As bloggers, reviewers, authors, or email writers, we are crafters of words. English is a wonderful language, with words for every occasion. We do, however, use many incorrectly.
I don’t know if my aversion to improperly used words and phrases is because I went to school eons ago or if we have become slack in our speech, but I cringe when I hear or see words that someone is trying to make mean something they simply don’t.
Below is a partial list of words that are used erroneously, some to the point that because of corrupted usage, they have actually come to take on the improper meaning. I start with my all-time favorite. We hear it all the time, which I reiterate, does not make it mean something it doesn’t.
Decimate
Means: to select by lot and kill every tenth man or to exact a tax of 10 percent
Does not mean: To completely wipe out or annihilate
Explanation:
The traditional definition of decimate is to “kill one in every ten.” In fact, “Decimation” was originally practiced by the Roman Army as a form of punishment. The more commonly accepted, modern definition of decimate involves extensive destruction. It’s important to recognize that neither meaning of decimate allows for the idea of absolute, total destruction.
Myriad
Means: a very large number of things.
To say “She has myriad ideas” is sufficient, whereas “She has a myriad of ideas” is incorrect.
However
If you use however at the beginning of a sentence and don’t insert a comma, however means “in whatever manner,” “to whatever extent,” or “no matter how.” For instance, Winston Churchill said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” When you put a comma after however at the beginning of a sentence, everyone knows it means “nevertheless.” You shouldn’t start a sentence with however when you mean “nevertheless” or “but.”
Hello Giggles helped me out with some, from Ironic to Terrific
Ironic
What you may think it means: a funny coincidence
What it actually means: contrary to what you might expect
Peruse
What you may think it means: to skim or glance over something
What it actually means: to review something carefully/in-depth
Conversate
What you may think it means: to hold a conversation
What it actually means: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
We converse or have a conversation.
Redundant
What you may think it means: repetitive
What it actually means: superfluous, able to be cut out (The British use this word in downsizing situations)
Terrific
What you may think it means: awesome, fantastic
What it actually means: causing terror
Consent
Does not mean: To give one’s enthusiastic permission or agreement
Does mean: To passively agree, even if you have a negative opinion of what you’re agreeing to
Compelled
Does not mean: To voluntarily do something, usually out of a moral or internal impulse
Does mean: To be forced, obligated or pressured into doing something
Disinterested
Does not mean: Uninterested, as in “bored” by the outcome of something
Does mean: Impartial, not influenced by the outcome of something
Instant
Does not mean: Very quickly, with lightning speed
Does mean: A specific point in time.
Irregardless
Does not mean: Regardless
Does mean: Nothing, because it’s not a real word. (My mother, God rest her soul, used to say this all the time.)
Enormity
Does not mean: Enormousness
Does mean: A profoundly evil or immoral act
Chronic
Does not mean: Severe or intense
Does mean: A condition or state that lasts for a protracted period
I.E.
Does not mean: For example
Does mean: In other words
Ultimate
Does not mean: The pinnacle or the best
Does mean: The final entry in a list of items
Fortuitous
Does not mean: As if by luck
Does mean: As if by chance
Literally
Should not be used: To indicate strong emphasis (like the German “doch”) or as a way to comment on something that did not happen in reality but occurred figuratively
Should be used: To indicate that something actually happened
22 Everyday Words You Might Not Realize You’ve Been Using Incorrectly
Comprise
Incorrect Usage: My daughter’s play was comprised of three acts.
Correct Usage: My daughter’s play comprised three acts.
Explanation:
The meaning of comprise is, “to consist of.” In this way, it’s unnecessary to employ “of” in its use.
Bombastic
Incorrect usage: Gerald’s angry tendencies often turned into bombastic fits of rage.
Correct usage: Jane and I both agreed that the senator’s bombastic speech wasn’t going to prove conducive to any actual change.
Explanation:
There’s a tendency to assume the “bomb” in bombastic is similar to hot-tempered, ticking time “bomb”-like people. Bombastic, as an adjective that does nothing to describe a person’s temperament. Rather, bombastic is used to describe individuals who use complicated, fancy language with the sole intent of impressing others.
Noisome
Incorrect usage: The house party next door grew to be quite noisome as the night progressed.
Correct usage: The motorists were unaware that their vehicle had begun to spew noisome black smoke from its tailpipe.
