Are you waiting on or waiting for?
wait on is what a server does in a restaurant
wait for means to await until an event happens
These can make you appear either smart or old
Here are a couple of words that are not commonly used:
hitherto means up to now
henceforth means from now on
From which side of the pond is your English?
disoriented is used in the USA
disorientated is used in the UK
They both mean having lost one’s direction.
Saturday, in the park…
Saturday, not Saterday
It comes from Saturn Day.
There is no “w” in this magic trick term
Voilà, not wallah
It is a French term that literally means, “see there.”
It is used to suggest an appearance, as if by magic.
So you always thought Jerry rigged it?
jury rigged, not jerry rigged
According to Wikepedia:
Jury rigging refers to makeshift repairs or temporary contrivances, made with only the tools and materials that happen to be on hand. Originally a nautical term, on sailing ships a jury rig is a replacement mast and yards improvised in case of damage or loss of the original mast.
So, it has nothing to do with either a jury or someone named Jerry.
Some of the ‘worst’ incorrect word usages
These all use worse, not worst:
She took a turn for the worse.
It is none the worse for wear.
I’ve seen worse.
I suppose things could be worse.
I appeared to be a fate worse than death.
”For better or for worse,” repeated the bride.
It seems to have gone from bad to worse.
Don’t worry, his bark is worse than his bite.
Move the ewe to that yew you found
earn, urn
earn means to receive money for working
urn means a vase with a footed base
ewe, you, yew
ewe means a female sheep
you means the person spoken to
yew means a type of tree
The fairy didn’t need the ferry to cross the bay
yore, your, you’re
yore means time long past
your means belonging to you
you’re means you are
you’ll, Yule
you’ll means you will
Yule means a wintertime holiday
fairy, ferry
fairy means a mythical being
ferry means a ship used to transport small vehicles