Buzz
Anyone who has spent time proofreading documents can develop an instinctive sense of disapproval when encountering misused words. Below is my list of the top ten most commonly misused words, even by professional writers and public speakers who should really know better. Since I’m not being paid for this, I won’t feel too guilty if I make a few errors!
10. Refute
The word “refute” means to “disprove with evidence,” yet it is often misused, even by professionals, to mean “rebut.” While similar, “rebut” is not as strong, as it can simply mean “argue against.” A recent example is from a Daily Mail article, which stated, “Simon Cowell refutes ‘scandalous’ claims he helped a billionaire hide assets from his wife during their divorce.” For those unfamiliar, the Daily Mail is a UK newspaper known for criticizing the decline of educational standards. A special mention goes to Sarah Palin, who coined the term “refudiate,” which seems to be an attempt at “repudiate.”
9. Instant
In today’s world, the term “instant” is commonly used to imply “quick” or “requiring no effort.” However, that’s not the actual definition. The word “instant” refers to a specific point in time. A perfect example of this misusage is Google Instant.
8. Enormity
The word “enormity” refers to “extreme evil,” but it is often incorrectly used to mean “great size.” A famous example comes from US President George H. W. Bush, who, upon being elected, said, “I couldn’t believe the enormity of the situation.” This is a great example of irony (used correctly in this context).
7. Less
The word “less” is used when referring to quantities that can’t be counted; for instance, “I’d like less milk.” But when comparing countable items (like bagels), the correct term is “fewer.” You won’t get far in a competition if you point out that “25 words or less” should actually be “25 words or fewer.” Similarly, the terms “more than” and “greater than” are often misused. Programmers are familiar with comparison operators called “greater than and less than,” but technically, it should be “greater than and fewer than.”
6. Chronic
The term “chronic” originally referred to a medical condition meaning “long-term”; it shares its root with the word “chronometer.” When someone experiences chronic pain, it refers to pain that persists over time. However, “chronic” is often wrongly used to mean “extremely bad,” when in fact the correct term should be “acute.” You can find recent examples, like “O’Brien: INM in ‘chronic’ state.”
5. Literally
This word has become so misused that it’s almost expected to be used incorrectly, but it should only be used to describe something that is actually happening (for example, “He literally danced with joy”). It should not be used for exaggeration (such as “Steam was literally coming out of his ears”). This example comes from a late reverend gentleman, known for his peculiar views, including his thoughts on a “literal homosexual steamroller.”
4. Panacea
The word “panacea” refers to a universal cure, derived from the same Greek root as “panorama.” It shouldn’t be used to describe a remedy for a specific issue, yet a newspaper recently stated, “SOUTH AFRICA: Welfare payments – a panacea for poverty?”
3. Ultimate
From its Latin origin, “ultimate” refers to the last in a sequence. However, it is commonly used to suggest the best, with a Google search for “ultimate phone” yielding over 307 million results. I’d argue that the best phone has yet to be invented. In fact, this is perhaps the most misused word online; type “ultimate” into Google, and you’ll find thousands of examples using it to mean “the best.” But, for once, this is the ultimate entry in this list.
2. Decimate
Decimation was a punishment in ancient Rome where one in ten soldiers was executed. So, when something is “decimated,” it implies that ten percent of it is destroyed. In most contexts, “devastate” would likely be a better choice. Yet, the phrase “New York City budget will decimate libraries” still circulates.
1. Disinterested
Does “disinterested” mean the same as “uninterested”? It doesn’t. Here’s an example of the incorrect usage: “TomTom Disinterested in Windows Phone 7 Too?” “Disinterested” refers to someone who is impartial or unbiased; for example, a dispute could be resolved by a disinterested party. On the other hand, “uninterested” means lacking interest or enthusiasm. For instance, “I asked John if he wanted to go to the cricket, but he was completely uninterested.”
