I’m not a word-nerd, really.
But, when I’m scrolling through your post or email, or book draft, or whatever and come across a word that doesn’t belong (or, for that matter, doesn’t exist) I come to a screeching stop—can’t help it.
So, I thought I would save you the embarrassment and share a list of 11 words commonly misused.
You can thank me by adding your own examples in the comments below.
Hair we go (just kidding).
1 – Everyday and every day
Years ago, my wife and I were driving a rented convertible VW in Baja, with our 6 year old daughter in the back, when I saw an airline’s billboard that, in part, read “veulos total dia” (flights all day).
Trying to sound smart, I started asking anyone serving us if they had what I wanted “total dia”. The comical looks I received told the whole story; what I should have asked was do they have it every day (“¿cada dia?”) .
In English, we say everyday when we mean common or normal, as in “It became an everyday occurrence.”
Whereas, every day means today, tomorrow, the next day and so on, as in “It happens every day.”
2 – Adapt and adopt
If you adapt something you change it, to adopt is to take it as your own. So, after you read this list you can adopt the correct word use and adapt it for your blog.
3 – Already and all ready
You can simplify this one by thinking of already as talking about the past, as in “I already told him that.” And all ready as being about the future, as in “I was all ready to tell him that.”
Have you got that already?
4 – Regardless and Irregardless
Let’s set the record straight on this one: “irregardless” is not a word – the word you want is regardless. Regardless of what you’re working on or speaking about, that should make you sound smarter.
5 – Especially and specially
This is one of those examples you might need to say out loud to know which to use.
Usually, especially means particularly, as in “The speech was especially difficult to finish”.
Whereas specially usually means “in a special or careful manner” or “specifically”, like “She made a special effort for that client.”
That was an especially subtle distinction.
6 – Between and among
Use between when you’re distinguishing between a list of separate, distinct items, like: “The difference between a Frappuccino, latte and espresso is…”
Use among when you talking about things that are not distinct, like “There’s a big difference among bloggers.” You can also use among to indicate someone is part of a group, like: “She felt at home among the coffee drinking bloggers.”
7 – Advise and advice
Put simply, advise is a verb, advice is a noun. The quickest test is to say your sentence out loud. Like this one: “Nobody goes to a coach for advise.”
8 – Stationary and stationery
You write on stationery that is (hopefully) stationary. Get it?
9 – Principle and principal
Your high school principal might have taught you principles – you might even say that was principally her job.
My trick to remember the difference between principal and principle is the “pal” in principal refers to a person – so then principle must be the other meaning.
There’s lots of other meaning for principal, including the non-interest part of your loan and principal in a firm (as in high-level partner).
10 – Then and than
When you use then you’re talking about time, as in, “I finished my blog and then doubled checked it against Hugh’s list of 11 incorrectly used words.”
You use than to compare something, such as “After reading Hugh’s list I’m smarter than before.” (of course you are).
11 – Impact, affect and effect
This is a tricky one.
First, impact should only be used when there is a physical action involved, like “I was impacted from behind.”
Use effect if you are making the change happen and affect if you are helping make the change happen.
Bottom line: stop saying you’ll impact: change, sales, productivity or your marriage (especially marriage); use affect.
I use “between” when comparing 2 items; otherwise I use “among” for 3 or more.
Different topic: I used your speaking tips (start and end with a story; asked the “is this valuable for you?” at key content breaks, and Had audience rate career prep skills at beginning and end of seminar asking if they could raise their scores by 1 using a 1-5 scale). I usually rate in the top 7% of speakers at this global conference where I’ve been speaking for 7 years, but this year fell into the top 3% of conference speakers–thanks for the great advice!
Donn! That’s so great to hear. I’m thrilled that you were able to use that advice and to hear the results. Well done sir!
Number 4 is the one that always makes me shudder when someone says “irregardless”. In the past, I had to staunchly correct two of my adult children on their use of the “non-word.” And yes, they have quit using that non-word.
Well done Trudy – of course most people still won’t know the difference, but at least you won’t have to cringe hearing the wrong word being used.
