Phrases that you are using incorrectly...

[CupcakeKelly]

I'm shocked to see that literally vs. figuratively aren't on there. That is one that drives me nutty!

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm shocked to see that literally vs. figuratively aren't on there. That is one that drives me nutty!

I think that's just because more people can say literally than figuratively. That's a bit of a tongue tie.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Here's the whole article;


5 Common Phrases That You’re Saying Wrong
July 10 by Dominique Jackson in Communication

Being a freelance writer, I often find myself messing up common phrases. When I’m unsure, I do a quick Google search to make sure that what I’m writing is actually what I’m trying to say. This inspired me to come up with a list of common phrases that people frequently get wrong. Some of them aren’t completely our fault because the incorrect way of saying them has actually become the “norm”. But we’re still wrong.

Here’s my list of common phrases that you might be saying incorrectly. Don’t be embarrassed if you notice you use the incorrect phrase; we all do it.

The phrases on the left are incorrect, the ones on the right are correct.

1: Nip it in the butt vs. Nip it in the bud

Nipping something in the bud means that you’re putting an end to it before it has a chance to grow or start. Nipping something in the butt means you’re biting its behind.

2: I could care less vs. I couldn’t care less

Saying that you could care less about a topic implies that you do care about it at least a little. What you usually mean is that you don’t care about the topic at all, hence “I couldn’t care less”.

3: One in the same vs.One and the same

When you really sit and think about it, “one in the same” doesn’t mean anything at all. The correct phrase “one and the same” means that two things are the same.

4: You’ve got another thing coming vs. You’ve got another think coming

This is one of those phrases where the incorrect usage actually does make sense and has become its own phrase. But it’s still technically wrong. In fact, most people don’t even know the correct phrase unless they look it up (I sure didn’t). The correct version really only makes sense if you use the entire sentence “if that’s what you think, you’ve got another think coming.”

5: Each one worse than the next vs. Each one worse than the last

Unless you can foresee the future, “each one worse than the next” doesn’t make sense.The problem with this phrase is that it isn’t logical. For example, you can’t compare two bicycles until you’ve tested them both. So logically, you would compare the current bicycle to the last bike you tested.

6: On accident vs. By accident

Sometimes I feel very sorry for people attempting to learn English. With phrases like this, it must be awful. You can do something on purpose, but not on accident. Prepositions are a killer.

7: Statue of limitations vs. Statute of limitations

Whenever I think of these two phrases, I get reminded of one of the best Seinfeld episodes ever.

8: For all intensive purposes vs. For all intents and purposes

You may feel very strongly and intense about your purpose, but that doesn’t make the phrase correct. Another common incorrect use of the phrase is switching the words “for” and “with”. The correct phrase means that you are covering all possibilities and circumstances.

9: He did good vs. He did well

The phrases good and well get interchanged so much that some people think they are actually interchangeable words. They’re not. If you’re ever confused about which to use, here’s a tip: Use “well” as an adverb (words used to describe verbs) and “good” as an adjective (words used to describe nouns). For example:

The dog runs well
He is a good dog

10: Extract revenge vs. Exact revenge

When you extract something, you’re taking it out of something else. When you exact onto something, you’re dishing it out. Therefore, extracting revenge on someone would mean you’re taking out that person’s revenge. Exacting revenge onto them means that you’re taking your revenge out on them.

11: Old timer’s disease vs. Alzheimer’s Disease

This one is just kind of silly. It’s really a mistake that we make when we’re younger. As we get older and actually learn about what Alzheimer’s Disease is, we have the sense to say the word correctly.

12: I’m giving you leadway vs. I’m giving you leeway

Leadway actually isn’t even a word. Leeway means extra space and freedom.

13: Aks vs. Ask

You don’t aks/axe for things. You ask for them. I’m now sure when the “s” and “k” got switched but it happens all the time when people talk.

14: What’s your guyses opinion? vs. What’s your opinion, guys?

I’ll leave this explanation to the Urban Dictionary:

completely and utterly useless phrase people up north use in the place of ya’ll. it means you guys, but they just have to be stupid and (besides not using the much simpler phrase ya’ll) add -es to the phrase “you guys”. As I have said many times with great wisdomosity, ya’ll is much simplier to say.

15: Expresso vs. Espresso

I’m sure those of you who work at coffee shops have had people order an expresso before. There’s no such drink. The drink you’re trying to order is an espresso.

16: Momento vs. Memento

Momento isn’t a word. A memento is a keepsake.

17: Irregardless vs. Regardless

Regardless means without regard. Throwing on “IR” to the beginning makes the word a double negative. I think we can all agree that “without without regard” doesn’t make sense.

