10 Misused Words That Make Smart People Look StupidThese misused words have a tendency to make even really smart people stumble. Learn them before they tempt you into looking bad.
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We're all tempted to use words that we're not too familiar with. We throw them around in meetings, e-mails and important documents (such as resumes and client proposals), and they land, like fingernails across a chalkboard, on everyone who has to hear or read them.
No matter how talented you are or what you've accomplished, using words incorrectly can change the way people see you and forever cast you in a negative light. You may not think it's a big deal, but if your language is driving people up the wall you need to do something about it.
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It's the words that we think we're using correctly that wreak the most havoc, because we don't even realize how poorly we're coming across. After all,TalentSmarthas tested the emotional intelligence of more than a million people and found thatself-awarenessis the area where most people score the lowest.
We're all guilty of this from time to time, myself included.
When I write, I hire an editor to review my articles before I post them online. It's bad enough to have a roomful of people witness your blunder and something else entirely to stumble in front of 100,000!
Often, it's the words we perceive as being more "correct" or sophisticated that catch us by surprise when they don't really mean what we think they do. These words have a tendency to make even really smart people stumble.
Ironic vs. Coincidental
A lot of people get this wrong. If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that's notironic --it'scoincidental(and bad luck).
Ironichas several meanings, all of which include some type of reversal of what was expected. Verbal irony is when a person says one thing but clearly means another. Situational irony is when a result is the opposite of what was expected. O. Henry was a master of situational irony. In "The Gift of the Magi," Jim sells his watch to buy combs for his wife's hair, and she sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch. Each character sold something precious to buy a gift for the other, but those gifts were intended for what the other person sold. That is true irony.
If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that'scoincidental. If you drive up to the mountains to ski, and there was more snow back at your house, that'sironic.
Affect vs. Effect
To make these words even more confusing than they already are, both can be used as either a noun or a verb.
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Let's start with the verbs.Affectmeans to influence something or someone;effectmeans to accomplish something. "Your job wasaffectedby the organizational restructuring" but "These changes will beeffectedon Monday."
As a noun, aneffectis the result of something: "The sunny weather had a hugeeffecton sales." It's almost always the right choice because the nounaffectrefers to an emotional state and is rarely used outside of psychological circles: "The patient'saffectwas flat."
Accept vs. Except
These two words sound similar but have very different meanings.Acceptmeans to receive something willingly: "His momacceptedhis explanation" or "Sheacceptedthe gift graciously."Exceptsignifies exclusion: "I can attend every meetingexcept旁边的一个小k."
To help you remember, note that bothexceptandexclusionbegin with ex.
Lie vs. Lay
We're all pretty clear on theliethat means an untruth. It's the other usage that trips us up.Liealso means to recline: "Why don't youliedown and rest?"Layrequires an object: "Laythe book on the table."Lieis something you can do by yourself, but you need an object tolay.
It's more confusing in the past tense. The past tense oflieis -- you guessed it --lay: "Ilaydown for an hour last night." And the past tense oflayis laid: "Ilaidthe book on the table."
Bring vs. Take
Bringandtakeboth describe transporting something or someone from one place to another, but the correct usage depends on the speaker's point of view. Somebody带ssomething to you, but youtakeit to somewhere else: "Bringme the mail, thentakeyour shoes to your room."
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Just remember, if the movement is toward you, use带; if the movement is away from you, usetake.
Bringing It All Together
英语语法可能会非常棘手,很多时候, the words that sound right are actually wrong. With words such as those above, you just have to memorize the rules so that when you are about to use them, you'll catch yourself in the act and know for certain that you've written or said the right one.
Aversion of this articleappeared on TalentSmart.
