Top 10 Misused English Words

Humans Many people who’ve had to proof read documents start to develop a kind of compulsive “tutting” at misused words. Here’s my top ten words that are misused by either professional writers or public speakers who, let’s be honest, should really know better. “Refute” means to “disprove with evidence” and yet it’s commonly used, even by professional writers, to mean “rebut” which carries a similar meaning but isn’t quite so strong, as it can also mean “argue against.” Nowadays, it’s almost universally assumed that “instant” actually means “quickly” or “without intervention.” “Enormity” means “extreme evil”, but it’s often used to mean “enormousness”. Less is used when comparing quantities that can’t be counted; for example, “I’d like less milk.” Chronic is originally a medical term meaning “long term”; it has the same root as “chronometer”. “Panacea” means a cure all; it comes from the same Greek root as “panorama”. Does “disinterested” mean the same as “uninterested”?

20 Weird English Words The Arts English is a wonderful language with some of the strangest pronunciation rules and words that come from many other languages. This is a list of 20 weird English words. 1. Erinaceous Like a hedgehog 2. Loudness and clarity of voice 3. To testify under oath 4. A trinket or knick-knack 5. floccinaucinihilipilification Estimation that something is valueless. 6. Pertaining to idle talk 7. An attempt at a scientific study into the nature of romantic love. 8. Pertaining to midnight 9. A dumpster diver – one who extracts valuable things from trash 10. A person who deals with things lacking importance (pronounce the ‘h’ like a ‘k’). 11. The day before yesterday 12. Deception or trickery 13. A weak or foolish person 14. Covered with dust 15. A social climber 16. Rude or rough play 17. Unfamiliar, rare, strange, marvelous, wonderful. 18. To be poisoned by cheese 19. Someone who deserves to be hanged 20. The abuse of military power or authority. Jamie Frater Jamie is the founder of Listverse.

Guide for Writers: Latin Phrases It’s a matter of taste and style, but not long ago American writers attempted to demonstrate their credentials to the world by including Latin and French phrases within works. A dash of Latin was expected of the moderately educated throughout the Western world. annus mirabilis - wonderful year arbiter elegantiae - judge of the elegant; one who knows the good things in life bona fides - good faith; credentials carpe diem - sieze the day; enjoy the present casus belli - cause justifying a war caveat emptor - buyer beware cui bono? caeteris paribus - all things being equal de facto - of fact; it is de gustibus non est disputandum - no disputing tastes; there is no accounting for taste Dei gratia - by the grace of God Deo gratias - thanks to God Deo volente - God willing dis aliter visum - it seemed otherwise to the gods Dominus vobiscum - Lord be with you dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - sweet and seemly it is to die for one’s country ecce homo - behold man ex cathedra - with authority

FREE Online Rhyming Dictionary - StumbleUpon