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Jul 2

Inn core wrecked word you sages 20-22

Posted on Thursday, July 2, 2009 in Incorrect word usage

Correct: take for granted means that you have come to expect something as if it had been granted to you.
Incorrect: take for granite

Correct: spit and image means made of the same stuff (spit) and having the same appearance (image).
Incorrect: spitting image
[I have been guilty of this one.]
This is another one of those phrases that has degraded over time:
spit and image to spit an’ image then incorrectly to spittin’ image and spitting image

Correct: by accident
Incorrect: on accident
But Leslie Barratt of Indiana State University did a study showing that on is more prevalent under age 10, both on and by are common between the ages of 10 and 35, and by is overwhelmingly preferred by those over 35.

Jul 1

Inn core wrecked word you sages 16-19

Posted on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 in Incorrect word usage

Correct: Nip it in the bud means to stop the growth of something.
Incorrect: Nip it in the butt.

Correct: Toe the line means to conform to a rule or standard. It comes from the idea of placing your toe on a line as when starting a race or standing at attention in a line.
Incorrect: Tow the line.

Correct: Wreak havoc means to inflict violent and needless disturbance .
Incorrect: Wreck havoc.

Correct: You have another think coming means you have an opportunity to rethink.
Incorrect: You have another thing coming.
[This one came as a surprise to me.]