Welcome to The Mad Logophile. It is my intent to explore words here; their origins, evolution, usage. Words are fascinating. They are alive; they are born, they change and, sometimes, they die. They are our principal tool for communicating with one another. There are millions of words yet only an estimated 171,476 words are in common current use. As a lexiphile, I enjoy discovering new words, using them and learning about their origins. Why yes, I do read dictionaries for fun... don't you?
Before we begin, how about a bit of trivia? Almost all of the hundred most common words in our modern vocabulary come from Old English. I'd like to add some trivia every week. Yay or nay?
This week we look at catechresis, the misuse of words and phrases. The term comes from the Greek, katakhresthai, "to misuse." As you can see from the title of the diary, I had been guilty of misusing the prefix, "lexi-" so the new title reflects this correction. Let's go below the fold to play...
The words and phrases here are ones that I have observed most often online and IRL. The definitions come from dictionaries and grammar books. So, in alphabetical order....
If you offer me sushi I will gladly accept it; except for conger eel or uni ones. The easiest way to remember the difference is that the "X" in "except" excludes things. But the two "c"s in "accept" are snuggled up together and are very accepting.
When we have an influence on something, we affect it. And when we describe what happened, we tell of the effect we had. "Affect" is a verb, "effect" is a noun; when you affect a situation, you have an effect on it. While both words can be both things (noun and verb) when speaking about oneself, this is the general rule.
In referring to something, we allude to it. When we are trying to avoid something, we elude it. Hopefully. One is said to be allusive when talking about something (usually something vague or not present). And elusive if one is talking about eluding that something. Imaginary things are illusive but, more often, illusory.
If you judge the value of something, you appraise it. When you tell the owner what it's worth, you apprise them of the value.
To assure someone is to make them confident of something. You then ensure that it will happen. Perhaps you might insure them in case it doesn't. Some authorities consider "ensure" and "insure" interchangeable. To please everyone, make the distinction.
Altogether is an adverb meaning "entirely, completely." All together is a phrase describing a group. The liberals were all together in the garden, having an altogether great time.
Abuse carries a sense of harm; misuse does not. One abuses an animal (but not if they know what's good for them) but only misuses a word. Though misuse of a word could perhaps lead to abuse...
To achieve is to bring to a successful conclusion. To accomplish is to perform fully. I may accomplish washing the dishes on the way to achieving a clean house.
An action applies in particular to doing something; the act is the thing done. An action is punctual and precise, an activity takes time. We perform an action during an activity.
Addiction is a physical reliance on something while dependency is psychological. He is addicted to nicotine but dependent upon the social aspect of smoking in a group.
When someone admits to something, it implies acknowledgment of their own conduct. Admit implies reluctance to disclose. Concede applies to facts and non-personal things. The criminal will admit to breaking the law. The debater will concede that his argument is weaker.
When we assume something, we suppose it to be the case without proof. If we presume something, we do so on the basis of probability. Presumption is better informed than assumption.
Unless one's breath smells like worms, the proper expression is bated breath. Here, bated is a shortening of "abated, held."
Bad is an adjective while badly is an adverb. One may be treated badly and others may feel bad for you. Let's feel bad about someone who may feel badly as they may not have fingers.
Between refers to two, among to three or more entities and amid for a quantity not made up of separate items. He sat between two people, among a group and amid an uproar.
A bias is based upon facts, a prejudice without knowing or examining the facts. I am biased towards opposing the war but she is prejudiced against all Arabs.
If someone is callous, they are unfeeling. If they have a tough build-up on their hands or feet, that is a callus. He is a callused person who is callous.
To censor is to suppress someone's writing or speech. To censure is to officially denounce an offender. A device which senses changes in light or electrical output is a sensor. A censer is an incense burner.
Child-like is used to describe someone's temperament while childish describes behavior. She is child-like while enjoying a party but childish when told it's time to leave.
