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10 Words That You've Probably Been Misusing

Discussion in 'Writing Resources' started by A. E. Lowan, Jul 30, 2013.

  1. Jul 30, 2013 #1
    A. E. Lowan

    A. E. Lowan Forum Mom Leadership

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    bob1thousand, Scribble and T.Allen.Smith like this.
  2. Jul 30, 2013 #2
    T.Allen.Smith

    T.Allen.Smith Staff Moderator

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    Good article. Some, I think, are cases for the evolution of language. Although, I found "peruse, nauseous, & enormity" interesting.
     
  3. Jul 30, 2013 #3
    druidofwinter

    druidofwinter Sage

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    Interesting. I was surprised that PERUSE did not mean what i thought it did. I could see most of the others. Thanks for sharing. :)
     
  4. Jul 31, 2013 #4
    CupofJoe

    CupofJoe Myth Weaver

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    Yep - that was the one that got me.
     
  5. Jul 31, 2013 #5
    Devor

    Devor Fiery Keeper of the Hat Moderator

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    Peruse, I think, has maybe been used so much as an overstatement - "I'm just going to peruse the shelves while you two talk" - that it's just how we're used to hearing it. But mostly I think, as T Allen said, it's just the evolution of language. Except for ironic, which is a literary term that should be getting taught in schools.

    It's a shame about redundant, though. According to this, the word's basically supposed to mean "purple prose." But who would use it that way now?
     
  6. Jul 31, 2013 #6
    CupofJoe

    CupofJoe Myth Weaver

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    Challenge accepted!
     
  7. Jul 31, 2013 #7
    Scribble

    Scribble Archmage

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    Alanis Morrissette untaught in 4:06 whatever might have been taught, had it been taught.

    Alanis Morissette - Ironic w/lyrics (HQ sound) - YouTube

    This young woman comes to the rescue of the definition however, and fixes what Alanis didn't get from her high school English class.

    It's Finally Ironic - YouTube

    Ed Byrne, Comedian
     
    Reaver, Trick and Zero Angel like this.
  8. Jul 31, 2013 #8
    Zero Angel

    Zero Angel Auror

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    I found the music amusing, although the video got on my nerves rather quickly. I saw a comedian years ago on Comedy Central that had a whole long hilarious rant about Alanis. I can't remember the details though -_-

    Thank you Google: www.comedycentral.com/jokes/4441tg/stand-up-sabrina-matthews--sabrina-matthews--schooling-alanis-morissette
     
  9. Jul 31, 2013 #9
    Steerpike

    Steerpike Felis amatus Moderator

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    I made that point about the song when it was out, and the person I made it to became angry (she liked the song and felt like I was mocking it).

    I wasn't a big fan of Alanis. I didn't buy the personality she was selling. It seemed manufactured (though I know nothing about her personally, so I could be wrong).
     
  10. Jul 31, 2013 #10
    T.Allen.Smith

    T.Allen.Smith Staff Moderator

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    Just as a check, I pulled this from a dictionary.

    Enormity-
    Noun:
    1: the quality of being outrageous
    2: vastness of size or extent; "in careful usage the noun enormity is not used to express the idea of great size"; "universities recognized the enormity of their task"
    3: the quality of extreme wickedness
    4: an act of extreme wickedness
     
  11. Jul 31, 2013 #11
    Scribble

    Scribble Archmage

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    I have found that people don't like it when you point out flaws in the things they love. Still not sure what to do about that :)

    Canada is big, but the world is small enough that I actually had her cousin as my boss in my first programming job. Is that ironic? LOL
     
  12. Aug 1, 2013 #12
    Zero Angel

    Zero Angel Auror

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    Yeah, a lot of the words have had their definitions shift so that they mean what people think they mean
     
  13. Aug 2, 2013 #13
    Zero Angel

    Zero Angel Auror

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    Why isn't jealousy on this list? Everybody and their mom uses it as a replacement for envy
     
  14. Aug 2, 2013 #14
    T.Allen.Smith

    T.Allen.Smith Staff Moderator

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    Because the title "11 Words that You've Probably Been Misusing" doesn't catch the eye as well....
     
  15. Aug 3, 2013 #15
    Ophiucha

    Ophiucha Auror

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    For some reason, I often use terrific and fantastic in their more literal sense. Inspiring terror. Bizarre and fanciful. People look at me strangely for both, so I think it is safe to say that their old meanings are nearing redundancy. Also, I'm not sure I've ever heard someone use redundant when they meant repetitive, sorry Mr. Vendetti.
     
  16. Aug 6, 2013 #16
    Shanatos

    Shanatos Dreamer

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    Nauseous and redundant are the two major ones that I don't think anyone uses in the old meanings anymore.
     
  17. Aug 7, 2013 #17
    draken

    draken Dreamer

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    you learn something new everyday.
     
  18. Aug 7, 2013 #18
    Jess A

    Jess A Archmage

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    I use redundant correctly.

    ------

    What is with 'conversate'? I've never heard that term. Ever.

    Nauseous, however - I've always thought it meant to feel sick. :\
     
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