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11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly - Education (2) - Nairaland

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20 Rarely Used English Words That We Need To Know / 9 English Words You Might Be Pronouncing Incorrectly / 8 Words We Pronounce Wrongly Everyday – Everyone Is Guilty Of No 5 (2) (3) (4)

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Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by MostBanned: 8:12am On Jun 05, 2017
Still don't understand the difference between 'borrow' and 'lend'


The one that really caught my attention was Bogus

anyway nice piece
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Seeker17(m): 8:13am On Jun 05, 2017
Eazylion:
most confusing language
I tell u

1 Like

Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by buchilino(m): 8:13am On Jun 05, 2017
Papzey:
Do you know that there are some words we use incorrectly and we don’t even know about it until today? Some of these words, you have used it incorrectly all your life that if you read about it now on this post, you would become embarrassed. These particular words actually mean the opposite of what we thought they mean to us, but they sound like they are not.

Let’s look through these eleven words many of us might have been using incorrectly all our life and we have to get it right once and for all:

1. Bogus (adjective): This word does not mean “big or massive” or anything relating to size. It actually means “not genuine or true”, “illegal”, “counterfeit”, etc.

Examples:
i. Tammy delivered some bogus documents to back up his claim, but he ended up not been able to defend himself.
ii. I didn’t pay him because that estimate was quite bogus.


2. Dupe (verb or noun): The way we use the noun form of this word is the problem. A person who dupes people is not someone who deceives or cheats people. A dupe is the real victim of deception. Do you understand?

Examples:
i. He was acting smart until he became the dupe.
ii. When I realized I was a dupe, I wept uncontrollably.

3. Terrific (adjective): This word is not the synonym for the words “terrible” or “terrifying”, but it means “great”, “very good”, “tremendous”, etc. It formerly meant “to cause terror” in the old days.

Examples:
i. I had a terrific feeling at the audition.
ii. He had a terrific performance at the dance competition.

4. Double date (noun)/double-date (verb): Many people believe this compound word simply means “infidelity” or “to have more than one love/date partner”. The actual meaning of this word is “a situation where two couples (say your friend and his/her love partner together with you and your love partner) go out on a date” or “to take part in such a date”.

Examples:
i. Tammy and Kenny are coming over to the bar, so it’s a double-date.
ii. We have been friends with them for many years: we’ve even been double-dating since college.

5. Restive (adjective): If you think this word has anything to do with “resting”, then you’re wrong. It actually means the opposite of that. When one is restive, then he or she is “unable to stay calm or still” or “unwilling to be controlled”.

Examples:
i. She was so hurt that she remained restive throughout the party.
ii. Let’s calm the restive ones before the issue escalates beyond control.


6. Talkative (adjective): I have also been using this word incorrectly. The word “talkative” isn’t a noun, so it is wrong to say Ibrahim is a talkative. It is an adjective which means “fond of talking a lot”.

Examples:
i. Curry is not very talkative.
ii. She was so in a talkative mood the last time we met.

7. Impeach (verb): This word is one of the most used words in our political climate and in public service. In the US, to impeach someone means “to charge a public office holder to court for a serious crime”, such as fraud; while in British English, it means “to charge someone to court for treason or another heavy crime against the state”. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean the persons charged had been removed from office. This word can also mean to “to question the validity of a practice”.

Examples:
i. He was impeached for dereliction of duty.
ii. The head of the department was impeached for not supporting the fight against corruption.
iii. I think Nigerians should impeach the immunity clause for serving governors in Nigeria.

8. Blood money (noun): The money received from rituals after murdering someone? No! This term means “money paid to assassins to kill someone”, “money paid to the family of a murdered person”, or “money paid to someone who provided information about a killer”.

Examples:
i. Barack was a popular local informant who got rich through blood money.
ii. Courtney received the blood money from the government.

9. Lousy (adjective): This word is often thought to mean “loud” or “noisy”, but it means “very bad”, “very poor’, “unpleasant”, etc.

Examples:
i. We had a lousy weekend.
ii. Mr. Trump is such a lousy person.

10. Borrow (verb): This word should not have been included in this list, but its meaning remains unclear to some people. Borrow means “to take or receive something from someone and it is expected to be returned”. Borrow is to take, that is it has to come from someone or somewhere else.

Examples:
i. Can I borrow some money from you?
ii. She borrowed my jacket but won’t return it – isn’t that unfair?

11. Lend: We all mix up this word with “borrow”. Lend means to “give out something to someone, which is expected to be to be returned”. The words ‘borrow’ and ‘lend’ are reciprocal pairs similar to give/take, teach/learn, open/close, etc. that shows both sides of a situation.

Examples:
I. I can’t lend you any more money.
II. She begged me to lend him that jacket after he borrowed my bag.

Never forget, borrow ‘comes in’, and lend ‘goes out’. You lend someone something by giving it to them; they borrow it by taking it.

In conclusion, these are some popular eleven words we use incorrectly in our everyday conversation, but I hope they are all clear now. We should learn to get rid of common mistakes in our day-to-day use of the English Language.