If you are saying something nice about someone, you are paying them a compliment. But if you are talking about matching or completing something, you want complement. He may compliment her on the way her suit complements her eyes.
Something that is complex is usually well-organized, logical and/or subtle and intricate. A complicated thing is perverse or irregular as well as being intricate. Complex is more technical while complicated would describe one's personal life.
If a thing is definite, it is precise, unmistakable and clearly delineated. A definitive thing is final and conclusive; something which is the perfect example is definitive.
Here is the best explanation of the desert/dessert thing I have ever seen: That impoverished stretch of sand called a desert can only afford one "s." In contrast, that rich gooey extra thing at the end of the meal called a dessert indulges in two of them.
Disburse is something you do with objects, disperse if something that entities do. If you disburse funds to a crowd of street urchins, they will probably disperse.
If you suspect a thing is false, use "doubt that": I doubt that Rush ever checks his facts. If you are expressing uncertainty, use "whether": I doubt whether Congressional Republicans will stop playing games anytime soon. "Doubt if" = "doubt whether," but is more casual. But don’t use it when you mean "doubt that."
When you mean "for example," use e.g. It's an abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia. When you mean "that is," use i.e. which is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase id est.
If someone is an egoist, they think the world revolves around them. An egotist can't stop talking about himself. Rush is an egoist while Bill-O is an egotist.
Strictly speaking, ethics are beliefs. Your morals are your behavior: if you have poor morals, you behave badly. She has strong ethics yet weak morals, she has high standards yet fails to live up to them.
To exorcise is to cast out a demon. Unless you are possessed, you want exercise to stay healthy.
A fake is a piece of art that is altered to make it appear older, better or other than what it is. A forgery is a fraudulent imitation of another piece of art.
While some are lax about it, it's best to use farther in reference to physical space and further in the abstract. He went father afield to further his agenda.
Fewer means a smaller number of individual things while less means a small quantity of something. Less should be use for uncountable things; "less water," "less doubt." Fewer, OTOH, should be used when things can actually be counted; "fewer people," "fewer dollars."
If you are showing off your new Blackberry, you may flaunt it. Flout is breaking a standard or rule, as in "to flout authority."
Finally is used when the item described is part of a process; lastly is used when the item is part of a list or actions. I finally have begun this diary. Lastly, I will type "Spill it."
If you can cower a group of Conservatives with your very presence, you have a forceful personality. If you had to use force to restrain them, you were forcible. Forceful is powerful, forcible describes the use of force.
A generality is a non-specific, indefinite statement or observation. A generalization is is a conclusion or statement inferred from a set of descriptions, observations or experiments.
Though it is often seen or heard, using good as an adverb in place of well is nonstandard usage. If it sounds awkward to use good; "She dances real good," "he did good,"use well.
A grizzly is a kind of bear; something grisly is horrible. A grizzly leaves a grisly sight after it kills something. And yes, the grizzly got its name from being grizzled or having gray hairs.
If you are sold something with a guarantee, it is not the same as a warranty. A guarantee is a general representation regarding the the quality and/or performance of the item. A warranty is a legal term for a document of guarantee. So unless you have a warranty, you are probably not covered if the item doesn't work.
If you party, you do it hearty. If you can do it for days at a stretch, you are hardy. Hearty means strong; hardy is durable.
Is Obama's Presidency historic or historical? Since it is famous in history, it is historic. Something that is pertaining to history is historical. If something has a place in history, it is historic; if it has to do with history, it is historical.
Homographs are words that are spelled alike, have different meanings and sometimes are pronounced differently (lead). Homophones are pronounced alike but have different spellings and meanings (rite, write, right). Homonyms are spelled and pronounced alike but have different meanings (bow).
If you imply something you are suggesting indirectly that a thing is true. If you infer you have concluded or deduced from information that a thing is true. Usually a speaker or writer implies. I imply that Bill-O makes it up as he goes and, from that, he may infer that I don't respect him.
