Rex Trulove
Increasing your vocabulary is always a good idea. However, it is also a good idea to periodically think about words that are used very often, but which are often used wrong. Sometimes, the reason is simply that the words sound similar to other words with different meanings. Other times, the errors are due to lack of teaching regarding the proper use. Either way, it is surprising how often words are used incorrectly, even by journalists, who should know better.
Here are some examples:
Enormity
Although the word sounds similar to ‘enormous’, it has a totally different meaning. An example of the incorrect way that the word is used would be, “He agreed to take care of the lawn, not understanding the enormity of the task.”
Why is this wrong? Enormity means extreme evil. Unless the lawn was extremely evil, the word wouldn’t apply. A correct use would be, “The enormity of the torture at the death camps was staggering.”
Data
Clearly many people don’t realize it, but ‘data’ is a plural word. If I look at a list of the daily temperatures at my location for this month, I’m looking at data. On the other hand, if I look at the temperature at my location for yesterday, it isn’t data, it is a datum.
Homogeneous
People often use the term, ‘homogeneous’ to describe something that is thoroughly and evenly mixed together. A coffee drinker that adds sugar to their coffee might say, “I stir in the sugar until it is homogeneous.” This would be an incorrect use. In fact, any use of homogeneous would be incorrect, though the term is often used.
What? Why is any use incorrect? “Homogeneous” isn’t a word, that’s why. It is merely a corruption of ‘homogenized’.
Noisome
This one is often confused. An incorrect use would be, “The traffic jam was noisome because everyone was blowing their horns.”
The word has nothing to do with sound. Noisome means ‘stinky’. Correct usage would include, “The workmen had to first work on the noisome sewage line.”
Luxuriant
This word is sometimes used to mean or in place of “luxurious”. That isn’t what the word means. Luxuriant means ‘abundant’. Proper usage would include, “The spring rains caused luxuriant plant growth.”
These are only five of many words that are commonly used incorrectly. By knowing what the words actually mean, you can avoid many of the usage errors.
Speech and letter are an imperfect form of communication but quality enough.
True. Many people don’t fully realize that 90% of communication is non-verbal and non-written; body language, facial expression, and so forth. That 90% is missing in the written word, so it is that much more important that words are used properly when possible.
You have a point. We need to know the Parts of Speech of every word.
That’s one of the things that makes English among the hardest languages for a non-English speaker to learn.
I do agree with you. I am a non-native speaker but I tried my very best to learn the language. I am grateful that American soldiers introduced the universal language.
For a non-native speaker, you have a good grasp of English.
I guess I am lucky, Most of our textbooks are in English. c”,)
I have always wondered why some words have to be so complicated with their spellings.
I don’t think it is intentional. English has just evolved in many convoluted ways, often including words from other languages.
I know, it was just confusing in school to learn the silent letters, etc.
At least it isn’t as bad now as it once was. Old English had a lot more silent letters. (Or should I say “Olde” English?)