# Using big words incorrectly **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020 "2005-05-23T00:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bivg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bivg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bivg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/1 "2005-05-23T00:31:34Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/2 "2005-05-23T00:36:04Z")
[Malapropism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. ---
**Author:** ![Low\_Key\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Low\_Key\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Low_Key_1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/3 "2005-05-23T00:38:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/4 "2005-05-23T00:39:49Z")
Now we need a word for incorrect use of apostrophes. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/5 "2005-05-23T00:42:59Z")
inapostrapriate. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/6 "2005-05-23T00:45:13Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Now we need a word for incorrect use of apostrophes. Apostate? ---
**Author:** ![Bivg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bivg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bivg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/7 "2005-05-23T00:53:16Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Now we need a word for incorrect use of apostrophes. Where? And no malapropism is not the word I’m looking for as it came up with solecism. ---
**Author:** ![monkeyfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@monkeyfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monkeyfist)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/8 "2005-05-23T01:19:23Z")
> [@Bivg](#): > > Where? > > And no malapropism is not the word I’m looking for as it came up with solecism. > [@](#): > > When I looked it up it’s definition in essence said > > but neither it nor it’s synonyms rang any bells **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 . ---
**Author:** ![Bivg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bivg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bivg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/9 "2005-05-23T01:25:43Z")
Ah yes, I see the mistake now. I should proof-read my online postings more often. Panache45 still isn’t funny though. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/10 "2005-05-23T01:26:58Z")
> [@Bivg](#): > > Where? 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. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/11 "2005-05-23T01:34:34Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > inapostrapriate. inapostrophate? ---
**Author:** ![Bivg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bivg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bivg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/12 "2005-05-23T01:35:28Z")
: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… ---
**Author:** ![Bivg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bivg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bivg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/13 "2005-05-23T01:36:45Z")
make it 4 and counting… ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/14 "2005-05-23T10:16:45Z")
> [@Low Key](#): > > 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. A play, actually: Mrs Malaprop was a character in Richard Sheridan’s _The Rivals_. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/15 "2005-05-23T10:25:38Z")
> [@Bivg](#): > > :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… Welcome to the SDMB. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/16 "2005-05-23T12:24:07Z")
NormCrosbyism ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/17 "2005-05-23T13:48:21Z")
> [@Bivg](#): > > make it 4 and counting… You just didn’t do enough lurking before jumping in…we’re like this all the time. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/18 "2005-05-23T14:23:14Z")
The word “sesquipedalian” refers to someone who uses long words, but does’nt imply incorrect usage. Is this perhaps what you were thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/19 "2005-05-23T14:28:03Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/20 "2005-05-23T15:22:03Z")
[This](http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/) site gives \*\*acyrologia \*\* as a term for misuse of words. I can’t find a term for someone that habitually uses acyrologia. Acyrologist? Acyrologian? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020.md?page=2)