10 Words You Had Probably Been Using Incorrectly All This While

With the use of silent letters in words that keep us wondering ‘Why, Just Why?’, with guinea pig having no relation whatsoever to Guinea or pig, with both TEAR and TIER being pronounced in the same manner, and the fact that English is a common language creating rifts between two major countries of the world, the UK and the USA. Don’t believe me when I say rift? You remember this infamous tweet by Elizabeth II, don’t you?

So anyway, it is time we drop the spotlight on the fact that ‘English is, in fact, a funny and tricky language,’ and in the above case, a rift-causing one also perhaps. And to further justify this fact, I present to you a list of many words that until now would have kept you thinking of one thing, when actually they did not mean to imply that one thing.

Or to put it simply, you had probably been using these words incorrectly all this while! Care for a fact check?

Here goes.

Note: The following listed words have been included here after a comprehensive research done about words that are commonly used incorrectly in English. The idea is not at all to imply that every person out there has been using these incorrectly.

And yes, we have also devised a KRK rating system in order to judge the extent to which these words are misused, with KRKed (obviously) depicting the most abused word. The entire system goes like:

• 1- Least misused/abused word
• 2- A little bit more
• 2.5- A little more
• 3- More
• 3.5- Still more
• 4- It is pretty much out in the air
• 4.5- Toxicity level increasing at an alarming rate
• 5- KRKed!- The most misused/abused word that has kept many deprived of the reality

Why KRK, you ask? Because I don’t like it when he disrespects words by saying them. #PersonalChoice

1. Disinterested

What you mean by it: Not interested, bored.

How most people commonly use it: Why am I so disinterested in my life these days?

The correct meaning: Unbiased, neutral.

The correct usage: She seemed disinterested during the Group Discussion session on “Is it okay to have sex before marriage?”

KRK rating:

 

2. Ironic

What you mean by it: Hard to put a pin on one wrong meaning because it is apparently one of the most abused words in English!

How most people commonly use it: Isn’t it ironic that we are meeting on the birthday of both of ours favourite actress?

The correct meaning:  Anything that happens in contrary to what is usually expected, and brings a certain kind of amusement out of it.

The correct usage: It is ironic to see the Queen uttering such dirty words.

KRK rating:

 

3. Enormity

What you mean by it: Enormous

How most people commonly use it: Mt. Everest is the mother of all enormities!

The correct meaning: A large extent of something perceived as bad (something immoral, like a crime).

The correct usage: The results of the post-mortem revealed the enormity of the murder.

KRK rating:

 

4. Literally

What you mean by it: Figuratively describing the seriousness of anything at all.

How most people commonly use it: He is literally melting!

The correct meaning: Strictly the exact same thing.

The correct usage: The glaciers of Antarctica are literally melting at a fast pace.

KRK rating:

 

5. Pristine

What you mean by it: Majestically beautiful.

How most people commonly use it: That lake looks so pristine. (If you mean to say the lake is pristine because of the shine on the waters, you are wrong.)

The correct meaning: Pure, untouched, intact in its original form, ancient.

The correct usage:  That lake looks so pristine. (If you want to highlight the fact that the lake was formed ages ago and still is breathtakingly beautiful and clear, you are right.)

KRK rating:

 

6. Notorious

What you mean by it: Infamous

How most people commonly use it: Adolf Hitler was a notorious dictator.

The correct meaning: Famous in a bad way but not exactly ‘infamous,’ infamous.

The correct usage:  Businesswoman Sussanne Khan became notorious in the public eye after her marriage with the actor Hrithik Roshan fell apart.

KRK rating:

 

7. Dilemma

What you mean by it: A difficult situation.

How most people commonly use it: Getting married is such a dilemma for me.

The correct meaning: A difficult decision in which you have to choose between two or more undesirable alternatives.

The correct usage:  He can either stay back with his abusive father or go ahead and live the hostel life that he has no interest in. Such a dilemma for him!

KRK rating:

 

8. Bemused

What you mean by it: Amused

How most people commonly use it: I find all Coldplay songs bemusing.

The Correct meaning: Confused/puzzled.

The correct usage: Answering so many math questions in such little time got my brain all bemused.

KRK rating:

 

9. Factoid

What you mean by it: Any interesting fact.

How most people commonly use it: Did you know the factoid that Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world?

The correct meaning: A small piece of unreliable information reported multiple times in order to make it appear as a fact. But in reality, it is untrue.

The correct usage: It is impossible for one to lick one’s elbow is a factoid.

KRK Rating: 

 

10. Irregardless

What you mean by it: “You can only tell!”

How most people commonly use it: Irregardless of all the hostel rules, he went out to party at midnight.

Correct meaning: Nothing at all! The word regardless itself means regard-less, something that is not worth any regard. And if you say irregardless, it nullifies the meaning of regardless and not in a sensible way because ‘less’ still stays at the end of the word, you know, ir-regard-less. So how does it even make sense? Now while in the world of ever-changing vocabulary it is absolutely okay to coin words, irregardless is just nothing at all. Nothing.

The correct usage: I should not use the word irregardless because it is as nonsense as the ‘K’ in knife.

KRK Rating: 

While it is not a crime to invent different meanings for each word (considering it is a free world of free-minded human beings), it is definitely important to follow a standard meaning for every word in order to keep the communications clear and non-controversial.

Note: This article is in no way intended to fuel (only figuratively) Grammar Nazis or those who are against them. 

Now, please allow Mr. AB to take you on a ride of some funny English remix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p65E83Ez9hs

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