Most everyone knows a malapropism when they see it, even if they don\u2019t know it\u2019s called a malapropism. Here are some malapropisms (followed by the correct form):<\/p>\n
Besides these obvious errors there are not-so-obvious misuses that occur all too often. Subtle word misuse passes unnoticed even in well-educated people\u2019s conversations, in office meetings, on TV news. One commonly misused word is \u201cmisnomer,\u201d e.g., incorrect usage: \u201cThinking economic benefits will trickle down is a misnomer.\u201d Misnomer does not mean a misapprehension, or a wrong conclusion. Misnomer means wrongly named or inappropriately named, e.g., correct usage: \u201cCalling the US a democracy is a misnomer, it\u2019s actually a republic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another example is \u201cliterally,\u201d e.g., incorrect: \u201cThe song\u2019s remake made the original artist literally roll over in his grave.\u201d This increasingly common abuse of literally is literally draining the impact of the word\u2019s proper usage.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the popular misuse of \u201cdisinterested,\u201d e.g., incorrect: \u201cLet\u2019s all be attentive in this meeting, I don\u2019t want to see any disinterested looks.\u201d Disinterested, of course, means without bias, as in, \u201cWe\u2019ll bring in a disinterested party to help resolve the disagreement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another unfortunate trend is to use refute to mean deny or argue against, e.g., incorrect: \u201cShe refuted allegations of misconduct by pointing to her many years of service and self sacrifice.\u201d Refute, remember, means to demonstrate logical necessity or produce evidence that disproves an allegation or theory. Denial and counterargument do not constitute refutation.<\/p>\n
Anyone would be averse to false accusations; unfortunately, people nowadays are too often \u201cadverse to false accusations.\u201d The word \u201cadverse\u201d is often used as a wrong substitute for \u201caverse.\u201d Used correctly, \u201cI am averse to leaving jobs unfinished, and unfinished jobs have an adverse effect on my state of mind, which might affect people around me (bonus correct usage of effect\/affect).<\/p>\n
I call these \u201cword approximations\u201d and I\u2019m getting used to hearing them, which is sad. If you would like to be part of the solution, look up any word you are not absolutely sure you\u2019re using correctly. Flout the sloppy usage trends and flaunt your word awareness. I would go even further and recommend choosing the best word, not just a not-wrong word. Some examples: More physical distance is farther instead of further, as in farther down the road. The US comprises fifty states, instead of \u201ccomprised of\u201d fifty states. I ensure high quality, I insure my car, and I assure my friend that things will work out OK.<\/p>\n
My wallet contains less money than yesterday, but it doesn\u2019t contain less dollar bills, it contains fewer dollar bills. I chose the alternate plan and was glad I had alternatives. Don\u2019t call bad treatment maltreatment until the mistreatment gets very bad. One\u2019s culture does not inculcate people with its values, it inculcates values into people. But it might indoctrinate people with its values.<\/p>\n
A lot of words with different connotations are often used interchangeably. But that depletes meaning in life as well as the meaning of words. Connotations expressed accurately color conversation, speeches, arguments, and life with uplifting poignancy. Hearing the right word or the right phrase for the occasion improves meaning and happiness for everyone. You can contribute to the improvement of the human condition by being the person uttering the right word and the right phrase.<\/p>\n
Getting back to the lighter side of word-fail, if you think malapropisms are entertaining, you might also enjoy searching the Internet for \u201cmondegreens\u201d and \u201ceggcorns.\u201d If you search on the phrase \u201cword usage\u201d you\u2019ll also find a lot of sites eager to help you get it right. Happy word hunting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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