18: Sorta vs. Sort of

The phrase “sort of” was too long so someone decided to shorten it up and turn it into sorta. I think its just sorta lazy.

19: Conversating vs. Conversing

Drop the “on” and add an “ng” and you have yourself a new verb right? Wrong. Conversating is an unofficial word that a lot of people use in place of the correct term, conversing.

20: Scotch free and Scott free vs. Scot free

I’ve seen so many explanations of the origins of the phrase “Scot free” that I really don’t know where it came from. But what I do know is that Scotch free and Scott free are incorrect.

21: I made a complete 360 degree change in my life vs. I made a complete 180 degree change in my life

People say they’ve made a complete 360 degree change in their life to imply that they’ve completely changed from the way they used to be. However, going 360 degrees means that you’ve returned to the exact same place you started. Which would mean you didn’t change at all. A 180 degree change would mean that you are the complete opposite which is what most people are trying to say.

22: Curl up in the feeble position vs. Curl up in the fetal position

Feeble means weak and frail. So in a way, curling up in a feeble position isn’t too far off. However, the actual fetal position that people are referring to is the curled up position that fetuses use while in the womb.

23: Phase vs. Faze

The word “phase” is usually used when talking about periods of time or stages. For instance, “Bob’s interest in the iPhone 5 was just a phase.” However, phase is often mistakenly used in place of the word faze, which means to disrupt. Here’s a paragraph from an article that shows the common mistake.

EAT 5:53: Uganda 2-1 Angola. Five minutes of added time, can the Cranes hang on? Cranes coach Micho Sedojevic unphased, but still urges the boys to hang on. Cranes piling the pressure

24: Hone in vs. Home in

The word hone means to sharpen or improve somehow. For example, you can hone your speaking skills. To home in on something means to get closer to it. “We’re homing in on a cure for cancer”.

25: Brother in laws vs. Brothers in law

If your wife or husband has several siblings, they’re called your “brothers/sisters in law”. I’m about to get a little grammar nerdy with my explanation so get ready. The general rule of thumb for making a compound noun plural is to add a “s” to the noun that there’s more of. In our case, the words brother and law are both nouns. Since the word you’re pluralizing is brother, you add an “s” to it, not law.

I do not see it is a MOOT POINT not It is a MUTE POINT. MY friend says MUTE all the time and when I say Moot I think SHE thinks I am saying it wrong which drives me CRAZY! Some day I will tell her.

 

[EMom]

General consensus. Consensus means a general agreement. So general consensus means a general general agreement.

Weary/wary. One is tired, the other is cautious.

Prolly. Don't get me started.

Mute point. See "Joey" on Friends.

Supposably. Again, see "Joey" on Friends.

Literally/figuratively. No explanation needed.

Majorly. I think this is an attempt to use the term "major league."

People who can't spell "y'all."

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

General consensus. Consensus means a general agreement. So general consensus means a general general agreement.

Weary/wary. One is tired, the other is cautious.

Prolly. Don't get me started.

Mute point. See "Joey" on Friends.

Supposably. Again, see "Joey" on Friends.

Literally/figuratively. No explanation needed.

Majorly. I think this is an attempt to use the term "major league."

People who can't spell "y'all."

LOL we must be on the same wave length! PROLLY honestly I could kill when I hear that. THe kids in my class room say MINES instead of mine. DRIVES ME NUTS!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I'm shocked to see that literally vs. figuratively aren't on there. That is one that drives me nutty!

That would be the one that drives me the craziest!

I do not see it is a MOOT POINT not It is a MUTE POINT. MY friend says MUTE all the time and when I say Moot I think SHE thinks I am saying it wrong which drives me CRAZY! Some day I will tell her.

There was a HUGE argument on Cruise Critic about that a few weeks ago One person used "mute point" Someone else (very nicely actually and even said they felt like jerk being grammar police) pointed out it should be moot and the OP went nutso and brought in all kinds of "proof" that it is "mute"--which brought back many people showing how wrong he was. It went on and on for several pages--kind of amusing actually

 

[Shagley]

I "seen" that movie last night

I "seen" her in the grocery store

I "seen" that you called, so I am returning your call.

No you didn't "seen" it, you "saw" it. UUUUGGGGHHHH! I HATE it when people use "seen" when the correct word they should use is "saw". I work in an office where about half of the people do this. The worst part is that they call clients and even though they are very knowledgeable and capable, they sound poorly educated because of their inappropriate use of the word "seen". I am shocked by how many people on the DIS and in the real world do this. It grates on my nerves (can you tell ?)

