Restoring the Meanings of Misused Words
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Words give us an array of ways to express what we're thinking or feeling with boldness or nuance. The more we use them in the proper context according to their definitions, the more settled they become in our eloquence.
Within American English, some words continue to operate as people wearing another's attire. One can ponder whether this is due to their misuse being comfortably accepted or their concepts remaining unstitched. Either way, we can still spot their masquerade with the aim of returning them to their own wardrobes.
The following are misused words that we might read or hear with regularity.
Ironic. Its original meaning concerns incongruence between expectation and outcome. For example, a civil engineer admiring a bridge she designed that suddenly collapses would be ironic. Another example would be a hospital running out of aspirin.
Conversely, a situation such as "rain on your wedding day" in Alanis Morissette's 1990s hit single "Ironic" would be a coincidence (or just plain bad luck). However, the applications of ironic that her song uses have only gained traction; dictionary.com includes "coincidental; unexpected" within its entry.
It's possible that popular use will continue to blur the distinction between irony and coincidence. Careful writers can remain aware of and uphold their difference.
Infamous. Some might still use this word to mean "incredibly famous." While it does convey being famous, it is typically for the wrong reasons. Infamous implies having a bad reputation. An infamous celebrity might be one who has trouble with the law.
Peruse. On occasion we might express that we "perused" the selections at the airport newsstand. We would be correct if we meant that we observed them with attention to detail. If all we did was glance at what was available, we would more succinctly say we "browsed" or "skimmed" the display.
Similar to splitting ironic's definitions, using peruse to mean "to browse" or "to skim" has become so pervasive that dictionaries are acceding. The entry at dictionary.com includes both "to read with thoroughness and care" and "to scan or browse." This dichotomy does not favor precision, and resolution will arrive only by fully changing or restoring the definition. Careful writers can favor the original meaning.
Misuse Driven by Sound
Other common misuses arise from words that sound like they should mean one thing when in fact they represent the opposite. When you read or hear the following words, there's often a chance they're appearing in the wrong sentence.
| Word |
enervate |
| Mistaken Meaning |
to energize |
| Correct Meaning |
to weaken or sap |
| Correct Example |
Standing in the ticket line for six hours enervated us. |
| Word |
enormity* |
| Mistaken Meaning |
enormousness, great size |
| Correct Meaning |
something outrageous or heinous |
| Correct Example |
The enormity of the bank scandal was even worse than they thought. |
| Word |
fulsome* |
| Mistaken Meaning |
full, abundant, copious |
| Correct Meaning |
offensive to good taste, improperly or insincerely excessive |
| Correct Example |
She didn't believe his fulsome apology for staying away all weekend. |
| Word |
noisome |
| Mistaken Meaning |
noisy |
| Correct Meaning |
noxious, offensive, disgusting (especially an odor) |
| Correct Example |
The smell from the trashcan was noisome. |
| Word |
proscribe |
| Mistaken Meaning |
to prescribe, recommend, direct |
| Correct Meaning |
to condemn, forbid |
| Correct Example |
The village proscribes alcohol sales on Sundays. |
*The entries at dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster online include the disparate meanings.
As with any great movement involving the masses, the juggernaut of popular opinion will likely prevail over time as it concerns the usage of words. In the meantime, we can keep the lamps of precision and eloquence lit by maintaining proper distinctions of meanings.
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Pop Quiz
Using what you've learned in this article, answer Yes or No to whether each italicized word is used correctly in its sentence.
1. Patricia has fulsome management experience on her resume. [Yes / No]
2. I don't have much time so I'll just peruse the notes from the meeting. [Yes / No]
3. Company policy now proscribes wearing sandals at work. [Yes / No]
4. Last night there was a fire at the fire station—ironic, isn't it? [Yes / No]
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Wordplay
Ironic?
Pop Quiz Answers
1. No
2. No
3. Yes
4. Yes
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