Annoying Word Usage
Begging (Begs) The Question
Many people incorrectly use "begging, or begs, the question" instead of "raises the question".
Unfortunately, the wrong use has become the 'right' use from incorrect use.
Bell and Gong
A gong sounds one way.
gong
noun
a metal disk with a turned rim, giving a resonant note when struck : a dinner gong.
Oxford Dictionary
A bell can sound in three ways: ring, chime, and toll.
ring 2
verb ( past rang ); past part. rung
1 [ intrans. ] make a clear resonant or vibrating sound : a shot rang out | a bell rang loudly | [as n. ] ( ringing) the ringing of fire alarms.
[ trans. ] cause (a bell or alarm) to make such a sound : he walked up to the door and rang the bell.
(of a telephone) produce a series of resonant or vibrating sounds to signal an incoming call : the phone rang again as I replaced it.
call for service or attention by sounding a bell : Ruth, will you ring for some tea?
Oxford Dictionary
chime 1
noun (often chimes)
a bell or a metal bar or tube, typically one of a set tuned to produce a melodious series of ringing sounds when struck.
a sound made by such an instrument : I hear the chimes of the hour from the courthouse.
( chimes) a set of tuned metal rods used as an orchestral instrument.
( chimes) a set of tuned bells used as a doorbell.
Bell-ringing a stroke of the clapper against one or both sides of a scarcely moving bell. verb [ intrans. ]
1 (of a bell or clock) make melodious ringing sounds, typically to indicate the time.
[ trans. ] (of a clock) make such sounds in order to indicate (the time) : the clock chimed eight.
Oxford Dictionary
toll 2
verb [ intrans. ]
(of a bell) sound with a slow, uniform succession of strokes, as a signal or announcement : the bells of the cathedral began to toll for evening service.
• (of a bell) announce or mark (the time, a service, or a person's death) : the bell of St. Mary's began to toll the curfew.
Oxford Dictionary
Carbon
If you call carbon a pollutant, especially carbon dioxide, I'm going to want to smack you right after a chemist likely does. Carbon is one word that is used incorrectly most often by people who do not know what carbon is.
carbon noun
the chemical element of atomic number 6, a nonmetal that has two main forms (diamond and graphite) and that also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot, and coal. (Symbol: C)
Compounds of carbon (organic compounds) form the physical basis of all living organisms. Carbon atoms are able to link with each other and with other atoms to form chains and rings, and an infinite variety of carbon compounds exist.
Oxford Dictionary
Chat
The word chat is used so often by some people, and sometimes used incorrectly, it annoys me with its frequent overuse.
chat verb
( chatted , chatting ) [ intrans. ] talk in a friendly and informal way : she chatted to her mother on the phone every day.
THE RIGHT WORD
It is nearly impossible for most people to get through a day without having a conversation with someone, even if it's only a chat with the mailman.
Although conversation can and does take place in all sorts of contexts, both formal and informal, the word usually implies a relaxed, casual exchange.
A chat is the least formal of all conversations, whether it's a father talking to his son about girls or two women having a tête-á-tête (French for “head to head,” meaning a confidential conversation) about their wayward husbands.
Both men and women often complain that their partners don't understand the meaning of dialogue, which is a two-way conversation that may involve opposing points of view.
Argument is even more likely to play a role in a parley, which formally is a discussion between enemies regarding the terms of a truce.
A colloquy is the most formal of all conversations (: a colloquy on nuclear disarmament); it can also be used to jocularly describe a guarded exchange (: a brief colloquy with the arresting officer).
Communion may be a form of conversation as well, but sometimes it takes place on such a profound level that no words are necessary (: communion with nature).
Oxford Dictionary
Check instead of Cheque
In Canada, it is cheque, not check.
Cheque
noun a written order to a bank to pay a stated sum from the drawer's account the printed form on which such an order is written.
Oxford Dictionary
Could Care Less
Similar to a double negative, this phrase means the opposite of what people who say it mean. The correct phrase is: I couldn't care less. This means, one cannot care any less than one already does about something. To put it another way: 'I could not care any less than I do now.' From that, one could shorten it to: 'I couldn't care less.'
Critical Thinking
This term annoys me when it appears in certain job advertisements. When it does, it is clear to me the person who wrote the job advertisement really does not know what critical thinking means. Critical thinking means to have an independent mind or attitude, to question or doubt something without having reasonable evidence or information for its truth, or to express or involve an analysis of the merits and faults of something.