Consider too: compliment and complement. See these used incorrectly in print too!
Thanks Jill – another one for the next post!
Word play is always fun! One of the situations that causes ME to want to stop listening or reading: the speaker uses “infer” when the right word is “imply.” If you are trying to suggest something by what you have said, you are implying. If you have come to a conclusion based on what you have previously heard, then you are inferring.
When people misuse these common words, then I infer that they are sloppy, at best. Not always true, of course. But a shame!
Thanks Virginia. I think I can infer that this is another great addition for the next post 🙂
Excellent distinctions between commonly misused words and phrases. I particularly liked your explanation for everyday vs every day. I will admit this caused me to pause knowing I’ve used it incorrectly before.
Another error in grammar that jumps out at me is when people leave out the apostrophe when they mean to say “we are” (we’re) and write “were”; you are (you’re) and write “your.”
Much needed. Thanks, Hugh.
The grammar of hundreds of bloggers and writers is atrocious as well.
There, they’re, and their are too often used in whatever preference comes up at the time.
Also None (short for no one) is singular (is). Most people use it as a plural (are) because they are incorrectly modifying a prepositional phrase that follows, not the noun.
-Neal
Thanks Neal – there’s another one for my next list of words incorrectly used!
Sometimes I think I’m a grammar nazi because I also get stopped in my tracks when I notice grammar errors in writing.
One pair of words you didn’t mention, and I hear and see all the time is:
less vs. fewer ….
I always remember that in order to use the term “fewer” you must be able to count the items : for example – fewer people were in attendance,
Using the term “less” e.g. would be: less flour in this recipe,
Thanks, Hugh.
Ah! Thanks Janice that’s a great trick to know.
Love this blog Hugh – I’m a bit of a grammar nazi and have had to compromise on punctuation but here’s another couple of frequently seen mistakes with words
‘Centred around’ – not possible, has to be centred on – the centre is the centre!
A myriad of – myriad comes from the greek for 10000 and we don’t say a 1000 of (but apparently it’s sneaking in as OK these days :-))
I was taught that an Envenlope is stationEry and and stAnding is stationary – easy to remember
Great! Thanks Clare you’ve given me fodder for incorrect words II!
Thanks Hugh was helpful to me alot.
Dorothy you are welcome a lot. 🙂
How about the difference between “fewer” and “less”? Fewer refers to individual items while less refers to bulk quantities. “Fewer than ten people attended.” “There is less smog today.”
“None” is a contraction for “not one” and is always followed by a singular verb.
“None of us is going to the game.” (“Not one of us is going to the game.”). “Us” is not the subject; “one” is the subject followed by the verb “is”. This is probably the most misused of them all, particularly by writers and broadcasters!
And recently I’ve read and heard more and more people using the nominative “I” used in the accusative case position where a “me” is needed. For example, “He gave the gift to her and I.” Should be to “her and me”. Shudder!
Shirley, it reminds me of the awkward way some people will use “John and me”, vs. “Me and John” and you can substitute “me” with “I” to make it even more of a mess.
How about bring and take misuse?
Good one! I’ll have to add that to a future post.
I’m not sure if it’s just in the UK, but wouldn’t you say “she was happy being ‘amongst ‘ a group of bloggers’?
Meg, I think that’s one of the examples where you have to go with what sounds natural. According the the oxford dictionary “there’s no difference between among and amongst.”
Love these! A few were new to me so thank you! This tip that I have to offer isn’t a certain word, but the incorrect placement of the adverb. This article should be titled, “11 Words That Make You Look Bad When Used Incorrectly.” It’s not as catchy, but proper. 🙂 These words are “misused commonly,” not commonly misused. The adverb should always follow the verb. The easiest way for me to remember this is that Captains Kirk and Picard are wrong. They should’ve said, “…to ‘go boldly’ where no one has gone before.” Ha!
All in fun,
Phee
Thanks Phee I have to admit to being swayed more by marketing and click through metrics, over correct grammar. My bad.