Abused Words

By Stephen M Golden

Copyright © 26 February 2010

These are words that are often used incorrectly.

The Abuse	The Intended or Proper Word or Usage
Alternatives	If you mean more than two choices, you should say “options.” There are always only two alternatives: this or that, left or right.
Agnostic to mean indifferent	Believing it is impossible to know, or skeptical about something
“And/Or”	“..., ..., or both.” Or decide between using ‘and’ or ‘or’. An example of AND not being “inclusive”: If someone says, “All people ages 10 and 11 should line up on my right.” No one should line up because no one is both 10 and 11.
Anymore	Nowadays: something is done now or in the current time Anymore: can mean no longer, and therefore can be ambiguous.
Bi- (to mean Twice per-)	It means Every two- bi-1 or bin- pref. 1.a. Two. b. Both. c. Both sides, parts, or directions. 2.a. Occurring at intervals of two. b. Usage Problem. Occurring twice during. 3.a. Containing twice the proportion of a specified chemical element or group necessary for stability. b. Containing two chemical atoms, radicals, or groups.
Chiropractic	It’s Chiropractic Method or Manipulation
Called vs Named	Some now say a person is “called” <person’s name> instead of “named” <person’s name>. The only time “called” is more appropriate is when the name is a pseudonym or nickname.
Commercial	It’s a Commercial Advertisement
Communications	Communication, not communications
Discrimination	Unfair Discrimination is what people usually mean.
Evolution, Evolve	Usually, the person means development, design, change. Evolution involves no thought, plan, or purpose. No design whatsoever. It is a random process.
For free	It’s “Free.” Not “for free.” It’s just “free.” “For free” indicates that a “free” is something you can exchange, is in “for money,” “for sex,” or “for a dollar.”
Gender	Usually, the person means “sex.” – There are two sexes: Male and Female. There are three genders: Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter.
Heighth	Height. There is no such word as Heighth.
Hopefully	The person usually means “I hope,” or “we hope.” Hopefully means “full of hope.”
“IE”	i.e, It means “That is” - It does not mean “for example.” (IE means Internet Explorer.)
Impact	The person usually means Affect, Effect, or Influence. An impact is usually destructive.
Interface	Interface is a noun. Although it has been used as a verb so often, it’s probably accepted as a verb.
Less (discrete units)	Usually, the person means “fewer” (discrete units). Use fewer if there are discreet units, like chairs. Use “less” if ther are not discreet units, like “sauce.”
Myself	Usually, the person means “I” or “me.” “Myself” is reflexive. Only I can do something to myself. Someone cannot do something to myself. “I hurt myself.” “I cut my hair myself.” “You hurt me.” Not “You hurt myself.”
Pronouncing Ones Place in Numbers	When a number is greater than 100 and the one’s place is 1-9, as in 2008 for example, many people say two-thousand and eight. The correct pronunciation is two-thousand eight. When pronouncing numbers, the word “and” signifies the decimal point, so two-thousand and eight really means 2000.8. In some cases numbers like 3025 are pronounced as three-thousand and twenty-five. This is similarly incorrect. It should be three-thousand twenty-five.
Outages	There is outage (it has no plural). There is no such thing as “an outage” It’s, “We had electric outage.” Not, “We had an electric outage.”
Quality	Usually, the person means “Excellence” or “Excellent.” Quality does not mean good. It is an attribute. It can be good or bad.
Team Player	It is supposed to suggest Cooperation, but usually, the person means “Someone who agrees with me.”
Softwares	The plural of software is software. Similar to the plural of deer. You don’t say “deers.” You shouldn’t say “softwares.”
Unconscious	When you do something without thinking, it’s subconscious. Unconscious is when you’re passed out on the floor.
Unique	Usually, the person means different, Interesting, Unusual. If something is unique, there is only one.
Universe	Usually, the person means Realm or Demesne. There is only one universe and it includes everything, by definition
Universes	Usually, the person means Realms, Dimensions, or Scopes of concern. There is only one universe and it includes everything, by definition
Verbal	Usually, the person means Oral or Vocal (as opposed to written which is also verbal) Verbal means it uses words, oral or written.
Would of	Would have. The abuse probably arises from a misunderstanding of the contraction “would’ve” which is phonetically similar to “would of.”
Yourself	Usually, the person means “you.” Yourself is reflexive. Only you can do something to yourself. Someone cannot do something to yourself.