I believe that educators have a difficult job enough without the incessant use of texting and tweeting shorthand invading their student’s writing. Recently a report on NBC television did a study about how the average seventh grader uses several “texting language” rules in the papers they turn into their teachers. Things like “u” replaces the intended word “you”, also “2” instead of the word “two”. They also said the problem is not related to children alone, it is a problem with adults who will use texting shorthand in their emails as well as professional writing.

Personally, I know that often times I have caught myself using lower case “i” in an email instead of a capitol letter “I”. So let’s take a look at some of the words that Brian Clark, Founder of CopyBlogger identified as commonly misused words in his post: The Inigo Montoya Guide to 27 Commonly Misused Words He says that “some [words] are common mistakes that can cost you when trying to keep a reader’s attention. Others are more obscure and just interesting to know.”

Adverse / Averse

Adverse means unfavorable. Averse means reluctant.

Afterwards

Afterwards is wrong in American English. It’s afterward.

Complement / Compliment

I see this one all the time. Complement is something that adds to or supplements something else. Compliment is something nice someone says about you.

Criteria

Criteria is plural, and the singular form is criterion.

Farther / Further

Farther is talking about a physical distance.

“How much farther is Disney World, Daddy?”

Further is talking about an extension of time or degree.

“Take your business further by reading my blog.”

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 old school rule is you use hopefully only 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.

Imply / Infer

Imply means to suggest indirectly (you’re sending a subtle message). To infer is to come to a conclusion based on information (you’re interpreting a message).

Insure / Ensure

Insure is correct only when you call up Geico or State Farm for coverage. Ensure means to guarantee, and that’s most often what you’re trying to say, right?

Irregardless

Irregardless is not a word. Use regardless or irrespective.

Literally

“I’m literally starving to death.”

No, odds are, you’re not.

Literally means exactly what you say is accurate, no metaphors or analogies.

Everything else is figurative (relative, a figure of speech).

Towards

Towards is wrong in American English. It’s toward. I went 41 years not being sure about this one.

Unique

Unique means (literally) one of a kind. Saying something is very unique is inaccurate. It’s either a purple cow or it isn’t.

Who / Whom

This one is a lost cause, but let’s go down swinging. The way to deal with the who versus whom quandary is a simple substitution method.

First, a refresher on subjects and objects.

Subjects do the action:

“He/she/we like(s) to rock the house.”

Objects receive the action:

“The rock star sneered at him/her/us.”

Use who for subjects and whom for objects.

Subjects:

• Who wrote this blog post?
• Who is speaking at the conference?
• Who is going to clean up this mess?

Objects:

• Whom are you going to write about?
• Whom did he blame for the Google Slap?
• Whom did he bait for the links?

So which of these words do you struggle with? Feel free to leave us a comment. For more on building a remarkable Legal Nurse Consulting or Life Care Planning practice, subscribe to the RSS Feed for the Blog and my Email Newsletter. Follow us on Twitter, join our LNC/LCP Group on LinkedIn, or friend us on Facebook. We also offer one on one practice coaching as well as amazing LNC/LCP marketing materials, website design and social media page designs. Email us or call (317) 426-1170

Tags: bloggin, Brian Clark, Commonly misused words, CopyBlogger, Social Media, writing

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