Have you ever heard or read something like "That was an incredible presentation"
or "She gave an incredible speech" or "It was an incredible performance." Most of us have heard the word incredible being used as a complimentary word, when in fact it is just the opposite.
Incredible: adjective
1. so extraordinary as to seem impossible: incredible speed.
2. not credible; hard to believe; unbelievable:
I have noticed just recently the use of "Irregardless" on some blogs. Just like the word ain't it has NOT been accepted as a standard English word.
Irregardless: adverb; originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.
Invariable: adjective; means it never varies. It stays the same...
This is another word people have been misusing to mean "almost always"
But if it never varies it can not be almost always the same.
If it can change it is variable.
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.
I have been receiving emails with questions about oxymoron, euphemism, metaphor, cliche, palindrome,
anagram, and pleonasm.
The most frequent ones we see on the internet are usually OXYMORON. I know you have received (as all of us have) some ads/emails that say free loan, biggest little, and/or pretty ugly. I get a laugh every time I see these ads.
Well, my dear readers here are the answers to what each of these are.
oxymoron: a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness"
euphemism: 1. the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt. 2. the expression so substituted: "To pass away" is a euphemism for "to die."
metaphor: a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity, as in "love is a battlefield.
cliche': A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. For example: "One man’s trash is another man’s treasure."
palindrome: A word, phrase, verse, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. For example: A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!
anagram: a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters: “Angel” is an anagram of “glean.”
pleonasm: 1. the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy.
2. an instance of this, as free gift or true fact.
3. a redundant word or expression.
A little language humor
Word for the week: arachibutyrophobia
Learn a new word every week to expand your vocabulary.
Almost everyone likes peanut butter but there are some who suffer with arachibutyrophobia
rachibutyrophobia : fear of peanut butter sticking to roof of mouth
I don't think a Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Psychotherapists or a Mental Health Specialists
would ever use this word in front of a patient who has this phobia even if it is the correct word for their fear.
hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia... the fear of long words
Ludibrious:Adj.; A subject of jest or mockery – This word describes a person, thing or situation that is likely to be the butt of jokes. Use it when you want to sound justified in poking fun at someone.
- erotem: noun; The symbol used in writing known as a question mark...?
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
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4 comments:
Yes, the repeated mistakes in grammar and word usage across the blogosphere is troubling. American English is a language, after all, and we really should be able to agree on words to keep it that way!!
Which is in past tense, lie or lay? I am just confused. Please enlighten me. Thanks and more power! This site is really a big help. Keep it up!
Hi thankks for sharing this
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