What do you think and which one do you use often?


Source: http://www.rapportnaija.com/2016/10/11-popular-words-we-use-incorrectly.html

IN AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE UR INTENTIONS, BUT WEN I SAW AN ITALIAN MAKE SOME ENGLISH BLUNDERS N YET D AUDIENCE GAVE HIM AN APPLAUSE, MADE ME REALIZE DAT SPEAKING GOOD ENGLISH ISN'T D ISSUE BUT GIVING A GOOD COMMUNICATION IS WAT MATTERS. U CAN SPEAK ALL D QUEENS ENGLISH U LIKE, BUT IF U DON'T COMMUNICATE, UR JUST TALKING TO D WIND.

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Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by tosyne2much(m): 8:21am On Jun 05, 2017
You're very right, except for a few errors
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Nobody: 8:23am On Jun 05, 2017
Op you too much jare.
Make I go carry the grammer form giv my peeps small.

Modified: mehn no be small laughing and gerarahias I recieve as I dey blow the grama o. Remain small I for vex sef. Lol...

1 Like

Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by AmaechiLinus(m): 8:23am On Jun 05, 2017
Thank God I was opportune to view this Now i know the meaning / how to use these words

Thank you for this post
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by edlion57(m): 8:24am On Jun 05, 2017
I don mess up
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Nobody: 8:34am On Jun 05, 2017
Please how do you become a dupe or is it not that you are duped in life is it a title ? I think you should rewrite your example for dupe

The 3 ps are Duped, Dupe and Duping
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by SeniorZato(m): 8:37am On Jun 05, 2017
Quite ejucative
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by keko14: 8:38am On Jun 05, 2017
noted, wish it could just land me a job
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by haykes(m): 8:38am On Jun 05, 2017
Good, but some people can't speak their language that's naija 4 u
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Collyno82(m): 8:39am On Jun 05, 2017
Papzey:
Do you know that there are some words we use incorrectly and we don’t even know about it until today? Some of these words, you have used it incorrectly all your life that if you read about it now on this post, you would become embarrassed. These particular words actually mean the opposite of what we thought they mean to us, but they sound like they are not.

Let’s look through these eleven words many of us might have been using incorrectly all our life and we have to get it right once and for all:

1. Bogus (adjective): This word does not mean “big or massive” or anything relating to size. It actually means “not genuine or true”, “illegal”, “counterfeit”, etc.

Examples:
i. Tammy delivered some bogus documents to back up his claim, but he ended up not been able to defend himself.
ii. I didn’t pay him because that estimate was quite bogus.


2. Dupe (verb or noun): The way we use the noun form of this word is the problem. A person who dupes people is not someone who deceives or cheats people. A dupe is the real victim of deception. Do you understand?

Examples:
i. He was acting smart until he became the dupe.
ii. When I realized I was a dupe, I wept uncontrollably.

3. Terrific (adjective): This word is not the synonym for the words “terrible” or “terrifying”, but it means “great”, “very good”, “tremendous”, etc. It formerly meant “to cause terror” in the old days.

Examples:
i. I had a terrific feeling at the audition.
ii. He had a terrific performance at the dance competition.

4. Double date (noun)/double-date (verb): Many people believe this compound word simply means “infidelity” or “to have more than one love/date partner”. The actual meaning of this word is “a situation where two couples (say your friend and his/her love partner together with you and your love partner) go out on a date” or “to take part in such a date”.

Examples:
i. Tammy and Kenny are coming over to the bar, so it’s a double-date.
ii. We have been friends with them for many years: we’ve even been double-dating since college.

5. Restive (adjective): If you think this word has anything to do with “resting”, then you’re wrong. It actually means the opposite of that. When one is restive, then he or she is “unable to stay calm or still” or “unwilling to be controlled”.

Examples:
i. She was so hurt that she remained restive throughout the party.
ii. Let’s calm the restive ones before the issue escalates beyond control.


6. Talkative (adjective): I have also been using this word incorrectly. The word “talkative” isn’t a noun, so it is wrong to say Ibrahim is a talkative. It is an adjective which means “fond of talking a lot”.

Examples:
i. Curry is not very talkative.
ii. She was so in a talkative mood the last time we met.

7. Impeach (verb): This word is one of the most used words in our political climate and in public service. In the US, to impeach someone means “to charge a public office holder to court for a serious crime”, such as fraud; while in British English, it means “to charge someone to court for treason or another heavy crime against the state”. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean the persons charged had been removed from office. This word can also mean to “to question the validity of a practice”.

Examples:
i. He was impeached for dereliction of duty.
ii. The head of the department was impeached for not supporting the fight against corruption.
iii. I think Nigerians should impeach the immunity clause for serving governors in Nigeria.

8. Blood money (noun): The money received from rituals after murdering someone? No! This term means “money paid to assassins to kill someone”, “money paid to the family of a murdered person”, or “money paid to someone who provided information about a killer”.

Examples:
i. Barack was a popular local informant who got rich through blood money.
ii. Courtney received the blood money from the government.

