11 Popular English Words Incorrectly

11 popular English words we use incorrectly

Reasons why we use words incorrectly:

The definition and meaning of certain words usually change:

One of the common reasons as to why words are used incorrectly is that overtime, their definitions and meanings have changed dramatically and this has led to a shift in their usage. Because of this change in definitions, words have deviated from their intended and original use as they now have new usage ascribed to them.

There are words that sound alike:

Another reason as to why words are used incorrectly is that there are other words that sound similar to them and as such errors occur when these words are used interchangeably.

Wrong plural form

Suffixes

Literally:

What it means: this means

You can say

" There is a plethora of people in the hall"

Plethora here signifies that there is more that is required.

Travesty:

What it means: satire, parody or mockery

What it doesn 't mean: tragedy, misfortune or unfortunate

Wrong use of the word: This word is wrongly used to signify a tragedy or a misfortune:

Example: " the road accident was a travesty"

In the above example,Travesty doesn 't signify misfortune and the accident isn 't in anyway parodic or funny

Right use of word: the word travesty is used to make mockery of a situation

Example: " the play-let was a travesty of how the professor taught in class"

This shows the professor is being mocked

Bemused:

What it means: confusion or bewilderment:

What 's it doesn 't mean: funny, amusing

Wrong use of the word: although the word is similar to amuse, it is doesn 't have same meaning as something funny:

Example: " I was bemused by the comedian"

In the above example, bemused doesn 't imply that the comedian was funny.

Right use of word: the word is as a way of expressing confusion or bewilderment

Example: " the complex story line left me

Inflammable:

What it means: highly flammable

What it doesn 't mean: not flammable

Wrong use of word: because of the prefix "in" most persons think inflammable is the opposite of flammable when in actual fact they both mean the same thing

Example: " my wet clothes are inflammable"

Inflammable in the above example is used to signify that the wet clothes are not flammable.

Right use of word: the word signifies that something is flammable.

Example: " the gas cylinder is filled up and it is