I thought this would be silly, until I found a few I misuse myself. Eek! Kinda funny, and educational.
10 Words That You've Probably Been Misusing
10 Words That You've Probably Been Misusing
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10 Words That You've Probably Been Misusing
- Thread starter A. E. Lowan
- Start date
Good article. Some, I think, are cases for the evolution of language. Although, I found "peruse, nauseous, & enormity" interesting.
druidofwinter
Sage
Interesting. I was surprised that PERUSE did not mean what i thought it did. I could see most of the others. Thanks for sharing. 
CupofJoe
Myth Weaver
Yep - that was the one that got me.Interesting. I was surprised that PERUSE did not mean what i thought it did. I could see most of the others. Thanks for sharing.
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?
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?
CupofJoe
Myth Weaver
Challenge accepted!
Scribble
Archmage
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
Zero Angel
Auror
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
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).
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).
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
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
Scribble
Archmage
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
Zero Angel
Auror
Yeah, a lot of the words have had their definitions shift so that they mean what people think they mean
Zero Angel
Auror
Why isn't jealousy on this list? Everybody and their mom uses it as a replacement for envy
Because the title "11 Words that You've Probably Been Misusing" doesn't catch the eye as well....
Ophiucha
Auror
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.
Shanatos
Dreamer
Nauseous and redundant are the two major ones that I don't think anyone uses in the old meanings anymore.
draken
Dreamer
you learn something new everyday.
Jess A
Archmage
I use redundant correctly.
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What is with 'conversate'? I've never heard that term. Ever.
Nauseous, however - I've always thought it meant to feel sick. :\