If someone is ineffectual they have a general habit of failure. If they are ineffective they failed at a specific task. Dubya was an ineffectual POTUS and was particularly ineffective as a speaker.
An interpreter converts speech to another language. A translator converts writing into another language.
The misuse of its and it's is one of the most egregious examples of catechresis. Here's a general rule: "it’s" always means "it is" or "it has" and nothing else. If you are not sure, try changing the "its" in your sentence to "his" and if it doesn’t make sense, then use "it’s."
If your boyfriend flirts with another girl, you may be jealous. If your friend is going to the White House, you may envy her. If they are going together, you have a problem. Jealousy refers to an emotional rivalry while envy is resentment of another's fortune, belongings or accomplishments.
If you are likely to do something, you are liable to do it. If someone defames you in writing, they libel you. If they do so in speech only, they slander you.
Use like when no verb follows or is implied; she took to politics like a duck to water. Use as when a clause follows; He treats his car as if it were his baby. It may help to remember the actual meaning of like, "appearance, body,form." see simile
If you dislike something intensely, you loathe it. You may be loath to go near it. Loath means unwilling, reluctant, disinclined. Loathe is to feel revulsion or despise.
That dog running around the neighborhood is loose. The owner may lose it. If you confuse these, say it aloud first. Loose has an "s" sound while lose has a "z" sound.
Important to remember for us political wonks... A majority is more than half the votes. A plurality is simply more votes.
We often see the words mean and median used in reference to polls. The mean is the average; add the numbers and divide by however many numbers there are. When half the data of a set are above a point and half below, that point is the median. The difference between mean and median can be quite significant.
Misinformation is false information. Disinformation is misleading or deceptive. Misinformation is given accidentally, disinformation is given with ulterior motives.
When you mean that something must have done, you can use must've as a contraction (even though Firefox doesn't like it). Same for could have and should have. Using "of" after the word (must of, could of, should of) is incorrect.
If you are sick to your stomach you are nauseated. The thing that makes you feel this way is nauseous. Hannity is nauseous; he makes me nauseated.
Number should be used with nouns that are countable. Amount is used with mass nouns. There are a number of mistakes but an amount of money.
Paramount means "best"; think of Paramount Pictures and their mountain logo. Tantamount is equal to; Dubya's continued insistence that he didn’t remember any of the NIEs he read is tantamount to a confession of incompetence.
The folks who wrote the script for Pirates Of The Caribbean got it wrong! Parlay means to use a gain to make further gains; like letting a bet ride when playing roulette. The word they wanted was parley (with an "ee" sound), to discuss or confer. Ooops.
If you are referring to a time before now or to a distance, use past; The Congress was Republican in the past. If you are referring to the action of passing you need to use passed; When Congress passed the bill it was by a slim margin.
We discussed this last week... the penultimate is the next-to-last. Many assume it to be the very last. If you want to show off, refer to the antepenultimate which is the next-to-next-to-last.
That guy who wears baggy pants and a doo-rag but lives in the 'burbs is a poseur. A poser is a riddle or difficult question. They are pronounced the same, though.
To persuade someone is to get them to do something. If you convince them, it is to make them think something. I persuaded him to cook for me and later convinced him of my political position.
Practical is anything that is worth doing. Practicable is anything that can be done whether it's worth doing or not. Practical applies when the subject is the conduct of affairs whereas pragmatic applies to the planning with respect to these affairs. The Stimulus is practical but we must be pragmatic about applying it.
Use preceding if you are talking about something that occurred immediately beforehand. If it happened some time before, use previous. Preceding my writing this diary, I read ones I had done previously.
A psychologist is a person who has studied the mind and earned a Ph.D. or Psy.D. A psychiatrist is technically an M.D. specializing in the treatment of mental problems who can prescribe medicines. Psychotherapist is not a technical term, and may be used by anyone claiming to offer therapy for mental problems. Qualified clinical psychologists and psychiatrists can be properly referred to as psychotherapists. A psychoanalyst is a licensed practitioner of the methods of Sigmund Freud.
