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Off topic: The 30 most commonly mispronounced phrases in English - to all intensive purposes Tópico cartaz: Tom in London
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Tom in London Reino Unido Local time: 01:43 Membro (2008) italiano para inglês |
Some I frequently hear or see: Irregardless Disinterested (true meaning "impartial, unbiassed" but thought to mean "not interested"). These days misused as often as correctly used, especially by Americans. More rarely seen or heard: Anti-secticide (would that be a product which gets rid of insecticide?) | | |
Oliver Walter Reino Unido Local time: 01:43 alemão para inglês + ... Exasperating? | Dec 9, 2017 |
Would this count as one? - I sometimes hear people talk about a situation being exasperated (e.g. on a phone-in radio programme a couple of weeks ago) when the correct word is 'exacerbated' (i.e. made worse). There are a few more but I don't remember them right now. Would it also be relevant (perhaps a separate topic) to list some words which are completely misused? e.g. "infinitely" when the intended meaning is only "greatly", and "crescendo" when the intended meaning is "climax". ... See more Would this count as one? - I sometimes hear people talk about a situation being exasperated (e.g. on a phone-in radio programme a couple of weeks ago) when the correct word is 'exacerbated' (i.e. made worse). There are a few more but I don't remember them right now. Would it also be relevant (perhaps a separate topic) to list some words which are completely misused? e.g. "infinitely" when the intended meaning is only "greatly", and "crescendo" when the intended meaning is "climax". Another one: people sometimes talk of something "mitigating against" a problem, but they mean "militating against" it.
[Edited at 2017-12-09 10:18 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | |
Daniel Frisano Itália Local time: 02:43 Membro (2008) inglês para italiano + ... From a real conversation | Dec 9, 2017 |
A: Frankly, I don't think that this is the right thing to do. B: Who's Franklin? | |
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Robert Forstag Estados Unidos Local time: 20:43 espanhol para inglês + ... More examples from real life.... | Dec 9, 2017 |
"I was bolivious of all the problems he was going through." "I found the man in the corner of the room, curled up in a fecal position." | | |
Tom in London Reino Unido Local time: 01:43 Membro (2008) italiano para inglês CRIADOR(A) DO TÓPICO
Robert Forstag wrote: "I was bolivious of all the problems he was going through." "I found the man in the corner of the room, curled up in a fecal position." Sounds like the same man - bulimic and fecal.
[Edited at 2017-12-09 12:59 GMT] | | |
JaredK Austrália Local time: 10:43 chinês para inglês A lot of allot | Dec 9, 2017 |
The most common issue I see is people writing "allot" (to distribute between or among) instead of "a lot" Jared Kirkwood NAATI 90003 Translation Bound www.translationbound.com.au | | |
Tow the line and more | Dec 9, 2017 |
I would of thought “tow the line”, one of the Daily Telegraph’s favourites, should be added to that list. Then there is “beg the question”, which contemporary journalists are generally incapable of using right, instead misusing it in the meaning “raise the question”. Such errors in the press can negatively effect reader’s writing skills. Many Americans have thrown the logic out of “couldn’t care less”, often saying “could care less�... See more I would of thought “tow the line”, one of the Daily Telegraph’s favourites, should be added to that list. Then there is “beg the question”, which contemporary journalists are generally incapable of using right, instead misusing it in the meaning “raise the question”. Such errors in the press can negatively effect reader’s writing skills. Many Americans have thrown the logic out of “couldn’t care less”, often saying “could care less” when they mean the opposite. (All the errors are deliberate) ▲ Collapse | |
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Tom in London Reino Unido Local time: 01:43 Membro (2008) italiano para inglês CRIADOR(A) DO TÓPICO
Thomas T. Frost wrote: contemporary journalists are generally incapable of using right.. Maybe they're using it left. | | |
Tom in London wrote: Thomas T. Frost wrote: contemporary journalists are generally incapable of using right.. Maybe they're using it left. Right, that's a possibility not to be left out. In any case they have left the original meaning behind. | | |
Michele Fauble Estados Unidos Local time: 17:43 Membro (2006) norueguês para inglês + ... Incorrect use of | Dec 9, 2017 |
"beg the question". | | |
Joshua Parker México Local time: 17:43 Membro (2016) espanhol para inglês + ... another think coming | Dec 9, 2017 |
One example that comes to mind is "you've got another thing coming" (instead of "think"). Growing up, I always used to say "thing", until one day, much to my surprise, I was corrected. I'm aware that "thing" is probably more common now, though - and it makes sense. | |
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Michael Newton Estados Unidos Local time: 20:43 japonês para inglês + ... mispronounced words | Dec 9, 2017 |
And what about "devil-makes-hair" and "ease-drop" ? | | |
MollyRose Estados Unidos Local time: 19:43 inglês para espanhol + ... actual experiences | Dec 10, 2017 |
I used to say "gerarium" until one day I saw one in a box with the correct word, "terrarium." "Makes sense," I thought. "Terra for earth or dirt!" I'm not sure if I had heard it mispronounced, or it just sounded like that. I also would ask for palapeño cornbread at the cafeteria because that's how my mother pronounced it (it might have just sounded like it, but then it's also very possible that she did pronounce it that way). When I finally saw the word "jalapeño" in writing, ... See more I used to say "gerarium" until one day I saw one in a box with the correct word, "terrarium." "Makes sense," I thought. "Terra for earth or dirt!" I'm not sure if I had heard it mispronounced, or it just sounded like that. I also would ask for palapeño cornbread at the cafeteria because that's how my mother pronounced it (it might have just sounded like it, but then it's also very possible that she did pronounce it that way). When I finally saw the word "jalapeño" in writing, of course I corrected myself, also feeling a little silly. This one still makes me laugh: A man once told me that I was pretty and boutique! ▲ Collapse | | |
Tom in London Reino Unido Local time: 01:43 Membro (2008) italiano para inglês CRIADOR(A) DO TÓPICO Having your cake | Dec 10, 2017 |
I was once told by an Englishwoman that she had spent some time in France living in a gateau. | | |
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