Common English Grammar Mistakes: Gaffe and Gaff

Homophones and Homonyms

Homophones are words that sound like another when spoken but have different meanings and use, different spelling and origin.

Homonyms are words that are spelled like another but of a different meaning.
(e.g., bank= a place where you keep money,
bank= the edge of a river.

Words from the first group are the most common misused words in the English language when writing.

Most of the mistakes I see in writing on websites and blogs are words that are used quite often in the English language. Most of them fall into the homophones category. I see a lot of blogs that contain these common mistakes. Needless to say after a while I quit reading the blogs. So this is a reminder to all bloggers READ what you post and look for these common mistakes. I'm sure your readers will be very thankful.

Word for the week :Phantomnation

Learn a new word every week to expand your vocabulary.

erotem: noun; The symbol used in writing known as a question mark...?

Phantomnation: "rare" noun; a perfect example of a ghost word--a word that exists only in a dictionary and has never actually been used.

neologism: noun ; coining of new words, new word or meaning

enormity: noun;heinousness, evilness, wickedness, monstrous, great size

abscond: verb; to run away and hide, depart hurriedly, avoid arrest.

samizdat: noun; clandestine publication of banned literature

anomaly: noun; something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified; deviation from the normal or common order, or form, or rule; a person who is unusual

obfuscate: verb; To make something obscure or hard to understand. ( Like the tax codes)

quintessence: noun; purest and most perfect form, manifestation, type, or embodiment

Lipogram: noun; A piece of writing that avoids one or more letters of the alphabet. From Greek lipo- (lacking) + gram (something written).]

triskaidekaphobia: noun; Fear of the number 13.

anomalous: adjective; irregular, deviant, abnormal

diatribe: noun; a bitter verbal attack or speech

ennui: noun; mental weariness, boredom

aficionado: noun; devotee of a sport or pastime

Monday, July 20, 2009

Gaffe and Gaff

Gaffe: noun

1. a social or diplomatic blunder
2. a noticeable mistake

Obama made a gaffe in his speach.

Gaff: verb

A gaff is what a fisherman uses to spear or lift a fish, what workers use to climb a telephone pole, or a spur affixed to a gamecocks leg.

1. I tried to gaff the fish but it got away.
2. The rooster had large gaffs on its leg.

3 comments:

David said...: Hmmm, I learned a new word. I guess I am not the fisherman type. On the other hand, I make lots of mistakes.; July 25, 2009 9:00 AM
Shirley said...: Well David we all make mistakes. It's what we learn from them that counts.; August 1, 2009 6:51 AM
Anonymous said...: Yup!! I found Good Place to Know the Difference Between the Same words. Moreover i can learn the words of English dictionary as all Noun and Verb has given in this Blog.; September 17, 2009 2:26 AM