Spelling A lot or A Lot - small and hugemongous words we use that don't exist and other common mistakes
Words we use that don't exist
As a writer, I have to double check my grammar, spelling, or word usage--even then I often miss something. One thing that still haunts me, probably from years of improper use, are using words that don't exist.
For example- Is it "a lot" or "a lot"?
For years I wrote a lot. Of course that was before the days when word editors underlined errors in red. Now I know that a lot of times I misspelled a lot!
Common words that ain't such a good choice and other confounding things
Many of these words are used every day. Some are not in the dictionary. Some are evolving as they integrate into our language.
- Regardless (informal for regardless or irrespective)
- Non-professionalist
- Self-depreciating
- Ginormous (use it all the time!)
- Hugemongous
- Slickery
- Impactful
- Ecscape (check spelling)
- Anyway (not a word), any way (in any manner, can substitute with "in the"), or anyway (in any case)
- Doing a 360 (doesn't that bring you back to where you started?)
- Stupider (more stupid is better)
- Flustrated (cross between flustered and frustrated)
- Boughten (past tense of bought?)
- Like (a real word just not, like, you know, like, what am I trying to say...like?)
- Inclimate
- Analyzation
- Orientated (the jury is still debating this one)
- Annoyment
- Wellness (Gaining acceptance without clear understanding of what it means)
- Fixin (When I lived in Texas I used this all the time, y'all)
- Preventitive
- Supposably
- Funner
- Funnest
- Disorientated
- Chillax
- Healthcare or health care
- Website or Web site (both are correct, but capitalize when it is Web site)
- E-book, ebook, or eBook (the dictionary shows ebook)
- Email, email, or e-mail (the dictionary shows e-mail)
- Amongst, Amidsts, Awhilst
- That vs. which
- Who, whose, whom
- Anti-opposed
- Could of, should of, would of (of is have)
- Analyzation
- Sherbet (I am guilty if this one- it is sherbet- who knew?)
- Try to...(fill in the blank- try and help, try and understand, etc. Should be "try to")
How do you know what to use?
Unfortunately you can't just rely on your word editor to think for you. For example, Google still shows as a misspelled word.
If you are in doubt of word usage, just type in the word to a search engine...but don't "google" it. Google doesn't like to be used as a verb (action word).
What are your favorite misused words?
We all have our pet peeves when it comes to writing. None of us are perfect! It is fun to laugh at our silly mistakes.
So, what are your favorites?