 

[CT Yankee]

Sympathy and empathy. Back in my high school days, I learned that empathy was defined as a feeling of sympathy that arose out of a shared experience. Sympathy meant you just felt sorry for someone, but empathy meant you understood what that person was going through because you had gone through the same or similar thing. For example, "I can empathize with your anxiety over the SAT exam because I just took it last week." Nowadays, it seems the definition of empathy has changed to essentially mean sympathy on steroids, e.g., "I really, really feel sorry for you." This misuse bothered me so much that I actually looked up the definition of empathy and it appears it has changed to basically mean super-duper sympathy.

Also I can't stand hearing people poo-poo circumstantial evidence in a trial. It seems people equate "circumstantial" to "coincidental." Not to get too legal-geeky on everyone, but pretty much everything short of a witness on the stand testifying that he saw the defendant commit the crime is circumstantial evidence (that's really oversimplifying it but that's the general gist of it). Something is called circumstantial evidence because it is tied to the circumstances of the crime, so things like the defendant's fingerprints on the murder weapon, or DNA found at the crime scene would be circumstantial evidence.

Ok that's the end of my rant.

 

[ashley0139]

The only one I didn't know was "You've got another thing/think coming." I've never heard anyone say think.

There are three that really, really bug me.

"Her and her husband are trying to have a baby." No, SHE and her husband are trying to have a baby. Even if it's in the second part of the sentence, it's still "she." She is the subject.

"I could of gone to the game, but I went to sleep instead." COULD HAVE.

"I wish I was a fairy." I wish I WERE a fairy. Subjunctive people.

I'm a bit of a grammar freak.

 

[MrsPete]

I'd be happy if people would just quit using the fictional word alot. A lot, a vague, weak term is bad enough, but alot is just stupid.

 

[Janepod]

There was a long discussion about THING vs THINK on Jezebel a while back and I was surprised by how many women had always said it wrong, unknowingly.

(The discussion is in the comments.)

http://jezebel.com/5217118/comic-co...dy-vs-kathy-griffin?comment=12182589#comments

 

[CupcakeKelly]

There was a long discussion about THING vs THINK on Jezebel a while back and I was surprised by how many women had always said it wrong, unknowingly.

(The discussion is in the comments.)

http://jezebel.com/5217118/comic-co...dy-vs-kathy-griffin?comment=12182589#comments

I blame Judas Priest for this one. I've had that song in my head since I opened the article!

 

[ChristineNic]

Other than literally/figuratively, the two that drive me batty are lose/loose and choose/chose.

If you lose it; you need to find it. If it's loose, tighten it.

Choose rhymes with lose. Chose rhymes with toes.

 

[Jessica14]

I remembered another one that drives me crazy (although DH says it's not a drive, it's a putt!). A friends of mine says "supposably" for "supposedly."

Queen Colleen

I know a very well educated woman that always uses that! She also says irregardless. When I was in 10th grade, I had a teacher who said "irregardless-no such word- of the outcome..." That's how I learned about that one. I can't deal with axe for ask. My other big one is seen for saw as in "I seen it go by." instead of "I saw it go by." Again well educated adults. I don't think I'm a grammar snob, but it does irk me when I hear those things. I only ever correct my kids.

Oh, and one more. In writing, you really shouldn't start a senescence with a conjunction like and or but. However, I see it all the time in children's literature. It's then a whole explanation on why a professional author can do that but why a beginning writer shouldn't.

 

[Janepod]

Oh, and one more. In writing, you really shouldn't start a senescence with a conjunction like and or but. However, I see it all the time in children's literature. It's then a whole explanation on why a professional author can do that but why a beginning writer shouldn't.

Damn you Autocorrect jokes will never get old.

 

[NotUrsula]

Top of the list for me is jealous vs. envious:

Jealous means that you do not want to share what you have. (see "jealous husband" for the correct use of the term)

Envious means that you wish that you had what someone else has.


Another one that drives me crazy is utilize. Where did this come from, and what does it have that "use" does not?

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I say "sorta." Also "youse guys" and "Wuzee" instead of "Was he." "Dawg." I am from South Philadelphia. I can speak correctly when it's called for, but slip into my 'dialect' around family and friends from the old neighborhood.

 

[JessicaR]

I say "sorta." Also "youse guys" and "Wuzee" instead of "Was he." "Dawg." I am from South Philadelphia. I can speak correctly when it's called for, but slip into my 'dialect' around family and friends from the old neighborhood.

Guilty here too especially - sorta kinda.

 

[Jennasis]

My sister is guilty of this epic phrase...ALMOST LITERALLY. As in, "We were laughing so hard I almost literally DIED."

 

[ashley0139]

I also hate "Where are you at?" SO WRONG. There is absolutely no reason to add the "at" at the end of that sentence. "Where are you?" is correct, and also uses fewer words!

Speaking of fewer/less, that one really bugs me too.