- It's. This only means "it is." It doesn't ever mean "belonging to it." Many people, including me, slip on this occasionally. One person of my acquaintance misuses it always.
- Lightening. The word you're looking for is "lightning." No "e." "Lightening" is a real word, but that's not what you mean.
- Lead. It's pronounced like "leed" when you're using it as a verb. Its past tense is "led." Go check your résumé right now.
- Jive. Our opinions don't "jive" with each other; they "jibe" with each other.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Words routinely misused by people I know
Now, now. If you see yourself here, don't worry, don't apologize, don't even admit it. Just know.
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11 comments:
I'm guilty of misusing "jive."
But it sounds so much cooler than "jibe."
That's funny. I think "jibe" sounds cooler. But I am a big nerd.
Of course "jibe" is cooler, it's a sailing term, matey!
And how about "lede?"
Something that irks me: "I could care less." Well, if you could care less, then you would, wouldn't you?
I actually have a problem with three made-up words that I hear constantly. Each sounds like nails on a chalkboard to me.
1. 'posta (as in, "supposed to ... ")
2. supposively (no no no no no)
3. irregardless
very cool
godofredo
Thanks for that, since English is not my native language, it becomes even more helpful :)
Okay, so are you saying that I supposively have to remove all the led paint from my house, now???
But seriously,folks, for my two cents, I think people write "everyday" when they mean "every day"... I think everyday is an adjective, right?
Ma souer-
So NOW you're reading the blog? Guess I have to go back and delete all the smack I've been talking about you. But yes, you are correct about everyday. And though you see it less often, people often write "nevermind" when they mean "never mind."
CM- When I was a new journalist, it took me a LOOOOOOONG time to get comfortable with all the clever/ironic references to ledes and grafs. It did not so much bother me when other people did it, I just couldn't do it myself, because I was worried about doing it wrong. Especially because I was the copy editor. I still think of it as evidence that people are in the journalist cool-kid club that I never thought of myself as quite in.
Of course I am right about everyday! An the Nevermind thing--that's just made up...unless it's a place, like Neverland or the Nevermind Ranch.
...or pay someone no nevermind.
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