Explanation:
Noisome has nothing to do with decibels, bass, or noise of any kind. Rather, noisome describes an unthinkably horrible smell. You can also use noisome in a scandalous sense, in instances where a person’s behavior is crass, unrefined, or lacking in moral judgment.
https://www.kibin.com/blog/incorrect-word-usage-choice/
Pristine
People think it means: “Spotless” or “as good as new.”
Actually means: “Ancient, primeval; in a state virtually unchanged from the original.”
Nonplussed
People think it means: Unperturbed, not worried.
Actually means: Utterly perplexed or confused. It comes from the Latin non plus (a state in which nothing more can be done).
Bemused
People think it means: Mildly amused.
Actually means: Bewildered or confused.
Plethora
People think it means: A lot of something.
Actually means: Too much of something, an overabundance.
Next month I tackle confusing pairs of words.
Until then, big hugs,
Brita
Born in a small town in Upstate New York, Brita Addams has made her home in the sultry south for many years. In the Frog Capital of the World, Brita shares her home with her real-life hero—her husband, and a fat cat named Stormee. All their children are grown.
Given her love of history, Brita writes both het and gay historical romance. Many of her historicals, as well as few contemporaries, have appeared on category bestseller lists at various online retailers.
Tarnished Gold, the first in her Tarnished series for Dreamspinner, received honorable mention, and is a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, historical romance category.
A bit of trivia—Brita pronounces her name, Bree-ta, and not Brit-a, like the famous water filter. Brita Addams is a mash-up of her real middle name and her husband’s middle name, with an additional d and s.
Readers can find Brita Addams at any of the following places:
Website
Blog
Twitter: @britaaddams
Facebook
Fan page
Goodreads
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Booklikes
Monthly column at The Novel Approach
Newest Releases
Including 2013 Rainbow Award Winner Tarnished Gold – Historical Category
Yikes, Brita. I am learning a lot today. Bookmarking so I’ll have your list as a reference. Proves you really can teach an old dog new tricks. BTW, Bob loves Tarnished Souls and we both thought Tarnished Gold was terrific. Take care and hugs your way. P and B.
I learned a few things myself today, Paul. :)
I learned a lot as I compiled the list. As I read, I jot down suspect words. Sometimes I cringe, others just shake my head. LOL
Paul, I’m thrilled you and Bob have enjoyed my Tarnished stories. I’m working on another, actually two at the same time. The rest of Frankie and Gent’s story, then a novel with Mac as the main character.
Hugs to you and Bob, and Lisa, much love to you my dear friend. I’ve heard from several people who’ve read this article. Can’t wait to get next month’s ready. :)
Right back at ya, Brita. I’ll look forward to the next article. :)
Lots of love right back to you, Brita. I’m looking very forward to next month’s article too. :)
This is a fascinating list, Brita! I always like learning more about words. :)
I’d disagree on a couple of these, though — particularly “terrific”; I think the modern colloquial meaning is well accepted enough that it’s not quite accurate to say it’s incorrect (“extremely good” is even one of its definitions in Webster’s). Words do change their meaning over time, after all — “meat” used to mean any kind of food, but you don’t expect an apple when you ask for meat today! I think terrific has become one of those.
Hi Layla.
I agree with your take on terrific and we all use it to mean great or something similar, but it is interesting to know the true meaning of the word.
The point of my list is to show how we have, in some cases, twisted the meanings of words and because we use them as we do today doesn’t necessarily mean that is what the intended meaning of them is. The dictionary writers have picked up our colloquial meanings, that is true, but the original meanings still hold.
Good examples are: bad meaning good. Ridiculous used a a compliment: “You are a ridiculous cook.” Just last night on American Idol I heard Chris Daughtry tell one of the contestants: “You have a stupid voice,” and he meant that as high praise. “You play a sick guitar.” “You have mad skills.”
I find wordplay interesting, but I don’t like any of the last paragraph’s examples of modern colloquialisms. We have words for each example that sound like a true compliment and they make the receiver feel complimented. The use of those words above doesn’t make the speaker sound cool, which is likely the intended reason they use them, but rather uneducated. IMHO Perhaps when terrific crept into today’s meaning, someone felt that way about how the meaning had changed.
Thanks for stopping by. Good to see you here.
Super list, Brita. Decimate is the one that upsets me most too. I shout at the TV when I hear them using it to describe the devastation after earthquakes.
My husband and I do the same thing. He goes as far as shouting the meaning at the television. Some things are best left as they were intended. Thanks for stopping by, Elin.
Very interesting and helpful. Wow. Usage for myriad is good to know. :-) But now the question is whether or not the usage for above-noted words is correct when I read it…