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Mar 2

Some of the ‘worst’ incorrect word usages

Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 in Incorrect word usage

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.

Mar 1

Move the ewe to that yew you found

Posted on Monday, March 1, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

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

Feb 28

The fairy didn’t need the ferry to cross the bay

Posted on Sunday, February 28, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

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

Feb 27

Don’t whine while you drink your wine

Posted on Saturday, February 27, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

while, wile
while means during the same time that something else is happening
wile means to entice (or it is the first name of the coyote in Road Runner cartoons)
[ It is late at night and I just couldn't resist. ;-) ]

whine, wine
whine means a complaining sound
wine means a beverage made by fermenting grape juice

wood, would
wood means the substance from the central part of the trunk of a tree
would means past tense of will

Feb 26

We’ll wheel this cart around the corner

Posted on Friday, February 26, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

we’d, weed
we’d means we would
weed means a plant growing where it is not intended

we’ll, wheel
we’ll means we will
wheel means a round object used to roll a vehicle

we’ve, weave
we’ve means we have
weave means to make cloth by interleaving fibers

Feb 25

This has been a weak week at the stock market

Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

we, wee
we means the speaker and at least one other person
wee means small or little

weak, week
weak means not strong
week means seven days on a calendar

weather, whether
weather means atmospheric conditions
whether is a conjunction

Feb 24

Where do I wear this ware you are selling?

Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

ware, wear, where
ware means a product that is being sold
wear means to have a piece of clothing on your body
where means the place in which something happens

way, weigh, whey
way means a path or method
weigh means to determine the weight of an object
whey means liquid left over in turning milk into cheese

ways, weighs
ways means paths or methods
weighs means that someone determines the weight of an object

Feb 23

Email signature tip

Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 in Email tips

Use Shift+Enter at the end of each line to get this first result instead of the second:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feb 22

They will waive the parade wave today

Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

wait, weight
wait means to delay movement
weight means a measurement of the force of gravity upon an object

waive, wave
waive means to not insist on
wave means to move a hand back and forth

want, wont
want means to desire something
wont means accustomed or inclined

Feb 21

The harpooned whale seemed to wail

Posted on Sunday, February 21, 2010 in Homonyms/Homophones, Incorrect word usage

weighed, wade
weighed means something has had its weight determined
wade means to walk into water

wail, whale
wail means to cry loudly
whale means a large sea mammal

waist, waste
waist means the part of the body between the pelvis and stomach
waste means something no longer used