A query is a single question. An inquiry may be a single question or a series of questions. It can also be an investigation. A question differs from a query in that it does not suggest a reservation or disagreement.
When you argue against someone, you rebut their argument. You refute it once you have proved it incorrect. Obama will rebut the argument and eventually refute it.
Something relevant is worthy of raising in the context of a discussion. Something pertinent is applicable to the point at issue. Saying that the Republicans are being naysayers is relevant but the pertinent fact is that they voted against that bill.
A reply is generally when the answer is verbal, either written or spoken. A response has a more general application. I may respond to being awakened with a query of "You awake?" with a reply of "Go away!"
Sarcasm means derisive or tauntingly contemptuous and is meant to mock or wound. If a remark is scornful or cynically disdainful, personal or not, it is sardonic. Irony is a device that may be employed in satire (holding things to ridicule) to say something in language that denotes quite the opposite of what is intended.
A simile likens one thing to another dissimilar thing; He dances like a drunken buffalo. A metaphor treats the two things as if they were identical and substitutes one for another; The sunset is as red as blood. Similes usually use "like" where metaphors do not.
If you are involved in a never-ending conflict which has no chance of being resolved, that is a stalemate. But if there is a chance of it ending, it is a stand-off or a deadlock.
Stupid refers to a lack of ability. Ignorant refers to a lack of knowledge. One can be ignorant of something and not be stupid. But if one is stupid, they can't learn.
Another of the commonest mistakes... They're is a contraction of "they are." If you have written "they're" and are not quite sure about it, replace it with "they are." If it doesn't sound right, it's not. Their is a possessive pronoun; They like their chili hot. There refers to a place; I don't want to go there. Here's a good clue; "there" has "here" hidden in it to remind you that it refers to a place. "Their" has "heir" within it to remind you that it refers to possessions.
If your are comparing things use than; Obama was a better candidate than McCain. Then refers to time; He was new then.
Too always refers to more or added; I want a stimulus too or That music is too loud. Remember the extra "o" which is added. For all other uses, to is the correct choice (unless you mean the number).
If you are indifferent to something, you are uninterested. If you have no personal interest or no stake in it, you are disinterested. I am uninterested in fishing; I do not give a darn about it one way or the other. I am disinterested in soccer; I am aware of and might watch soccer but I have no bias as to who wins.
Suppose you had an awful night in a hotel; hard mattress, noisy neighbors, cold water. Then you are unsatisfied because you had an expectation that was not satisfied. Dissatisfied implies no such prior expectation, but simply registers a failure to be satisfied. I am dissatisfied with Congressional Republicans.
Weather refers to the climate or environment out of doors. Whether is a choice between alternatives. The weather may be nice today whether it rains or not.
Use who when a nominative pronoun is appropriate. A nominative pronoun acts as a subject and is used 1) as the subject of a verb; It was Obama who won the election, and 2) as the compliment of a linking verb; They know who you are. Whom is an objective pronoun, meaning it serves as an object. It is used 1) as the object of a verb; Whom did you see? or 2) as the object of a preposition; That is the group to whom the credit belongs. When in doubt, substitute him or her and see if that sounds right; You talked to whom/You talked to him.
To put thoughts down on paper (or a computer screen) is to write. Use right as a direction or positive adjective. You may be right about what you write. A rite is a religious ritual.
Xmas is not an attempt to exclude Christ from Christmas. It is an abbreviation of the Greek spelling of the word "Christ" with the "X" representing the Greek letter chi. Few people know this so it's probably better not to use this abbreviation in religious contexts.
You're is always a contraction of "you are." If you’ve written "you’re," and are unsure if it's correct, try substituting "you are." If it doesn’t work, the word you want is "your." Your is a possessive pronoun; This diary is not a waste of your time. I hope. If you mean "you are welcome", use "you're."
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Okay, your turn now. Is there a word that you see misused often? Is there a misuse that drives you up the wall? Spill it!