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Communication skills are something that many of us pride ourselves on. Yet, even the most knowledgeable of us can make mistakes at times. A surprising amount of people misuse words and phrases every day and often don't even realize it. From classic mix-ups like "affect" versus "effect" to lesser-known mistakes such as "For all intents and purposes," these errors can sneak into our speech and writing.
Understanding and correcting these mistakes not only enhances clarity but also boosts confidence. Let's dive into some of the most frequently misused terms and set the record straight.
Have you been using any of these words or phrases? Click through to find out more.
These two words are used very differently though spelled similarly. Usually, a person is averse to something, or against it. Whereas a thing or situation is adverse or unfavorable.
Switching the beginning letter in affect and effect is such a common mistake. However, they are very different. Affect is usually a verb meaning to act upon something, whereas effect is usually a noun that has resulted from something else acting on it.
Many people incorrectly say "chomping" instead of "champing." This phrase has been around since approximately 1577 and refers to horses anxiously grinding or champing their teeth before a race.
Copyright is a legal right that gives the creator of an original work the exclusive legal right to it. On the other hand, copywriting is something people do—they write copy, also known as text.
While discreet means that you are capabale of keeping secrets, discrete means separate or distinct. One might say, "People always felt safe telling her their secrets and she was always so discreet." Whereas, you might say "The pieces were arranged in discrete (separate) piles."
If you say "first come, first served," then you are correct. If you were to say it without the d, or "first come, first serve," it would sound like the first person who arrives serves everyone, and that's not much of an advantage.
Intensive is an adjective that means vigorous or exhaustive, so this phrase is incorrect. Intents, however, is a noun meaning purpose. This phrase is often seen as a cliche.
In the 1920s, homing in was used to describe aircraft and missiles being guided to a target. After this, it came to mean anyone or anything focused on or directed towards a goal. For example, in yoga, you home in on your inner self.
The correct saying is "In regard to" and can even be shortened to "regarding". For example, "I had a chat with him in regard to his time off request."
Should of is a common phrase but an incorrect one! The correct version is "should have" when referring to something you wish you'd done. An example is, "You should have been more careful with the plate, and maybe it wouldn't have broken."
Simplistic is characterized by a great deal of simplicity, as in too simple. In short, simple means good, while simplistic equates to something bad.
The correct phrasing is that something is a tough row to hoe. This verbiage comes from farmers that were in a cornfield, where there are many rows and some are harder to hoe than others.
It's speculated that this phrase came from runners putting their toes on their race marks. It means getting close to something.
Nipping something in the bud is the correct way to say this phrase. It means you're putting an end to something before it has the chance to grow or start.
If you were to say that you could care less, then it means that you actually do care a little about it. What people usually mean is something they don't care about at all, and thus, they need to say, "I couldn't care less."
People will sometimes say they've made a 360-degree turn in their lives, trying to indicate they've changed a lot. However, if you make a 360-degree turn you're actually right where you started. What people mean to say is that they made a 180-degree turn.
Dog-eat-dog world is an interesting, yet correct way, to say something is tough or difficult. Doggy dog world actually doesn't mean anything.
A chest of drawers is exactly that—a chest filled with drawers. Over the years, people have misheard it as "chester drawers" and thought it's a type of drawer.
Moot point is often used when referring to something irrelevant, impractical, or even insignificant. Mute is simply a misspelling of the word moot.
Old wives tales is a colloquial reference to folk tales and urban legends and is the correct terminology. Whereas an old wise tale simply doesn't make sense.
Off your own bat is used to refer to something done on your own initiative. This term was originally a cricket (sport) idiom.
If something is nerve-wracking, then it causes anxiety or stress. Nerve wrecking is likely a spelling mistake that many people still incorrectly use today.
If someone is white as a sheet, it's understood that they are very pale and usually from shock. If someone says "white as a sheep," it's likely because they've misheard the word sheet and thought sheep might make sense also.
Sleight means "deceitful craftiness" or "dexterity and skill," while slight means "small of its kind or in amount." Therefore, it's correct to say someone used a sleight of hands to complete the magic trick.
To whet your appetite means something or someone increases your desire to have it or know about it. Using the word wet when describing an appetite is simply a misspelling.
Many people still misuse this phrase and say "you've got another thing coming." However, the entire thought and phrase is "if that's what you're thinking, then you've got another think coming!"
The discomfort or cramping caused by hunger is called hunger pangs, not hunger pains. Because the two words sound similar, they are often used interchangeably, though this is incorrect.
The verb wreak means to bring about or cause. So, when you are saying something wreaked havoc or caused severe problems, it's better to use wreak rather than wreck. For example, the monkey wreaked havoc on the small town.
Case in point is an instance or example that illustrates what is being discussed.
Sources: (CNBC) (Lifehack) (Cambridge Dictionary) (Merriam-Webster)
See also: Fascinating language facts you didn't know
Common words and phrases that you're probably getting wrong
Correcting everyday mistakes
LIFESTYLE Language
Communication skills are something that many of us pride ourselves on. Yet, even the most knowledgeable of us can make mistakes at times. A surprising amount of people misuse words and phrases every day and often don't even realize it. From classic mix-ups like "affect" versus "effect" to lesser-known mistakes such as "For all intents and purposes," these errors can sneak into our speech and writing.
Understanding and correcting these mistakes not only enhances clarity but also boosts confidence. Let's dive into some of the most frequently misused terms and set the record straight.
Have you been using any of these words or phrases? Click through to find out more.