# What misused phrases have you heard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160 "2008-12-14T21:03:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/61 "2008-12-16T01:43:23Z")
Slight hijack: I’d much rather hear people _mispronounce_ words they’ve read (genre, facade, etc.) than to _mis-spell_ words they’ve heard. If they’re mispronouncing words they’ve read but not heard, at least it means they _read_. If they mis-spell words they only hear (viola instead of voila, could of instead of could have) it means they don’t read. I know it’s snobbery on my part. But if it’s automatically clear that a person _doesn’t_ read, I think a little less of them. If they _brag_ about the fact that they never read, I think a _lot_ less of them. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/62 "2008-12-16T01:58:43Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Slight hijack: I’d much rather hear people _mispronounce_ words they’ve read (genre, facade, etc.) than to _mis-spell_ words they’ve heard. If they’re mispronouncing words they’ve read but not heard, at least it means they _read_. If they mis-spell words they only hear (viola instead of voila, could of instead of could have) it means they don’t read. > > I know it’s snobbery on my part. But if it’s automatically clear that a person _doesn’t_ read, I think a little less of them. If they _brag_ about the fact that they never read, I think a _lot_ less of them. There is no hyphen in the word misspell. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/63 "2008-12-16T04:28:45Z")
He does not have a problem with his prostrate, damn it! ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/64 "2008-12-16T04:42:41Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > He does not have a problem with his prostrate, damn it! “Yeah! Check the probate! Why, my uncle Thumper had a problem with his probate and he had to take these biiiiiiiiig pills and drink lots of water!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/65 "2008-12-16T04:44:22Z")
“Begs the question” for “prompts the question.” Yes, I know some dictionaries are accepting that usage now, but it still irks me. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/66 "2008-12-16T12:03:51Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > There is no hyphen in the word misspell. I would like to claim that I did that on purpose to see if anyone would catch it. That would be untrue, though. Sometimes these things confuse me and I get it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/67 "2008-12-16T13:38:55Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > Come to think of it, other than here, I’ve never heard anyone say the phrase “you’ve got another think coming.” They always replace the word with “thing.” Even Judas Priest did it. I suppose it makes sense in its own way, but it’s still wrong. Wait, which are you saying is incorrect? There was an entire thread about this a while back, and I was flabbergasted at the number of Dopers who insisted that “another thing coming” is correct. What does that even mean? I’ve got a _thing_ coming? What thing? Why? “Think” was the original version. One of many cites I’ve found: [Another Think Coming - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase](http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/another-think-coming.html) . Granted, “think” isn’t normally used as a noun, but in the context of this cutesified expression, it makes sense. “If you think such-and-such, you’ve got another think coming.” In other words, you’re wrong, and need to think again. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/68 "2008-12-16T14:00:04Z")
How do you know they spell it wrong if you’re just hearing it? “Pre-Madonna” is pronounced exactly the same as “prima dona” ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/69 "2008-12-16T14:43:03Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > How do you know they spell it wrong if you’re just hearing it? > “Pre-Madonna” is pronounced exactly the same as “prima dona” Despite the thread title, it seems we’re talking about phrases written down, incorrectly, by people who heard the sounds but didn’t understand the words. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/70 "2008-12-16T18:52:47Z")
> [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](#): > > Wait, which are you saying is incorrect? There was an entire thread about this a while back, and I was flabbergasted at the number of Dopers who insisted that “another thing coming” is correct. What does that even mean? I’ve got a _thing_ coming? What thing? Why? “Thing” makes perfect sense: “If you think that X is true, then you’ve got another thing [other than what you expected] coming.” For example, “if you think you’re going out tonight, you’ve got another thing (e.g. being grounded, doing chores, etc.) coming.” ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/71 "2008-12-16T18:54:05Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Trust me, John-ruh with a hard J sound, is miles from (zhän’rə) - and you put an extra “o” in pronunciation. 😉 Darnit! I even looked at “pronounciation” and thought “that’s not how it’s pronounced…” but didn’t correct it. ---
**Author:** ![eastcoastgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e57/32.png) [@eastcoastgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eastcoastgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/72 "2008-12-16T19:35:34Z")
I have been waiting for a thread like this even since I read in a co-worker’s document "The client quote on quote stated “he hit me in the face.” " It drives me nuts. I don’t think that this is quite what everyone else in the thread is getting at, but my co -worker must have heard someone say “quote, end quote” and then thought it was acceptable to write it out. I get a little embarassed for her everytime I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/73 "2008-12-16T19:54:22Z")
“Begging the question.” In popular usage, “begging the question” is often used to mean that a statement invites another obvious question. This usage is stated to be incorrect in The Oxford Guide to English Usage, 1st edition; “raises the question” is suggested as a more appropriate alternative. Improper usage of the term often makes the user appear uneducated; this is presumably the opposite effect the user intends by using the term. [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10579122&postcount=13)is an example of it being used incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/74 "2008-12-16T20:10:27Z")
The most recent from my boss (in a written communication): fait a complete I have tried to explain to him that he is killing my soul, slowly, but it doesn’t ever seem to help. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/75 "2008-12-16T20:11:49Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > This usage is stated to be incorrect in The Oxford Guide to English Usage, 1st edition; “raises the question” is suggested as a more appropriate alternative. Improper usage of the term often makes the user appear uneducated; this is presumably the opposite effect the user intends by using the term. Ah, but you’ve skipped the hard part by not providing an example of correct use. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/76 "2008-12-16T21:18:08Z")
> [@eastcoastgirl](#): > > I have been waiting for a thread like this even since I read in a co-worker’s document "The client quote on quote stated “he hit me in the face.” " It drives me nuts. > > I don’t think that this is quite what everyone else in the thread is getting at, but my co -worker must have heard someone say “quote, end quote” and then thought it was acceptable to write it out. I get a little embarassed for her everytime I see it. Actually, the correct word in is “unquote”. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/77 "2008-12-16T22:17:59Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > The phrase “dead to (rights/rites)” has thrown me such that I don’t write it. Which is it? You’d be dead right to type [_dead to rights_](http://www.answers.com/dead%20to%20rights). ---
**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 16, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/78 "2008-12-16T22:30:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Ah, but you’ve skipped the hard part by not providing an example of correct use. Eh, actually the post cited used it [correctly](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beg). Just not in the same sense that it originally entered the language. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/79 "2008-12-16T22:43:47Z")
Six and a half dozen of the other (six of one, half dozen of the other) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160/80 "2008-12-16T22:51:49Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Just not in the same sense that it originally entered the language. That’s the only sense we’re talking about in this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-misused-phrases-have-you-heard/477160.md?page=5)