But how and why does this happen? Simply because people don’t bother to stop and check the meaning or the usage! Do you?  Well, see the list below and figure yourself what line do you lead/ tail.

We’re taking up only three words as of now and will continue to add to the list just as we counter more of them grim users.

Incredible – It means not credible, hard to believe, unbelievable, so extraordinary as to seem impossible. Incredible is used at all the wrong places, most of the times in complimentary places. People use incredible to express someone’s/ some thing’s beauty or how amazing it is. That is incredibly wrong . Delete the word as a complimentary adjective from your minds completely. Incredible can be used to commend speed, time, energy etc. and may be beauty if one happens to come across Helen of Troy or may be your girlfriend.

Irregardless – This is not a word. ‘Irregardless’ is incorrect, period! All that the extra prefix ‘Ir’ does in this word is negate the suffix ‘Less’ and brings you back to where you started from – ‘Regard’ – as far as meaning is concerned.

Bemused –  What it means – lost/ confused or pre-occupied. It is often understood as amusing or something that makes you laugh. Not the same thing right? So using them interchangeably isn’t what you should be doing!

Apart from these, there are many other that completely butcher the sense of a phrase/ sentence if not used more carefully. We’ll be putting them up here soon, so keep coming back for more to save yourself from that crushing moment of embarrassment!

Until then, be very cautious of such stubborn trolls, I mean words.

For instance, one such universally repeated error is the usage of the expression, ‘free gift’.
Needless to say, a gift is meant to be deprived of any charges. Of course, it comes free of cost! What is the point of presenting someone with a gift that has to be paid for?

Remember, the word ‘gift’ itself implies that it is being given without extracting any compensatory charge. It is always better to replace the expression, ‘free gift’ with ‘free’ or ‘gift’ only depending upon its usage and connotation.

Than vs. Then

This is an oft-repeated error that is bound to make your head go spinning with its cyclic redundancy. Though if committed to memory once, it can be easily avoided in future.

‘Than’ refers to a ‘comparison’.

Examples: Your dress is better than mine.
She scores better than him.

‘Then’ always refers to ‘time’.

Examples: If you fail, then be ready to bear the consequences.
If the situation gets out of control, then give me a call.

Their vs. There

‘Their’ refers to possession.

Examples: This is their house.
These are their children.

‘There’ refers to ‘place’.

Examples: There is your new school.
The book is lying there.

Weather vs. Whether

‘Weather’ refers to ‘the state of the atmosphere’.

Examples: The weather seems pleasant today.
The harsh weather ruined the picnic.

‘Whether’ implies a ‘condition’.

Examples: Find out whether she is coming or not.
Be sure whether you will be able to do it or not.

We hope that these tips would come in handy in times of confusions and complexities. Feel free to comment if you want to add some from your end. We would definitely love it!

You are also more than welcome to contact us if you want to share any thoughts!