27 Commonly Misused Words

By jeffcInsight

Brian Clark of CopyBlogger has published the Inigo Montoya Guide to the 27 most commonly misused words. I know that at times, I have used words within blog posts that I feel I know the definitions to but may not have used the right term in the right situation. Glad to know I’m not the only one. Here are a few examples:

Adverse / Averse
Adverse means unfavorable. Averse means reluctant.

Fewer / Less
If you can count it, use fewer. If you can’t, use less.

“James has less incentive to do what I say.”

“Tony has fewer subscribers since he stopped blogging.”

Hopefully
This word is used incorrectly so much (including by me) it may be too late. But let’s make you smarter anyway. The rule is you only use hopefully if you’re describing the way someone spoke, appeared, or acted.

Smart: I hope she says yes.
Wrong: Hopefully, she says yes.
Wrong: Hopefully, the weather will be good.Smart: It is hoped that the weather cooperates.
Smart: She eyed the engagement ring hopefully.

Be sure to read the entire guide on CopyBlogger and if you’re like me, you’ll be printing this out to keep as a reference.

How about you though? Notice any words on that list that you admit to commonly misusing? Any words not on the list that drive you crazy with their incorrect usage?

8 thoughts on “27 Commonly Misused Words”

  1. Wow, I never knew that.

    I have been using hopefully wrong all this time.

    Hopefully I will get better, lol!

    Thanks for the insight

  3. Guys what the crap is up with your PerformancingAds network? It has been practically inaccessible for days, and yet there is no notice, no mention of any problems at all anywhere, even though the code also is having trouble keeping up with website loads. I’ve had to remove it altogether, sent an email request and still nothing.

    The crappiest shittiest run advertising network ever. You guys should be ashamed.

  5. Interesting. I haven’t searched the plugin repository to see if their actually was a plugin that checked the grammar of posts before publishing them. I’ll have to look into that.

  7. I seem to always use words in the wrong situations. That’s why thank God for my grammar wordprocessor. It has definitely helped me but I have the tendency of just writing my posts in WordPress. That was one great post he had today.

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