# Mixed up words and people who don't know the difference **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 1999, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157 "1999-12-14T04:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/21 "1999-12-14T20:16:00Z")
I hate it when people get “literally” mixed up with “figuratively” or “practically”. Granted, they are spelled and pronounced alike, but they don’t mean the same thing [ironic sentence]. For example, don’t say, “Whoa, dude, my computer got _literally fried_!” unless it’s been cooked in some kind of fat or oil. “Oooh this better work or my ass is literally going to be on the chopping block.” Interesting image, though. “The cold killed half my cattle! My herd’s been literally decimated!” Decimated five times? * * * I don’t want to make people think like me, I want them to think like me of their own free will. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/22 "1999-12-14T22:35:00Z")
If you want to drive me up the wall, it’s very affective to get “effect” and “affect” confused. That error effects me deeply, in grammatical ways that you couldn’t begin to understand. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/23 "1999-12-14T22:39:00Z")
“Disinterested” vs “uninterested” Thru misuse, the former has adopted (or adapted, hmmm?) the latter as a secondary definition. Originally, they meant totally different things. ---
**Author:** ![Chrome\_Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Chrome\_Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chrome_Toaster)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/24 "1999-12-14T22:44:00Z")
Arnold, you nailed my favorite peeve. Another peeve of mine is the mix up of further and farther. They are not interchangable and they do not mean the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/25 "1999-12-14T22:46:00Z")
Sigh. Another “get the editors” thread. If all of you will agree to flawlessly observe the distinction between “that” and “which,” “comprise” and “compose” and “anxious” and “eager” – and never, ever use “relatively” when you simply mean “somewhat,” I shall spare you a nice long speech on how underpaid and underappreciated copy editors are 🙂 Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![bantmof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@bantmof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bantmof)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/26 "1999-12-14T23:32:00Z")
Less vs. fewer. As in, “I have less oranges than you”. No, you have _fewer_ oranges, damnit! My real peeve is that I often screw up things that I really do know. Sometimes I go back and read things I’ve written to discover I wrote “there” instead of “they’re”, or “its” instead of “it’s”, and I _do_ know the difference! Another, non-linguistic peeve: I sometimes read a news article in the mass media saying something like, “An F-16 from such and such base…”, while accompanying photo shows a very twin-tailed F-15, or sometimes even an A-6. It seems like they just pull up a stock photo of any old military aircraft at random. One aircraft is pretty much the same as another, I guess. – peas on earth ---
**Author:** ![J\_String](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@J\_String](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_String)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/27 "1999-12-15T00:47:00Z")
Here’s one that really bugs me: misuse of a negative. “All people are idiots.” The correct way to give the statement the opposite meaning is to insert the ‘not’ in this manner: “Not all people are idiots.” Unfortunately, I see the following construction too often: “All people are not idiots.” which means the same as “No people are idiots.” Many intelligent and otherwise competent writers do this, and it annoys me to no end. Unfortunately it appears on its way to becoming standard. * * * It’s a long way to heaven, but only three short steps to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Doctordec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Doctordec](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctordec)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/28 "1999-12-15T01:33:00Z")
How about preresiquite for prerequisite ! Physical year instead of fiscal year And in a class last month “The raccoon is a very seclusive animal” Huh ?? Or my all time favorite…clumbersome ! * * * “Hope is not a method” ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/29 "1999-12-15T03:03:00Z")
Clumbersome, heh heh. I like it! Chrome Toaster – I was just bickering with my husband about further/farther. We were listening to a song with the lyrics “never been closer to heaven, never been further away.” Should be “farther,” am I right? He says “same difference” (another irritating phrase.) * * * “There’s a snake in my boot!” ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/30 "1999-12-15T05:11:00Z")
voguevixen, here’s what my Webster’s says about farther and further: “_usage:_ According to traditional grammarians, _farther_ should be used only in connection with physical distance, as in _They sailed farther down the coast.__Further_ should be used esp. in referring to degree, quantity, or time, as in _They fell further into debt._ But it should be noted that the distinction between the two terms has often been ignored by writers since the time of Shakespeare.” * * * “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank ---
