10 More Often-Confused Words

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

When someone says “on accident” instead of “by accident,” does it make you cringe? I first noticed “on accident” when my daughter said it years ago, and then I heard my 7th grade students and even younger teachers say it. It seems to be a generational grammar issue. Although the correct phrase is “on purpose, ” it is not “on accident.” It is “by accident.” Here are some more confused words and phrases:

1.bad/badly – Bad is an adjective, used to describe a noun: I have a bad feeling about that. Badly is an adverb that describes an action verb: I did badly on that quiz. The problem arises when you have a “being” or “linking” (or sensory) verb like feel, taste, or smell. Then you use the adjective, bad: I feel bad about how it turned out is correct. I feel badly is not correct, but is often used.

2. baited/bated – I waited with bated breath. Baited refers to a fish hook.

3. bazaar/bizarre – You can buy things at a bazaar. If you buy something really weird, it is bizarre.

4. because of/due to – Due to is used after the verb to be: His absence was due to having the flu (not because of having the flu). Because of means as a result of and is not used directly after the verb to be:  She avoids strangers because of her extreme shyness.

5. beside/besides – Beside means next to: Come sit beside me. Besides means in addition to: There is no one here besides you and me.

6. biannual/biennial – Biannual is twice a year: The biannual catalog comes out every January and July. Biennial is once every two years: Every other year, we have our biennial talent show.

7. bimonthly/semimonthly – Bimonthly is generally every two months: The bimonthly calendar comes out six times a year. Semimonthly means twice a month: Our semimonthly newsletter comes out the second and fourth Mondays of every month.

8. born/borne – Born means brought forth by birth: I was born on July 6. Borne is the past participle of the verb to bear: She has borne six children.

9. bring/take – These two words go in opposite directions. You bring something back, and you take something away: Take these books back to the library.  Bring home some new ones.

10. by accident/on accident –  See above!

Here is the link to my upcoming talk on the Nonfiction Writers Association teleseminar on July 1.