Even if english is your native language, there are everyday words we all use incorrectly without even noticing. Most people don't realize that they're using them wrong, because everyone around them uses them wrong, and the cycle continues. However, it's about time you've learned some new facts about the language so that you can use it correctly. Here are some of the most popular everyday words we all use incorrectly:
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1. Travesty
'Travesty' frequently gets confused with 'tragedy.' While a tragedy is a devastating event, a travesty is a parody. It's a word you should use when a famous song is mocked by having its real lyrics replaced with silly ones. This is one of the everyday words we all use incorrectly without even realizing it.
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So next time you're watching a skit or a satire, remember that travesty is the term to use if it involves a grotesque imitation meant for laughter or criticism. Often, it's used to describe something that's so absurdly distorted from the original that it becomes humorous or scornful. Think of a Shakespeare play performed with outrageously modern references, turning it into something quite unlike the poignant drama it was meant to be—that's a travesty, not a tragedy. Keep this in mind, and you'll no longer fall into the common trap of misusing this oh-so-misunderstood word.
2. Terrific
We all use "terrific" in order to explain something fantastic. However, terrific really means the same thing as horrific. You know the song There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays? Well, when they say the traffic is terrific, you now know what they mean.
3. Peruse
Most people use this word in the opposite way. Peruse doesn't actually mean to skim or to browse. It means to observe something in depth. You're not perusing when you're at the supermarket, you're perusing when you're studying from a textbook.
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So when you settle in with a good book and really get into the nitty-gritty of the text, absorbing every detail, that's when you're truly perusing. It's a much more involved process than a quick glance. Think about those moments when you dive deep into the fine print of a contract or fully engage with a complex article. Perusing is an endeavor of thorough understanding, often involving careful and methodical examination, rather than the brief, surface-level reading we often misconstrue it as. So next time, peruse with purpose!
4. Enormity
Enormity doesn't mean that something is enormous, even though they sound similar. Enormity actually means that something is extremely evil.
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5. Ultimate
If you say that dogs are the ultimate animal, you're using the word wrong. It doesn't mean "the best." It means "the last."
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6. Disinterested
Uninterested means bored. Disinterested means neutral. They sound super similar, but they aren't the same. So if you don't really have an opinion on what you're doing, you should use the word disinterested.
7. Obsolete
People use this word to describe items that aren't used often. However, obsolete actually means that something is not produced or needed anymore. So if something, like a unicycle, is still being produced, you can't say that it's obsolete.
8. Consent
According to the dictionary, consent isn't a very strong word. It doesn't mean that you're eagerly agreeing to do something. It means that you're passively agreeing to do it, even though you're not all that thrilled about it happening.
9. Nauseous
Nauseous doesn't mean that you're feeling sick. It means that you're capable of causing the feeling of sickness in others. So you shouldn't say that the steak you ate made you feel nauseous. The word you're looking for is nauseated.
10. Bemused
Bemused may sound like amused, but it's not the same thing at all. To be bemused means that you're puzzled or confused. So use it when you're trying to figure out a math problem and not when you're trying to watch a cat video on YouTube.
11. Decimate
This word is usually used when talking about destroying a building. However, it does not mean to annihilate. It actually means "to reduce by ten percent," which isn't as easy to use in conversation as the incorrect definition is.
Now that you know how to use these words, you should never make a mistake with them again. Of course, you'll probably hear others use them wrong, so don't hesitate to share your newfound knowledge. What other words do you find people using incorrectly?
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Comments
Karen: Number 9 really got me
Aliyah: I had always had a problem with the word "terrific" being used in a positive way because it sound like "terrible" and "horrific". It was confusing! Now, I know why I disliked it so much.
Ellen: #9 nauseous is an adjective to describe feeling sick and is standard in health settings. Nauseated would more likely mean to feel disgusted with , say, behaviour. And let’s not forget ‘nauseating’, and adjective which could describe, for example, an experience, as in a boat ride on rough seas.
IsabelleE: Wow! Learnt a lot today......all from this article:)
Zanna: Great! Caught me on a couple! Lesson learned!
Love: Forgive me if I am mistaken, but many of these are wrongly defined...
Tina: How many people including "Professional Hosts" use CONGRADULATIONS.....instead of CON...GRAT....ULATIONS!!!!!!! Eeeeeek my pet hate of incorrect use of ENGLISH.
JM: Terrific article ... Oh that's not what I mean... But I liked it 😗
Areti: Great article!
Paula: Donald Trump uses the word terrific often. It explains a lot. The mere fact that he uses the word should have been a clue.
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