# 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:** 2
**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, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/21 "2005-05-23T15:41:29Z")
Also consider cacozelia and soraismus from the same site > [@](#): > > Cacozelia: A stylistic affectation of diction, such as throwing in foreign words to appear learned. > Bad taste in words or selection of metaphor, either to make the facts appear worse or to disgust the auditors. > > soraismus: To mingle different languages affectedly or without skill. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/22 "2005-05-23T17:17:44Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > [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? I’d guess acyrologia:acyrologic::dyslexia:dyslexic. Admittedly, that only gets you to the adjectival form, but what do you call a person who has dyslexia? ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/23 "2005-05-23T17:30:21Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > I’d guess acyrologia:acyrologic::dyslexia:dyslexic. Admittedly, that only gets you to the adjectival form, but what do you call a person who has dyslexia? A dyslexic? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/24 "2005-05-23T17:32:51Z")
‘That word you keep using. I don’t think it means what you think it means.’ 😃 ---
**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, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/25 "2005-05-23T19:17:00Z")
Ooh! What about a dyslexicographer, as a fun neologism? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/26 "2005-05-23T21:24:04Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > A dyslexic? So, by analogy… ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/27 "2005-05-23T23:45:07Z")
What about capicola and provolone…mmmm, good samwich. …what?.. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/28 "2005-05-23T23:54:10Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > ‘That word you keep using. I don’t think it means what you think it means.’ 😃 **Inconceivable!** That was great! Still laughing! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/29 "2005-10-25T20:14:26Z")
It’s from French \*mal à propos \* “at the wrong time, unopportunely” ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/30 "2005-10-25T20:21:24Z")
> [@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. > > Another good word is sesquipedalian which is someone who uses long, or difficult words. Not necessarily incorrectly, though. It’s from French _mal à propos_ “at the wrong time, unopportunely” (Sorry for re-posting. It was in response to Low Key’s) ---
**Author:** ![MsMitey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@MsMitey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsMitey)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/31 "2005-10-25T20:58:31Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Cacozelia: A stylistic affectation of diction, such as throwing in foreign words to appear learned. I finally have a word to describe the local NPR announcers! And just in time for pledge drive week! Take that, John Lemle. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/32 "2005-10-25T21:08:12Z")
How about ‘sesquipedalian solecist’? From [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com): _ses·qui·pe·da·lian_ n. A long word. adj. Given to the use of long words. Long and ponderous; polysyllabic. _sol·e·cism_ n. A nonstandard usage or grammatical construction. A violation of etiquette. An impropriety, mistake, or incongruity. _sole·cist_ n. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/33 "2005-10-25T21:08:54Z")
Malapropist? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/34 "2005-10-25T21:11:39Z")
Be forewarned, though, that mispronouncing it will make you one. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/35 "2005-10-25T21:37:15Z")
> [@Bivg](#): > > :rolleyes: You’d think this question was in regards to grammar… Hmmm. I wouldn’t. Neither word choice nor punctuation are about grammar, in my way of seeing things. I think choosing a word which doesn’t mean what you think it means is different from choosing a word simply because it’s longer than another word which might convey your idea. Then again, there are those who say that natural languages are never redundant. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/36 "2005-10-25T21:39:22Z")
dick :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/37 "2005-10-25T21:49:13Z")
I take it none of you has noticed yet that our guest posed his question back in May and is extremely unlikely to be following this thread anymore? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/38 "2005-10-25T23:31:07Z")
> [@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. > > Another good word is sesquipedalian which is someone who uses long, or difficult words. Not necessarily incorrectly, though. She was a character in a play by either Moliere or Voltaire (I think). I’ll look it up. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/39 "2005-10-25T23:33:38Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > She was a character in a play by either Moliere or Voltaire (I think). I’ll look it up. The play was _The Rivals_ by Richard Sheridan in 1775. An easy mistake to make because his name is obviously so similar to theirs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![braggingwrites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90db22/32.png) [@braggingwrites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/braggingwrites)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020/40 "2005-10-25T23:36:02Z")
oooh, I know a word that hasn’t been mentioned… is it logorrheic?? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-big-words-incorrectly/305020.md?page=3)