Double Negative
A double negative equals a positive. There are a few examples of double negatives, one of the most common is the word didn't followed by the word nothing in a sentence. I didn't do nothing. I didn't find nothing. This means you did do something, and you did find something.
"I didn't do nothin'!"
Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney): "Well, If you didn't do nothin', don't do it again!"
From the movie, Angels With Dirty Faces (1938)
Free Gift
If it is a gift, then it is free. If it is not free, then it is not a gift.
gift noun
a thing given willingly to someone without payment.
Oxford Dictionary
Guarantee
Warrant, although dated, I believe is still the best word for what some people mean when incorrectly using the word guarantee.
guarantee noun
a formal promise or assurance (typically in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled, esp. that a product will be repaired or replaced if not of a specified quality and durability : we offer a 10-year guarantee against rusting. something that gives a certainty of outcome : past performance is no guarantee of future results. variant spelling of guaranty . less common term for guarantor .
warrant PHRASES I (or I'll) warrant (you) dated used to express the speaker's certainty about a fact or situation : I'll warrant you'll thank me for it in years to come.
Oxford Dictionary
Hypoallergenic
What annoys me about the word is most people think it is a medical word, and the word is used as a medical term by many. Hypoallergenic is a word that was made up by advertisers in 1953 for a cosmetics campaign.
hypo prefix under : hypodermic. below normal : hypoglycemia. slightly : hypomanic. Chemistry containing an element with an unusually low valence : hypochlorous. ORIGIN from Greek hupo ‘under.' allergen noun a substance that causes an allergic reaction. DERIVATIVES allergenic adjective allergenicity noun Oxford Dictionary
Ironic
The word is not a synonym for the word coincidence.
ironic adjective using or characterized by irony : his mouth curved into an ironic smile. happening in the opposite way to what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement because of this : [with clause ] it was ironic that now that everybody had plenty of money for food, they couldn't obtain it because everything was rationed. Oxford Dictionary
In regards to
As confusing as it can be, as regards, in this (or that) regard, with (or in) regard to, are all correct, but NOT in regards to. What makes it the more frustrating for me is it all can usually be reduced to the single word regarding.
regarding preposition with respect to; concerning : your recent letter regarding the above proposal.
regard verb [ trans. ] consider or think of (someone or something) in a specified way : she regarded Omaha as her base | he was highly regarded by senators of both parties.
gaze at steadily in a specified fashion : Professor Ryker regarded him with a faint smile.
(of a thing) have relation to or connection with; concern : if these things regarded only myself, I could stand it with composure.
archaic pay attention to; heed : he talked very wisely, but I regarded him not. noun 1 attention to or concern for something : the court must have regard to the principle of welfare | she rescued him without regard for herself.
high opinion; liking and respect; esteem : she had a particular regard for Eliot. [in sing. ] a gaze; a steady or significant look : he shifted uneasily before their clear regard.
2 ( regards) best wishes (used to express friendliness in greetings, esp. at the end of letters) : Warm regards, Helen | give her my regards.
PHRASES
as regards concerning; with respect to : as regards content, the program will cover important current issues. in this (or that) regard in connection with the point previously mentioned : there was little incentive for them to be active in this regard.
with (or in) regard to as concerns; with respect to : he made inquiries with regard to Beth.
ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French regarder ‘to watch,’ from re- ‘back’ (also expressing intensive force) + garder ‘to guard.’
USAGE
regard As a noun in with regard to and in regard to, the singular noun is correct. The plural form (as in with regards to and in regards to) is, to put it charitably, poor usage—e.g.: “Single men and women are overwhelmed and confused by a barrage of information and advice on what to do and what not to do in regards to [read in regard to ] finding Mr. Right and Ms. Girl-of-My-Dreams.” ( Ebony; Dec. 1997) or “He became furious at the mere mention of ... the columnist who accused him recently of ‘judicial exhibitionism’ with regards to [read with regard to ] his trade-agreement ruling.” ( New York Times; Sept. 17, 1993.) The acceptable forms are best used as introductory phrases, but even these may be advantageously replaced by a single word such as concerning, regarding, or considering, or even in, about, or for. Regards is acceptable as a verb in the phrase as regards, a traditional literary idiom (though now a little old-fashioned), and the past participle regarded commonly appears in two combinations: one, highly regarded, is a vague expression of praise; the other, widely regarded as, usually leads to words of praise—though it would certainly be possible to say that someone is “widely regarded as beneath contempt.” It is a mistake, however, to say widely regarded without as: “Crotty has published four novels since leaving the newspaper, and he's widely regarded [read highly regarded ] by both fiction writers and journalists.”
