are not interchangeable. Except means 'apart from', and accept means 'agree with', or 'take in' or 'receive'.
- Correct. We accept all credit cards, except Diners Club.
- Affect v. effect. Affect (verb) means 'to cause something', and effect (noun) means 'the result of'.
Language is a living, changing thing, and on many occasions throughout the evolution of the English language, an incorrect word usage has become popular enough to gain widespread acceptance; however, most scholars agree that the above usages should be discouraged rather than accepted.
See Also
External Links