Least favorite misuse of word definitions?

drumwolf

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Tue May-04-04 08:00 AM
Original message

Least favorite misuse of word definitions?

As in, your least favorite example of people getting the definition of a word wrong?

Here's mine: LITERALLY. A lot of people do not understand what that word means and use it when they actually should be using 'virtually' or 'effectively.'

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jobycom

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Tue May-04-04 08:11 AM
Response to Original message

1. Literally bothers me, too. COMPRISE is my least favorite

Edited on Tue May-04-04 08:11 AM by jobycom

It DOES NOT mean compose, it is the opposite, and using it in the passive STILL does not make it mean compose.

Wrong use: The list was comprised of several accusations against Bush.

Proper use: The list comprised several accusations against Bush.

Wrong: Rumsfield, Ashcroft and Cheney comprise the Unholy Trinity.

Right: The Unholy Trinity comprises Rumsfield, Ashcroft and Cheney.

Commercials always get this wrong!!

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Dufaeth

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Tue May-04-04 08:27 AM
Response to Original message

2. Not exactly what you're looking for,

I hate when people use "loose" when the are trying to write "lose." It is an epidemic on the net and it drives me bonkers. (Also, schools need to teach people the proper meaning of irony. No one ever gets it right.)

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drumwolf

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Tue May-04-04 12:17 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. what you said! and on the same track.....

using "you're" for "your" drives me even more bonkers than when it's the other way around.

:argh:

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Beware the Beast Man

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Tue May-04-04 08:49 AM
Response to Original message

3. Dilemma

This one didn't bother me until I read its definition. A dilemma is having to choose between 2 unfavorable situations.
example of misuse:
"the dilemma is that I have to go to the emergency room."

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