9. Lousy (adjective): This word is often thought to mean “loud” or “noisy”, but it means “very bad”, “very poor’, “unpleasant”, etc.

Examples:
i. We had a lousy weekend.
ii. Mr. Trump is such a lousy person.

10. Borrow (verb): This word should not have been included in this list, but its meaning remains unclear to some people. Borrow means “to take or receive something from someone and it is expected to be returned”. Borrow is to take, that is it has to come from someone or somewhere else.

Examples:
i. Can I borrow some money from you?
ii. She borrowed my jacket but won’t return it – isn’t that unfair?

11. Lend: We all mix up this word with “borrow”. Lend means to “give out something to someone, which is expected to be to be returned”. The words ‘borrow’ and ‘lend’ are reciprocal pairs similar to give/take, teach/learn, open/close, etc. that shows both sides of a situation.

Examples:
I. I can’t lend you any more money.
II. She begged me to lend him that jacket after he borrowed my bag.

Never forget, borrow ‘comes in’, and lend ‘goes out’. You lend someone something by giving it to them; they borrow it by taking it.

In conclusion, these are some popular eleven words we use incorrectly in our everyday conversation, but I hope they are all clear now. We should learn to get rid of common mistakes in our day-to-day use of the English Language.

What do you think and which one do you use often?


Source: http://www.rapportnaija.com/2016/10/11-popular-words-we-use-incorrectly.html
I have always said that English language is a stranger. The more u claim to know it, the more it becomes more strange to u. Nice write though
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by KENFERDYOORI(m): 8:39am On Jun 05, 2017
Words are meaningful within a context; that also takes into account ambiguity and polysemy. Thumbs up Op!
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by steve6: 8:41am On Jun 05, 2017
Nice !
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Ikem11(m): 8:41am On Jun 05, 2017
That bogus na afonjas dey use Am too much when I been dey lag those days.... Lol I miss o
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by cloud9usher: 8:45am On Jun 05, 2017
You are unequivocally wrong on dupe.

Dupe has noun and verb forms, the verb form of dupe means: "to deceive, especially by trickery; to cheat or fool someone."

Its the noun form of dupe which refers to a person who is easily deceived.

Papzey try and do your research as well before posting anything, so you don't end up doing more harm than good.

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Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by xjiggy: 8:48am On Jun 05, 2017
The word terrific naim we dey abuse pass.
Example: There is terrific traffic congestion around Maryland
A terrific accident just happened on Benin-Ore road
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by obailala(m): 8:53am On Jun 05, 2017
AyarmBoye:
Op you r very correct... However,, I take exception for "terrific'..... It can also means Terrifying; causing terror.The lightning was followed by aterrific clap of thunder......perhaps ur dictionary didn't lay emphasy on that....... All others are very correct...... Evening....


Even d dupe which could be noun or verb... U used Urs as a noun... However it can be used as a verb meaning to swindle,, trick....... Example.... I was duped by an anonymous money doubler....
Op is actually somehow right on 'terrific'. 'Terrific' (great/outstanding/superb) isn't the same as 'terrifying' (something that instills fear). Although it is used mostly to describe negative things.

1 Like

Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by iamdynamite(m): 8:54am On Jun 05, 2017
Nice one OP, VERY INFORMATIVE PIECE,my friends go hear from soon grin
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by mayowaye(m): 8:56am On Jun 05, 2017
These are what we need, thanks OP!! cool
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by JennieCutie4U(f): 8:57am On Jun 05, 2017
Ikem11:
That bogus na afonjas dey use Am too much when I been dey lag those days.... Lol I miss o
lol...ocho Okwu!
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by JennieCutie4U(f): 9:02am On Jun 05, 2017
Kizyte:
Hmmmnn..... Honestly speaking, we are all guilty of misusing those words.
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by DonBobes(m): 9:04am On Jun 05, 2017
God bless u wella
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Pengician(m): 9:08am On Jun 05, 2017
Papzey:

Source: http://www.rapportnaija.com/2016/10/11-popular-words-we-use-incorrectly.html

Chai
I'm so ashamed of myself now.

Thanks for the post.

1 Like

Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by preponey: 9:13am On Jun 05, 2017
na true
uselessIDIOT:
If you speak this one for some places, they go just laugh you. "I'm not very talkative".



Op Thank you anyway!!!
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by busariabeyx24(m): 9:15am On Jun 05, 2017
bkool7:
Nice piece !

However , there are two forms of "dupe"
One is a verb and the other a noun . You were referring to the noun .The one you claimed is wrongly used is the verb. And its correct .

You're very much correct
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Rasbel(m): 9:18am On Jun 05, 2017
Cool stuffs. Gracias OP
Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly by Honest2(m): 9:21am On Jun 05, 2017
pls and pls if you know where I van read M.I unstoppable lyrics pls tell me pls guy I really need to read the lyricspls and pls if you know where I van read M.I unstoppable lyrics pls tell me pls guy I really need to read the lyricspls and pls if you know where I van read M.I unstoppable lyrics pls tell me pls guy I really need to read the lyrics

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