Oxford Dictionary
Irregardless
I am convinced English can be confusing sometimes because it seems any nonsensical word can find its way into the language.
ORIGIN early 20th cent.: probably a blend of irrespective and regardless. USAGE Irregardless, with its illogical negative prefix, is widely heard, perhaps arising under the influence of such perfectly correct forms as : irrespective. Irregardless is avoided by careful users of English. Use regardless to mean 'without regard or consideration for' or 'nevertheless': : I go walking every day regardless of season or weather. Oxford Dictionary
Legitimate
Many people incorrectly use the word legitimate.
legitimate adjective conforming to the law or to rules : his claims to legitimate authority. See note at genuine .
able to be defended with logic or justification : a legitimate excuse for being late. (of a child) born of parents lawfully married to each other.
(of a sovereign) having a title based on strict hereditary right : the last legitimate Anglo-Saxon king.
constituting or relating to serious drama as distinct from musical comedy, revue, etc. : the legitimate theater.
verb [ trans. ] make legitimate; justify or make lawful : the regime was not legitimated by popular support.
ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [born of parents lawfully married to each other] ): from medieval Latin legitimatus ‘made legal,’ from the verb legitimare, from Latin legitimus ‘lawful,’ from lex, leg- ‘law.’
THE RIGHT WORD
A car salesperson might claim that the seats of that pricey sedan you're considering are made from genuine leather— genuine being a word that applies to anything that is really what it is claimed or represented to be.
If you're in the market for a Model T Ford, however, you'll want to make sure that the car is authentic, which emphasizes formal proof or documentation that an object is what it is claimed to be.
Use bona fide when sincerity is involved (: a bona fide offer), and legitimate when you mean lawful or in accordance with established rules, principles, and standards (: a legitimate business).
Veritable implies correspondence with the truth but not necessarily a literal or strict correspondence with reality (: a veritable supermarket for car-buyers).
How will it feel to drive that Mercedes out of the showroom? You won't know until you're the actual owner of the car—because actual means existing in fact rather than in the imagination.
Oxford Dictionary
Literally
It is rare that I hear this word used correctly.
literally adverb in a literal manner or sense; exactly : the driver took it literally when asked to go straight across the traffic circle | tiramisu, literally translated “pick me up.”
informal used for emphasis or to express strong feeling while not being literally true : I have received literally thousands of letters.
USAGE
In its standard use, literally means ‘in a literal sense, as opposed to a nonliteral or exaggerated sense,’: : I told him I never wanted to see him again, but I didn't expect him to take it literally . In recent years, an extended use of literally (and also literal) has become very common, where literally (or literal) is used deliberately in nonliteral contexts, for added effect: : they bought the car and literally ran it into the ground. This use can lead to unintentional humorous effects ( : we were literally killing ourselves laughing) and is not acceptable in formal English. Oxford Dictionary
Loonie
(Canadian One Dollar Coin) The Canadian one dollar coin has a loon on it. Since the coin was first introduced in 1987, and replaced the one dollar banknote, the unofficial name Loonie for the Canadian dollar has been used. I dislike the name Loonie almost as much as I dislike the name, 'Toonie.'
Organic
I have heard from some chemists who also dislike the use of the word organic in its modern usage of organic food that makes no sense whatsoever to some chemists, and to me.
organic adjective 1 of, relating to, or derived from living matter : organic soils.
Chemistry of, relating to, or denoting compounds containing carbon (other than simple binary compounds and salts) and chiefly or ultimately of biological origin. Compare with inorganic .
(of food or farming methods) produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents.
2 Physiology of or relating to a bodily organ or organs. Medicine (of a disease) affecting the structure of an organ.
3 denoting a relation between elements of something such that they fit together harmoniously as necessary parts of a whole : the organic unity of the integral work of art.
characterized by continuous or natural development : companies expand as much by acquisition as by organic growth.
ORIGIN late Middle English : via Latin from Greek organikos ‘relating to an organ or instrument.’
