25 Common Phrases That Youre Saying Wrong

Heres my list of common phrases that you might be saying incorrectly. Dont be embarrassed if you notice you use the incorrect phrase; we all do it. The phrases on the left are incorrect, the ones on the right are correct. 1: Nip it in the butt vs. Nip it in the bud Nipping something in the bud means that youre putting an end to it before it has a chance to grow or start. Nipping something in the butt means youre biting its behind. 2: I could care less vs. I couldnt care less Saying that you could care less about a topic implies that you do care about it at least a little. What you usually mean is that you dont care about the topic at all, hence I couldnt care less. 3: One in the same vs.One and the same When you really sit and think about it, one in the same doesnt mean anything at all. The correct phrase one and the same means that two things are the same. 4: Youve got another thing coming vs. Youve got another think coming This is one of those phrases where the incorrect usage actually does make sense and has become its own phrase. But its still technically wrong. In fact, most people dont even know the correct phrase unless they look it up (I sure didnt). The correct version really only makes sense if you use the entire sentence if thats what you think, youve got another think coming. 5: Each one worse than the next vs. Each one worse than the last Unless you can foresee the future, each one worse than the next doesnt make sense. The problem with this phrase is that it isnt logical. For example, you cant compare two bicycles until youve tested them both. So logically, you would compare the current bicycle to the last bike you tested. 6: On accident vs. By accident Sometimes I feel very sorry for people attempting to learn English. With phrases like this, it must be awful. You can do something on purpose, but not on accident. Prepositions are a killer. 7: Statue of limitations vs. Statute of limitations Whenever I think of these two phrases, I get reminded of one of the best Seinfeld episodes ever. 8: For all intensive purposes vs. For all intents and purposes

You may feel very strongly and intense about your purpose, but that doesnt make the phrase correct. Another common incorrect use of the phrase is switching the words for and with. The correct phrase means that you are covering all possibilities and circumstances. 9: He did good vs. He did well The phrases good and well get interchanged so much that some people think they are actually interchangeable words. Theyre not. If youre ever confused about which to use, heres a tip: Use well as an adverb (words used to describe verbs) and good as an adjective (words used to describe nouns). For example: The dog runs well He is a good dog 10: Extract revenge vs. Exact revenge When you extract something, youre taking it out of something else. When you exact onto something, youre dishing it out. Therefore, extracting revenge on someone would mean youre taking out that persons revenge. Exacting revenge onto them means that youre taking your revenge out on them. 11: Old timers disease vs. Alzheimers Disease This one is just kind of silly. Its really a mistake that we make when were younger. As we get older and actually learn about what Alzheimers Disease is, we have the sense to say the word correctly. 12: Im giving you leadway vs. Im giving you leeway Leadway actually isnt even a word. Leeway means extra space and freedom. 13: Aks vs. Ask You dont aks/axe for things. You ask for them. Im not sure when the s and k got switched but it happens all the time when people talk. 14: Whats your guyses opinion? vs. Whats your opinion, guys? Ill leave this explanation to the Urban Dictionary: completely and utterly useless phrase people up north use in the place of yall. it means you guys, but they just have to be stupid and (besides not using the much simpler phrase yall) add -es to the phrase you guys. As I have said many times with great wisdomosity, yall is much simplier to say. 15: Expresso vs. Espresso Im sure those of you who work at coffee shops have had people order an expresso before. Theres no such drink. The drink youre trying to order is an espresso. 16: Momento vs. Memento

Momento isnt a word. A memento is a keepsake. 17: Irregardless vs. Regardless Regardless means without regard. Throwing on IR to the beginning makes the word a double negative. I think we can all agree that without without regarddoesnt make sense. 18: Sorta vs. Sort of The phrase sort of was too long so someone decided to shorten it up and turn it into sorta. I think its just sorta lazy. 19: Conversating vs. Conversing Drop the on and add an ng and you have yourself a new verb right? Wrong. Conversating is an unofficial word that a lot of people use in place of the correct term, conversing. 20: Scotch free and Scott free vs. Scot free Ive seen so many explanations of the origins of the phrase Scot free that I really dont know where it came from. But what I do know is that Scotch free and Scott free are incorrect. 21: I made a complete 360 degree change in my life vs. I made a complete 180 degree change in my life People say theyve made a complete 360 degree change in their life to imply that theyve completely changed from the way they used to be. However, going 360 degrees means that youve returned to the exact same place you started. Which would mean you didnt change at all. A 180 degree change would mean that you are the complete opposite which is what most people are trying to say. 22: Curl up in the feeble position vs. Curl up in the fetal position Feeble means weak and frail. So in a way, curling up in a feeble position isnt too far off. However, the actual fetal position that people are referring to is the curled up position that fetuses use while in the womb. 23: Phase vs. Faze The word phase is usually used when talking about periods of time or stages. For instance, Bobs interest in the iPhone 5 was just a phase. However, phase is often mistakenly used in place of the word faze, which means to disrupt. Heres a paragraph from an article that shows the common mistake. EAT 5:53: Uganda 2-1 Angola. Five minutes of added time, can the Cranes hang on? Cranes coach Micho Sedojevic unphased, but still urges the boys to hang on. Cranes piling the pressure

24: Hone in vs. Home in The word hone means to sharpen or improve somehow. For example, you can hone your speaking skills. To home in on something means to get closer to it.Were homing in on a cure for cancer. 25: Brother in laws vs. Brothers in law If your wife or husband has several siblings, theyre called your brothers/sisters in law. Im about to get a little grammar nerdy with my explanation so get ready. The general rule of thumb for making a compound noun plural is to add a s to the noun that theres more of. In our case, the words brother and law are both nouns. Since the word youre pluralizing is brother, you add an s to it, not law.