Is it “wreck havoc” or “wreak havoc”? Is it “should of” or “should have”? Here are some popular phrases that people say incorrectly all the time.
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Business Insider has compiled a list of the most common phrases that people get wrong. These include “on accident”, which should be “by accident”. A few years back I actually had an argument with somebody who always said “on accident” about this. I will be sure to link him the video:
For those who don’t have time to watch the video, here is the complete list:
- Incorrect: “I could care less.” Correct: “I couldn’t care less.”
- Incorrect: “One in the same.” Correct: “One and the same.”
- Incorrect: “On accident.” Correct: “By accident.”
- Incorrect: “Wreck havoc.” Correct: “Wreak havoc.”
- Incorrect: “For all intensive purposes.” Correct: “For all intents and purposes.”
- Incorrect: “Should of.” Correct: “Should have.”
- Incorrect: “Case and point.” Correct: “Case in point.”
- Incorrect: “You’ve got another thing coming.” Correct: “You’ve got another think coming.”
- Incorrect: “Fall by the waste side.” Correct: “Fall by the wayside.”
- Incorrect: “Deep-seeded.” Correct: “Deep-seated.”
- Incorrect: “Statue of limitations.” Correct: “Statute of limitations.”
- Incorrect: “Daylight-savings.” Correct: “Daylight-saving.”
How many of these everyday phrases have you been saying incorrectly all your life? Let us know in the comments.
Comments
26 responses to “12 Everyday Phrases That People Get Wrong All The Time”
the only one i had no idea about was ‘you’ve got another THINK coming’…
investigation time!
What I’ve always assumed is that the full phrase would go something like this: “If you think you’re going to get away with this then you’ve got another think coming” …or something along those lines.
Thank you, it drives me crazy. One that always drives me mad is “before long” the correct saying is “not before too long”. Everything is dumbed down so you don’t have to think anymore. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnXKVY-_i2c
Time to change tack. (not tact for tactic). Basically means, changing the direction of your boat.
I love to be a stickler for grammar, but if everyone understands the meaning of an idiom then its still a valid idiom.
Its what is still a valid idiom? 🙂
I hole-hardedly agree, but allow me to play doubles advocate here for a moment. For all intensive purposes I think you are wrong. In an age where false morals are a diamond dozen, true virtues are a blessing in the skies. We often put our false morality on a petal stool like a bunch of pre-Madonnas, but you all seem to be taking something very valuable for granite. So I ask of you to mustard up all the strength you can because it is a doggy dog world out there. Although there is some merit to what you are saying it seems like you have a huge ship on your shoulder. In your argument you seem to throw everything in but the kids Nsync, and even though you are having a feel day with this I am here to bring you back into reality. I have a sick sense when it comes to these types of things. It is almost spooky, because I cannot turn a blonde eye to these glaring flaws in your rhetoric. I have zero taller ants when it comes to people spouting out hate in the name of moral righteousness. You just need to remember what comes around is all around, and when supply and command fails you will be the first to go. Make my words, when you get down to brass stacks it doesn’t take rocket appliances to get two birds stoned at once. It’s clear who makes the pants in this relationship, and sometimes you just have to swallow your prize and accept the facts. You might have to come to this conclusion through denial and error but I swear on my mother’s mating name that when you put the petal to the medal you will pass with flying carpets like it’s a peach of cake.
BEST.REPLY.EVER!
Logged in to the stupid kinja for the 11 millionth time to applaud you sir
I think you meant to say “for all in tents, and porpoises”.
Darren, if that is original I wholeheartedly applaud. if it is not original then attribution should be made.
I have no idea where it came from. It’s copypasta and is all over the internet.
.. Except the very first one really is / was “I could care less” AND “I couldn’t care less”, and has been for more than half a century. Makes more sense when you look at the expanded phrase of “I could care less, but then I’d have to try.”
Idioms mean what people believe they do, also see “another think coming” really? Makes perfect sense with the expanded “If that’s what you think, you’ve got another think coming”, but on it’s own makes as much sense as caring less. Consistency is fun.
I think that a lot of the reason people get these oh so incorrect, is because people don’t pronounce words in their entirety. Lazy speech, no effort in moving lips, tongue, and so forth.
Whenever I see someone write “should of” or similar, I immediately assume they’re a simpleton. Seriously, “should of” doesn’t even make sense.
Many years ago my sister was walking around singing “bulls and some other cows” until someone at the office corrected her and said the song goes “bullfrogs and butterflies”.
All your ‘corrected items are correct, Lifehacker.
‘Must of, WRONG, ‘New Years’, WRONG, “He brought the bread and bought it home”, WRONG, commonly heard in Australia.
‘Waters broken’, WRONG only one water, one baby.
The continuous use of ‘COOL’ for almost everything is damned ANNOYING, and ‘HOT’ for prices and females is utterly STUPID speech, it proves that illiteracy abounds when people who use the words don’t know any other correct descriptive words.
‘Smells beautiful and tastes beautiful’ is WRONG, also said by many TV chefs.
Not “Stepped foot” … “Set foot”
What scares me the most is I am so O)) to C U
DUCWIM – Do You See What I Mean?
And all the other Text message language.
SDEOC = So does anyone care