**Author:** ![Chrome\_Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Chrome\_Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chrome_Toaster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/31 "1999-12-15T06:15:00Z")
## I made my Mom in Law really mad this summer when she was staying with us, because a news person said “Feb-you-ary” and I said, "that annoys me, when people say ‘Feb-you-ary’, since I had a second grade teach who drilled “Feb-ROO-ary into our heads, and if I had to learn to say it the way it is spelled, everyone should.” The mom in law got really huffy, and said, “ **I** say Feb-you-ary, and I am **sure** it is correct.” So she looked in the dictionary, and, indeed, it is an acceptable pronunciation, since it has been pronounced that way by so many for so long. So I said “Huh! Next thing you know, ‘nook-you-ler’ will be in the dictionary, too, since so many people say it that way. And Li-Berry, too, do you think?” OOh she got mad. BTW no offense to anyone who says Feb-you-ary, since I do accept that it is an accepted pronunciation. I just love to get the Mom in Law riled on occasion. :0 “A slightly altered view of the world…” Chrome Toaster ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/32 "1999-12-15T06:40:00Z")
Well, I was going to say that I don’t really have any grammatical pet peeves, but I just heard one (on an NPR news report no less) that just makes me cringe every time I hear it. “as” vs. “since” Yeah, yeah. I know Webster’s says it’s okay, but what’s wrong with using “since” if that’s what you mean? People that use “as” that way are usually trying to make themselves sound more intellectual, but they do it at the cost of conciseness. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/33 "1999-12-15T08:56:00Z")
It’s not _orientate_, it’s _Who will orient the new students?_ It’s not _could care less_. If you could care less, then you do care somewhat. It’s _I couldn’t care less if all trollers were buried up to their knees – head first._ Piece. ---
**Author:** ![Gumby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@Gumby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gumby)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/34 "1999-12-15T09:06:00Z")
My all time worst peeve is whe people spell You’re (as in you are) as your. I even saw this in a print add recently, disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/35 "1999-12-15T10:43:00Z")
My biggest pet peeve is the misspelling of “lose” as “loose”. Also “loser” as “looser”. I had NEVER seen this before I started tooling around the internet. Now it seems I see it daily. Perhaps I should avoid the yahoo chat board. they all all loosers 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/36 "1999-12-15T13:29:00Z")
I often see errors in print and ads with possesives and plurals. For example: The Gilligan’s would like to…; …taking it’s time. It’s really not that hard - " ‘s " is possesive, " s " is plural, " s’ " is plural and possesive. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/37 "1999-12-15T15:35:00Z")
When people (my boss in particular, but I see politicians & news anchors do it all the time) use _myself_ when they **don’t** mean to make the verb reflexive. _“If you have any questions, please feel free to talk to either my assistant or myself”._ Um, I should talk to _yourself?_ ---
**Author:** ![melanietarrant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@melanietarrant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melanietarrant)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/38 "1999-12-15T16:06:00Z")
this may be just a local thing. but in SE pennsylvania, people say yous (plural for you) “are yous guys going to the store?” aaahhhh!!! i hate that!!! i also hate people who don’t capitalize people who don’t capitalize should be shot!!! there is no excuse for that! i mean you can’t blame someone for being a poor speller, some people just can’t learn spelling. but every single person learns about capitol letters in fist grade! it’s just plain lazyness! and let’s not forget ending every sentence with exclamation points! that’s like laughing at your own joke! it’s rude! or, beginning sentences with cunjunctions! that’s just poor form! ---
**Author:** ![Doctordec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Doctordec](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctordec)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/39 "1999-12-15T17:25:00Z")
I am reminded of a few more Jew Loo Ree for Jew El Ree…jewelry Reel It Tee for Reel Tee…realty Supposably… but someone told me that’s a real word. And my old boss used to prononce pneumatic as poo matic and he was serious. Looser ! ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157/40 "1999-12-15T19:10:00Z")
Nuculer for nuclear. I actually heard a TV anchor say “liberry”. “I been…” or “I seen…” The modern slang, including luzer and kewl. People who write in phrases instead of complete sentences. Assume you can follow. Guess the rest of the sentence. I do it from time to time in personal correspondence, mainly for effect. But anytime I’m trying to actually convey a point, I revert to full English. There’s a reason our sentences are constructed the way they are, with all those extra words like subjects and adjectives. Then there’s a guy on one board who posts in some strange shorthand he developed himself. It is a combination of English words with letters and symbols, sort of like those children’s games using pictures as words and you have to decipher the meaning. He writes like that in every post. I’ve stopped reading anything by him. Even though he has made a few interesting points, I can never understand what he’s saying. Takes too much effort to decrypt. Speaking of slang, anyone remember “It’s like pink and green”? Don’t know about pink and green, but I know a kid who’s favorite colors are pink and orange. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mixed-up-words-and-people-who-dont-know-the-difference/12157.md?page=3)