Back in my junior year of highschool I had a friend who would attempt to use big words but usually did so incorrectly. That same year I read some piece of literature and came across a word I didn’t recognize (as is known to happen). When I looked it up it’s definition in essence said, “someone who uses big words incorrectly”. I told my girlfriend at the time, “hey, I found the perfect word to describe [my friend].” I did a web search recently to try and find that word again but to no avail. The closest one I found was “solicist” but neither it nor it’s synonyms rang any bells in my head as being the word I had found years back. Anyone have any idea what this word(s) is?
Malapropism is the incorrect use of words, usually with an unintended comic effect. It’s not necessarily restricted to big words. I’m not sure whether this is the word you’re thinking of.
Perhaps you’re thinking of Malapropism. I believe it’s originally from a character, Mrs. Malaprop, in some book who misused words frequently. Can’t remember the book now, though.
Another good word is sesquipedalian which is someone who uses long, or difficult words. Not necessarily incorrectly, though.
Now we need a word for incorrect use of apostrophes.
inapostrapriate.
Apostate?
Where?
And no malapropism is not the word I’m looking for as it came up with solecism.
it’s means “it is”
its is the possessive form
However, I dont care if you use the stupid apostrophe anyway, so dont sweat it… 
Some of us are more, shall we say “concerned” about these things than others
.
Ah yes, I see the mistake now. I should proof-read my online postings more often. Panache45 still isn’t funny though.
Your OP said “When I looked it up it’s definition”.
In this situation the spelling should be *its * (without the apostrophe), since you’re using the possessive adjective, not the contracted form of it is.
inapostrophate?
:rolleyes: You’d think this question was in regards to grammar…
Two legitimate responses to the original question, two to my follow-up question and three lame attempts at humor…
make it 4 and counting…
A play, actually: Mrs Malaprop was a character in Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals.
Welcome to the SDMB.
NormCrosbyism
You just didn’t do enough lurking before jumping in…we’re like this all the time.
The word “sesquipedalian” refers to someone who uses long words, but does’nt imply incorrect usage. Is this perhaps what you were thinking of?
Perhaps if you want to use it in context, you can say, “Dude, you’re such a sequipedalian!” He’ll ask you what it means, and you can say, “It means someone who uses big words incorrectly.”
Years later he’ll look the word up and finally get the joke.
Daniel
This site gives **acyrologia ** as a term for misuse of words.
I can’t find a term for someone that habitually uses acyrologia. Acyrologist? Acyrologian?