8 Commonly Misused Words

[Julieanne]

People stray from the dictionary definition of words all the time. Myself included! Misusing words doesn’t say much about our intelligence, though! More likely, what these misused words exemplify is how language evolves and adapts over time.
Peruse
How it’s commonly used: casually read, skim over.
What it actually means: to read thoroughly.
The dictionary definition of peruse is almost the opposite of common usage. Well, that’s ironic! (Or is it?! More on irony later…) You don’t peruse a magazine at the beach, salon or doctor’s office. Rather, to peruse is to carefully consider a piece of writing.


Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-commonly-misunderstod-words-slideshow.html#ixzz1jtUUQ5zz

[mellowsong]

Interesting read. I think I can honestly say I don't misuse any of those words. I was a little surprised that common usage of "irony" was odd coincidence. Never thought of it that way.

[Islander]

"Unique" is an excellent example of why I get in a swivet about language. "Unique," which (literally) means "one of a kind," is now often used to describe something that's merely unusual. Makes it hard to interpret what is meant. And don't get me started on "begging the question"!

[Maurya]

Some of my pet peeves definitely are included in this list! Swivet, indeed! This also is the reason why my friends hate me...

[Pattypans]

Well, Maurya, with friends like that...

[Aaltrude]

Language evolving perhaps 206

[StephenX]

I will add "awesome". My students tell me I'm awesome (it is flattering). I explain to them that a T Rex is awesome; and Mount Everest is awesome, a blue whale is awesome. I am simply über cool

[Julieanne]

I especially liked the explanation of 'historic' and 'historical', as I had an argument with a friend last year over the difference between them. This explains it better than the dictionary.

[Katee]

So, what is the opposite of "precocious"? I currently have someone in my life nearer to 50 than 40, who seems to have the mentality of a 16 year old. Sigh.

I'm afraid Aaltrude is right, "Language evolving perhaps" but of course, it isn't comfortable.

I'm not comfortable with the changes of meanings of words, tho i know they happen all the time and have since the start of language. I'm even more uncomfortable, however, with folks who don't know the difference in similar words. I have seen "waist" and "waste" mixed. I see these kinds of things every day at Facebook.

The 47 going on 16 i mentioned posted this at FB:
I am growing weiry in this thing called life. The finances of a single parent ware on one so over time. Please pray for me. I will get back on top again I know but today is not the day.

I responded:
I guess you are weary and that would wear on me too. Homeschooling would be a drain as well. But she didn't get it. That she homeschools her children drives me nuts, especially when i read letters from them!

banghead

[Katee]

BTW, doesn't anyone at FB (or maybe in my next generation family) know the difference between "your" and "you're"?

[Islander]

BTW, doesn't anyone at FB (or maybe in my next generation family) know the difference between "your" and "you're"?

It's a well-known condition called Internet Grammar Retard Disease. I respond with, "I am disappointment in you're grammer."

[Aaltrude]

BTW, doesn't anyone at FB (or maybe in my next generation family) know the difference between "your" and "you're"?
That sort of mistake annoys me too but I try not to be too judgmental as I know it is possible to make mistakes as typos and FB doesn't let you edit post beyond the first few seconds. I recently typed 'were' instead of 'where' in a post and didn't notice it until another person replied with no possibility of correcting it at that stage other than to make another comment acknowledging the typo.

[Islander]

If you see the error before anyone has replied, you can copy your post, delete it, paste and correct before you hit ENTER. Not as good as an edit button, but it works.

[Katee]

I understand typos - make plenty of them myself especially as i tend to have dyslexia issues. (I'm glad for the little red lines that sometimes point them out.) However, in the cases i'm mentioning, the people continue these mistakes in all posts. They don't know/have not been taught the difference.

[Samurai]

Spanish is spoken in many parts around here, and I have noticed that for some reason, people like to make up spanish words here. For example, the spanish word for truck, is camión. Yet, a lot of people call it trocka. Lunch is almuerzo, and so many people call it, lonche. What in the hell is that? Those words are just made up!


Also, someone please tell me what in the world is irregardless?

[Islander]

Spanish is spoken in many parts around here, and I have noticed that for some reason, people like to make up spanish words here. For example, the spanish word for truck, is camión. Yet, a lot of people call it trocka. Lunch is almuerzo, and so many people call it, lonche. What in the hell is that? Those words are just made up!


Also, someone please tell me what in the world is irregardless?

Irregardless of what you think, irregardless is not a word, just a confusion. However, I wish someone would kill inflammable. Inflammable and flammable mean the same, but a lot of people are under the impression that the former means it won't catch fire!

As for the Spanglish, we here have Frenglish. Whenever two cultures exist side by side geographically, I think those creoles are inevitable. The only one that comes to mind at the moment is patat, Franglais for pomme de terre, but there are lots of others — both English versions and French versions.

[StephenX]

People confuse "less" and "fewer". As in, there were less people here today than yesterday, when they mean fewer people. It you can count it, it is fewer, if you cannot it's less. There was less water in the pail, so fewer people could get a drink. Snort!

[StephenX]

[QUOTE=Samurai;40328]Spanish is spoken in many parts around here, and I have noticed that for some reason, people like to make up spanish words here. For example, the spanish word for truck, is camión. Yet, a lot of people call it trocka. Lunch is almuerzo, and so many people call it, lonche. What in the hell is that? Those words are just made up!

Sam,
Reminds me of trips to Mexico and watching American tourists try to communicate by adding o's to the ends of words and screaming them at the natives. Some get really ticked off at the Mexicans for not understanding. It's the old "if you come here you better speak English, if you want me to come there, you better speak English" ¡Madre de dios! ¡Consiga una pista, turistos!

[highlander]

Most of the typos on the Internet are not accidents. They are the result of ignorance and apathy. Sometimes it's hard for me to figure out what people are trying to say. It reminds me of vanity license plates.