Annoyingly misused words/phrases

[Echobelly]

I saw a listicle about 'Nepo babies' of famous people who looked just like their parents, when what they meant is 'child of a famous parent'. Not all of them were in the public eye or attempting to break into the entertainment or sports industry. Nepo baby specifically means someone using their parents' clout or connections to get a career, it doesn't mean 'child of a famous parent' and that kind of annoyed me.

Have you seen any misuses of a word or phrase that has irritated you?

'Social justice Karen' doesn't work as an insult as the two concepts are contradictory. Look, I have my issues with 'Karen' in the first place in terms of misogyny and ageism, but at any rate it doesn't mean 'any woman who says something you disagree with or don't like'. It is supposed to mean an interfering older white woman (like me, LOL) who makes a selfish, over the top fuss about something, usually something self serving or that only serves people like herself. A woman who, say, intervenes on behalf of someone who is being targeted by racism or sexism, or speaks up about social injustice is not 'being a Karen'

Myself and yourself instead of me and you. Traitors players drive me mad ‘I’ve voted for yourself Fred …’

Their/ there/ they’re

Too/ to

It used to drive me crazy when John Torode would say “ you’ll be cooking for Gregg and I”

I don’t care if he’s Australian, it’s “Gregg and me”

I have loads that drive me mad! The usual too/to, 'chester draws' 'loose/lose' but the newest one is 'HIS/HE'S' - they are 2 completely different words that mean different things but I keep seeing people using them incorrectly, i've seen posts on Facebook 'my cat is missing, his 7 years old' it drives me completely insane!!!

This is hilarious! 😆

Coming back to say people who write "I am a women". Oddly enough no one ever gets man/ men confused so why do so many not know the difference between woman and women?

Karma

it is misunderstood as if you do something bad then hopefully it’ll bite you on the bum

is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences.

Except instead of Accept. Eg The Management Will Not Except any Responsibility for any loss or damage etc etc. Actually saw it today at our health centre - I may have to have words!

I absolutely agree - I think I even raised it in Pedant’s Corner a while ago. See also “affect” and “effect”, “flout” and “flaunt”, “wonder” and “wander” and many, many more.

Sorry if it's already been said, but 'purposefully' instead of 'purposely' or 'on purpose'.

My DP makes up words that he has basically misread in the past.
Detrus ( detritus) and frentic ( frenetic/ frantic) and he mixes up where and were in texts. Claims not to understand apostrophes, despite my explaining them for the last 25 years.

Reply to that should have been “because they like having warm hands”.

This one doesn't bother me so much, but hardly anyone uses "ambivalent" correctly. People think it means they don't care or aren't interested in something. It definitely doesn't. It means to have conflicted or contradicatory feelings towards, or to find both sides of an argument persuasive. I am ambivalent about assisted suicide, an issue I am very interested in and care a lot about. I hear the arguments on one side and think 'Yes, good point, very true', then hear the counterargument and think, 'Indeed, also a good point, very true'.

The correct expression is ‘cheap/a bargain at twice the price’

‘Alot’ drives me crazy. They’re two distinct words.

Hence why

I have a colleague that writes this in emails multiple times a day and it makes my skin itch 🙈

along with “I’ve sent this quotation for perusal by yourself” 🤯

Misuse of 'only' creating a wholly different meaning to the one (presumably) intended. As in 'only park in the car park' which means don't picnic, play games or do anything other than park in the car park. Not don't park elsewhere.

Yes! I see this increasingly often; where has it come from? It really annoys me!

You are late, this phrase is coming up to nearly 200 years old at least and has been accepted for a long time. It over as the primary version of the "twice the price" one a long time ago as well, which is dying out.

You haven't been alive long enough to have known a time when it was wrong, or experience the start of it's usage.

Dislike all the workplace buzzwords like

’Thanks for reaching out’
’Lets lean into that’

Can’t think if more but there are more of this ilk!

Plus, DH calls the tv remote ‘the remotes’. Even though there is just one. One remote.

Cheap at half the price is right- but what it means is the item is currently the correct price.

i.e it would be cheap if it was half the price but as it isn’t half the price it is about right.

Slither instead of sliver!
I'll have a slither of cake. No, you wont. Slither is what snakes do! You can have a sliver of cake, or a small slice grrr

This one is my worst and it is everywhere now.

The workplace wankery for me too.

Circling back
Reaching out
Signposting
Close of play

And all the others I hear on a daily basis.

All bollocks. Signposting is one that gets overused on here. “If you give more information OP, I can then signpost you to….”