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10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Akosxxx(m): 9:46pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
Straight to the point. 1. ACCEPT vs. EXCEPT These two words sound similar but have very different meanings. Accept means to receive something willingly: “His mom accepted his explanation” or “She accepted the gift graciously.” Except signifies exclusion: “I can attend every meeting except the one next week.” To help you remember, note that both except and exclusion begin with ex . 2. AFFECT VS EFFECT To make these words even more confusing than they already are, both can be used as either a noun or a verb. Let’s start with the verbs. Affect means to influence something or someone; effect means to accomplish something. “Your job was affected by the organizational restructuring” but “These changes will be effected on Monday.” As a noun, an effect is the result of something: “The sunny weather had a huge e ffect on sales.” It’s almost always the right choice because the noun affect refers to an emotional state and is rarely used outside of psychological circles: “The patient’s affect was flat.” 3. LIE vs. LAY We’re all pretty clear on the lie that means an untruth. It’s the other usage that trips us up. Lie also means to recline: “Why don’t you lie down and rest?” Lay requires an object: “ Lay the book on the table.” Lie is something you can do by yourself, but you need an object to lay . It’s more confusing in the past tense. The past tense of lie is—you guessed it— lay : “I lay down for an hour last night.” And the past tense of lay is laid: “I laid the book on the table.” 4. BRING vs. TAKE Bring and take both describe transporting something or someone from one place to another, but the correct usage depends on the speaker’s point of view. Somebody brings something to you, but you take it to somewhere else: “ Bring me the mail, then take your shoes to your room.” Just remember, if the movement is toward you, use bring; if the movement is away from you, use take. 5. IRONIC vs. COINCIDENTAL A lot of people get this wrong. If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that’s not ironic —it’s coincidental (and bad luck). Ironic has several meanings, all of which include some type of reversal of what was expected. Verbal irony is when a person says one thing but clearly means another. Situational irony is when a result is the opposite of what was expected. O. Henry was a master of situational irony. In his famous short story The Gift of the Magi , Jim sells his watch to buy combs for his wife’s hair, and she sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch. Each character sold something precious to buy a gift for the other, but those gifts were intended for what the other person sold. That is true irony. If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that’s coincidental. If you drive up to the mountains to ski, and there was more snow back at your house, that’s ironic. 6. IMPLY vs. INFER To imply means to suggest something without saying it outright. To infer means to draw a conclusion from what someone else implies. As a general rule, the speaker/writer implies, and the listener/reader infers. 7. NAUSEOUS vs. NAUSEATED Nauseous has been misused so often that the incorrect usage is accepted in some circles. Still, it’s important to note the difference. Nauseous means causing nausea; nauseated means experiencing nausea. So, if your circle includes ultra-particular grammar sticklers, never say “I’m nauseous ” unless you want them to be snickering behind your back. 8. COMPRISE vs. COMPOSE These are two of the most commonly misused words in the English language. Comprise means to include; compose means to make up. It all comes down to parts versus the whole. When you use comprise , you put the whole first: “A soccer game comprises (includes) two halves.” When you use compose, you put the pieces first: “Fifty states compose (make up) the United States of America.” 9.FARTHER vs. FURTHER Farther refers to physical distance, while further describes the degree or extent of an action or situation. “I can’t run any farther ,” but “I have nothing further to say.” If you can substitute “more” or “additional,” use further. 10.FEWER vs. LESS Use fewer when you’re referring to separate items that can be counted; use less when referring to a whole: “You have fewer dollars, but less money.” Bringing it all together English grammar can be tricky, and, a lot of times, the words that sound right are actually wrong. With words such as those listed above , you just have to memorize the rules so that when you are about to use them, you’ll catch yourself in the act and know for certain that you’ve written or said the right one. 149 Likes 23 Shares |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by LOVEGINO(m): 9:51pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
Ya head correct small 8 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by domopps(m): 9:51pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
Okay noted! Cheeeers |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by SurefireAsoOke: 9:55pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
