Couldn't help but notice...

Are you waiting on or waiting for?

crnwebdev — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:00:38 +0000

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

crnwebdev — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:00:40 +0000

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?

crnwebdev — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:00:52 +0000

disoriented is used in the USA

disorientated is used in the UK

They both mean having lost one’s direction.

Saturday, in the park…

crnwebdev — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:00:40 +0000

Saturday, not Saterday

It comes from Saturn Day.

It was ripped after it was wrapped

crnwebdev — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:00:20 +0000

ripped, not wripped

wrapped, not rapped

There is no “w” in this magic trick term

crnwebdev — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:00:24 +0000

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?

crnwebdev — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:05 +0000

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

crnwebdev — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:00:19 +0000

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

crnwebdev — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:19 +0000

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

crnwebdev — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:00:13 +0000

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