Oxford Dictionary
Over And Out
In radiocommunication parlance, over means, "I have finished speaking, and I am waiting for you to respond" Out means, "I have finished speaking, and I am signing off now." These words do not belong together when speaking on a two-way radio. It is the similar to hanging up on someone on the telephone.
Per
I recall someone leaving me written instructions with per instead of as per, and it took me a moment to understand what the instructions were supposed to mean.
per preposition 1 for each (used with units to express a rate) : a gas station that charges $1.29 per gallon.
2 archaic by means of : send it per express.
3 ( as per) in accordance with : made as per instructions.
4 Heraldry divided by a line in the direction of : per bend | per pale | per saltire. PHRASES as per usual as usual.
ORIGIN Latin, ‘through, by means of’ ; partly via Old French.
Oxford Dictionary
Random
Many people incorrectly use the word random instead of miscellaneous.
Resume
(curriculum vitae) I write résumé instead of resume when I am referring to a curriculum vitae because résumé is of French origin, and this is how it is correctly written. Some may argue with me because English uses no accented letters, and resume is perfectly acceptable English. I concede that I am nitpicking. Read or read? Live or live? Resume or resume?
Seen
Many people incorrectly say the word seen when the correct word is saw.
I see the horse running. I saw the horse run. The horse was seen running.
Shined
Many people incorrectly use the word, shined when the correct word is shone.
shine verb ( past shone |ʃɒn|or shined ) 1 [ intrans. ] (of the sun or another source of light) give out a bright light : the sun shone through the window.
glow or be bright with reflected light : I could see his eyes shining in the light of the fire.
[ trans. ] direct (a flashlight or other light) somewhere in order to see something in the dark : an usher shines his flashlight into the boys' faces.
(of something with a smooth surface) reflect light because clean or polished : my shoes were polished until they shone like glass.
(of a person's eyes) be bright with the expression of a particular emotion : his eyes shone with excitement.
[often as adj. ] ( shining) figurative be brilliant or excellent at something : he has set a shining example with his model behavior | she shines at comedy.
( shine through) figurative (of a quality or skill) be clearly evident : at Regis his talent shone through.
2 ( past shined) [ trans. ] make (an object made of leather, metal, or wood) bright by rubbing it; polish : his shoes were shined to perfection. noun [in sing. ] a quality of brightness, esp. through reflecting light : a shine of saliva on his chin.
a high polish or sheen; a luster : use shoe polish to try and get a shine | my hair has lost its shine.
an act of rubbing something to give it a shiny surface : Tom’s shoes got a quick shine from a boy with a buffing cloth.
offensive a contemptuous term for a black or dark-skinned person.
PHRASES
take the shine off spoil the brilliance or excitement of : the absence of new jobs has taken some of the shine off his stellar popularity ratings.
take a shine to informal develop a liking for.
DERIVATIVES
shiningly adverb
ORIGIN Old English scīnan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schijnen and German scheinen.
Oxford Dictionary
The Proof Is In The Pudding
It is not.
PHRASES the proof of the pudding is in the eating proverb the real value of something can be judged only from practical experience or results and not from appearance or theory. Oxford Dictionary
Timmies
(Tim Horton's) Tim Hortons. People are calling it, 'Timmies.' A word that sounds childish to me when using it to refer to Tim Hortons. Some people even call what they buy there 'timmies', as in 'I got my timmies', and that makes me cringe even more. Yes, the missing apostrophes annoys me too.
Toonie
(Canadian Two Dollar Coin) The Canadian two dollar coin replaced the two dollar banknote in 1996. Since the Canadian one dollar coin was already unofficially called a Loonie since it was first introduced in 1987, people called the two dollar coin a 'Toonie'. The two dollar coin has a polar bear on it. I dislike the name Toonie even more than I dislike the name Loonie.
Tummy Adults using the word tummy, in most situations, annoys me.
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: child's pronunciation of stomach.
Oxford Dictionary
Veggie
Veggie sounds childish to me; and hippie environmentalist.
1 another term for vegetable . 2 another term for vegetarian . ORIGIN 1970s: abbreviation.
Oxford Dictionary
Yous
It is not plural.
you
pronoun
[ second person singular or plural ]
1 used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing : are you listening? | I love you.
used to refer to the person being addressed together with other people regarded in the same class : you Australians.
used in exclamations to address one or more people : you fools | hey, you!
2 used to refer to any person in general : after a while, you get used to it.
Oxford Dictionary
© Trevor Dailey