When I tell pple that English is more difficult than maths, sumpple wil say no. 37 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Akosxxx(m): 10:00pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
Lalasticlala oya come educate Nigerians Oo |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Slimzjoe(m): 10:18pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
SurefireAsoOke: That's because Its not your Mother Tongue. 3 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by SurefireAsoOke: 10:25pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
Slimzjoe:The maths in the days of Newton is stil thesame today. Bt the English in the days of shakespare is #OUTDATE. Rep. Science Student. 17 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by IamChuks(m): 10:57pm On Jan 23, 2016 |
SurefireAsoOke:Is like u haf not jam hot maths before? Maths wicked 19 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Elparaiso(m): 3:59am On Jan 24, 2016 |
IamChuks:All the English in the world will not save you from ODE. Ordinary Differential Equations 15 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by SPG4U(m): 7:55am On Jan 24, 2016 |
no 3....thanks for that,... 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by idee91: 8:44am On Jan 24, 2016 |
No be say I sabi English like that o, but this words are easy to differentiate. 33 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Drfash(f): 9:17am On Jan 24, 2016 |
?? |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by rattlesnake(m): 9:37am On Jan 24, 2016 |
Wetin I wan talk wey I go need this level of gramm....does dangote use thus words 2 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by IamChuks(m): 9:39am On Jan 24, 2016 |
Elparaiso:see diz one.. |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Adatob(m): 10:11am On Jan 24, 2016 |
0k |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by timmyblast(m): 10:31am On Jan 24, 2016 |
The way people use these two words on nairaland makes me afraid. 1: IRONIC 2:EPIC. Any small thing, epic response, epic picture. Everything is now epic 10 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Nobody: 11:11am On Jan 24, 2016 |
SurefireAsoOke:some will say because i speak english all the time i can pass english language without reading that person should be insane to say that 2 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Laveda(f): 11:21am On Jan 24, 2016 |
AFFECT and EXCEPT? Do people mix those two words up? Seriously? I don't believe that, those are two different words, also pronounced differently 24 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Davidovinci(m): 11:30am On Jan 24, 2016 |
Laveda:It's ACCEPT AND EXCEPT....AFFECT and EFFECT.check again 9 Likes |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Laveda(f): 11:34am On Jan 24, 2016 |
Davidovinci:Still can't be mixed up, EXcept ....ACcept.....Did you notice the difference? 10 Likes 1 Share |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Davidovinci(m): 11:51am On Jan 24, 2016 |
Laveda:Trust me, people do mix 'em up..Accept is pronounced AXcept by some people..If u don't pay the much needed attention, you'd think the person just used the word Except. |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Laveda(f): 11:58am On Jan 24, 2016 |
Davidovinci:Sorry to say..but people who make such mistake are those market women and not a student... A and E are two different vowel sounds, and X and C? Different consonants too... pronounced differently... So I'm wondering how one can mix them up.... Hope you don't do that too? 10 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by SurefireAsoOke: 12:09pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
IamChuks:Name it 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Davidovinci(m): 12:13pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
Laveda:Nah...I don't... I've heard a couple of peeps mix 'em up..might be due to their mother tongue or something. If u follow krastv/pulseng on instagram u might have an idea or two of what i'm saying |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by cutetopsey(f): 12:14pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
OK! Noted! BTW, check my signature on how to get rid excess ugly belly fats |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Nobody: 12:14pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
Lol noted. |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Nobody: 12:14pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
Not guilty |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by dojumav: 12:15pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
U na forget advise and advice 1 Like |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Laveda(f): 12:16pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
Davidovinci:Now I get..the mother tongue thing lol... Really bad Happy Sunday! Cheers.... |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by allanphash7(m): 12:16pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
INSPITE VS DESPITE SPEAK VS TALK SAY VS TELL 1 Like |
Re: 10 Misused English Words That Make Smart People Look Silly by Nobody: 12:16pm On Jan 24, 2016 |
Walk or Trek Being or Been |
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