Sayings everyone (yes, me too) gets wrong #WriterWednesday #AmWriting
We all make mistakes. I probably make more than the average human, but that’s just because I’m a risk taker. Or at least that’s the lie I tell myself. There are certain sayings that us mere mortals get wrong again and again. Here are my favorites:
Epitome vs. Epitomy – Epitomy isn’t actually a word despite how often I try to write it. Luckily, I always doubt the spelling and google reminds me I’m an idiot because Epitomy is not a word.
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Blind-sided vs. blind sighted – I admit that I have no idea where the confusion with sighted comes from and, therefore, have no idea how to write a snarky comment about it.
I couldn’t care less vs. I could care less – If you say you could care less, you actually do care somewhat. If you don’t give a gosh darn, then you should say “I couldn’t care less”.
Regardless vs. Irregardless – Regardless means without regard. Throwing on “IR” on the beginning makes the word a double negative, which makes no sense since you end up with “without without regard”. Unfortunately, irregardless seems to flow off the tongue easier. Must. Stop. That.
Tongue in cheek vs tongue and cheek – Tongue in cheek means to be sarcastic or insincere. The idea arises from suppressed mirth like when you bite your tongue so as to not laugh out loud. Not sure what a tongue and cheek are supposed to symbolize.
Wreak havoc vs. wreck havoc – Let me tell you I’m not wrecking any havoc as that indicates I’m actually destroying that havoc. Oh no, not I. If you’re talking about wreaking havoc, you’re usually referring to someone creating havoc. In that case, wreak is correct.
One and the same vs. one in the same – ‘One in the same’ doesn’t really mean anything, does it? ‘One and the same’ means that the two things are the same, which is probably what you’re trying to convey.
Nip it in the bud vs nip it in the butt – A bud is just beginning so yeah nip that thing before it grows. Nipping it in the butt, on the other hand, just indicates you’re just dirty minded or something.
For all intents and purposes vs For all intensive purposes – No matter how strongly you feel about the subject, the phrase ‘for all intensive purposes’ is still wrong. ‘For all intents and purposes’ on the other hand means that you’re covering all the possibilities and isn’t that what you meant anyway?
I could go on and on, but the above are some of my favorites. What about you? Comment below with your favorite. (FYI: spellcheck caught most of the mistakes above. It’s a pain in the a$$, but spellcheck does help. Sometimes.)
