Talk:List of commonly misused English words

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Further information: Talk:List of English words with frequent misuse/Delete
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[edit] Lend and borrow?

This is a very common one round where I live (North Wales); indeed I've sometimes made the mistake myself. Is it common enough to include?

[edit] Myself

Am I wrong in noting that two of the three prescriptive examples of the reflexive use of myself are actually examples of using myself as an intensifier?

snip:

Standard (reflexive): I did it myself. I'll take it there myself. I want to enjoy myself.

The first could be rendered "I did it to myself." to demonstrate reflexivity. Otherwise, it is grammatically no different than saying "I myself did it." I'm not sure what to do with the second instance. The third, of course, is a fine example of reflexive pronoun use. I'm loathe to make this change, however, without a confirmation from a greater grammarian.

The second could be rewritten as "I will myself take it there."

[edit] Hardly and Hard

My friend was an English teacher and told me his new pupils was always using "hardly" as "so", "firmly", "massive" (but it means "not so" etc., as I know), because "hard" means "so", "massive", "heavy". This could be added to the list, to. Gubbubu

[edit] Where/were

These two words are often confused. Imagine the sentence: Were they where released --Cfailde 11:00, 2004 Oct 8 (UTC)

I was surprised they aren't already on the list. Unfortunately I don't have the literary knowledge to add that entry myself (get lost when the grammarians talk of transititve verbs, pronouns and the like). sheridan 00:40, 2005 Mar 10 (UTC)

[edit] Cite

I included "cite" in the sight/site explanation. I thought this would be relevant because I have seen a few people confuse these homophones to great embarrassment.

[edit] Peruse

This is a word that has seen increased usage in everyday speak, and that is most often used incorrectly. Instead of the correct usage of examining or reading something thoroughly and with great care, it is confused with meaning to glance over or skim. What is the criteria for being added to this list? Is there a target length of words being aimed for, or certain requirements for a given word? 69.158.53.247 (talk) 02:56, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

Googling "brief perusal" (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22brief+perusal%22) seems to confirm this suspicion. The phrase ought to be almost an oxymoron. William Avery (talk) 11:48, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
Sense 1b given by Merriam-Webster [1] says "to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner" Nohat (talk) 23:13, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Removed entries

I have removed the following entries because they are not cited, and their literalist interpretation doesn't jibe with actual usage, which in the case of the so-called "incorrect" usages are merely hyperbolic. It may be poor style, but that's not what this page is about:

  • minimal and minimum. These words mean "least" or "smallest", but are often misused to mean "little" or "small".
    • Non-standard: Chances of a turnaround under Thomas are less than minimal,...[1]
  • optimal and optimum. These words (from Latin: optimus) mean "best", but are often misused to mean "good". Since optimal is a superlative, the phrase "most optimal" is also incorrect.

Nohat (talk)

[edit] Dubious

Are "cache" and "cachet" really commonly confused? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.133.245.8 (talk) 01:56, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] homogeneous/homogenous

I removed this entry:

  • homogeneous and homogenous. Homogeneous means "formed of parts that are all the same kind". Homogenous (in Biology) means "having a common descent".
    • Non-standard: ... a much more homogenous and orthodox form of narrative - Essays & Studies (1991)
    • Non-standard: Stir until a homogenous mixture is achieved.
    • Standard: ... a much more homogeneous and orthodox form of narrative

Because all of Merriam-Webster Collegiate, American Heritage, and Random House Unabridged give homogeneous as a definition for homogenous, and the entry therefore doesn't meet the criterion specified in the introduction: "The words listed below are consistently used in ways that major English dictionaries do not condone in any definition." Nohat (talk) 21:07, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] reluctant/reticent

I removed this entry:

  • reluctant and reticent. If someone is reluctant they would prefer to refrain from committing a specific action. They are hesitant. If they are reticent, they are reluctant to speak.
    • Standard: Because of his stated conviction that "property is theft", she was reluctant to lend him any money.
    • Standard: Bill Belichick is notoriously reticent when it comes to disclosing the status of his players' injuries.
    • Non-standard: He was reticent to enter the forbidding cave.

Because all of Merriam-Webster Collegiate, American Heritage, and Random House Unabridged give reluctant as a definition for reticent, and the entry therefore doesn't meet the criterion specified in the introduction: "The words listed below are consistently used in ways that major English dictionaries do not condone in any definition." Nohat (talk) 21:12, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Immaculate Conception

I do not think "Immaculate Conception" belongs here. While the meaning of this phrase really is often misunderstood, it is not a questions of language. The same confusion happens in other languages as well. --BIS Ondrej (talk) 07:46, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

No one seemed to disagree, and I agree too, so I have removed it. Nohat (talk) 22:52, 20 May 2008 (UTC)