For most of us, English is still a challenge.
With all its irregularities, exceptions and rules, it is a very difficult language to master.
With that in mind, rediff.com presents our English Bloopers series.
Here, we publish written and spoken mistakes spotted and sent to us by observant Get Ahead readers.
It's a great way to review the basics, clarify a few issues and share a laugh or two!
So, stop by three times a week for another fresh batch of English Bloopers.
Today, we present the second half of a list of bloopers that have become so common, they're hardly even recognised as errors!
Here is the first half of the list.
Let's get started:
|
MISTAKE |
CORRECT |
|
misconscrew |
misconstrue |
|
momento |
memento |
|
muriel |
mural |
|
myocardial infraction |
myocardial infarction |
|
new leash on life |
new lease on life |
|
neck in neck |
neck and neck |
|
nitch |
niche |
|
no bars held |
no holds barred |
|
notary republic |
notary public |
|
odiferous |
odoriferous |
|
oject d'art |
objet d'art |
|
off my own back |
off my own bat |
|
on mass |
en masse |
|
on the same hand |
on the other hand |
|
once and a while |
once in a while |
|
orthoscopic |
arthroscopic |
|
overhauls |
overalls |
|
overjealous |
overzealous |
|
pacific |
specific |
|
pain-staking |
painstaking |
|
pair of parenthesis |
pair of parentheses |
|
parody of virtue |
paragon of virtue |
|
part in parcel |
part and parcel |
|
pastorial |
pastoral |
|
patriarticle |
patriarchal |
|
permiscuous |
promiscuous |
|
peacemeal |
piecemeal |
|
peak of health |
pink of health |
|
pedastool |
pedestal |
|
pension |
penchant |
|
periphial |
peripheral |
|
perk up its ears |
prick up its ears |
|
perscription |
prescription |
|
Peruvian interest |
prurient interest |
|
perverbial |
proverbial |
|
phantom |
fathom |
|
pick fun |
poke fun or pick on |
|
piece of mind |
peace of mind |
|
pillow to post |
pillar to post |
|
|
|
|
play it by year |
play it by ear |
|
plentitude |
plenitude |
|
poison ivory |
poison ivy |
|
portentious |
portentous |
|
pot-bellied politics |
pork-barrel politics |
|
poultrygeist |
poltergeist |
|
predominately |
predominantly |
|
pratfall |
pitfall |
|
pre-Madonna |
prima donna |
|
prevaricate |
procrastinate |
|
prevert |
pervert |
|
prolong the inevitable |
delay the inevitable |
|
protagonist |
proponent |
|
punkin, pumkin |
pumpkin |
|
|
|
|
radical chick |
radical chic |
|
radioactive increase |
retroactive increase |
|
ramsack |
ransack |
|
readdress the balance |
redress the balance |
|
rebel rouser |
rabble rouser |
|
recreate the wheel |
reinvent the wheel |
|
repel |
rappel |
|
repungent |
repugnant |
|
roiling boil |
rolling boil |
|
rot or rod iron |
wrought iron |
|
rubble rousing |
rabble rousing |
|
rockweiler |
rottweiler |
|
run rapid |
run rampant |
|
short sided |
shortsighted |
|
skewer the results |
skew the results |
|
something or rather |
something or other |
|
|
|
|
seizure salad |
Caesar salad |
|
self of steam |
self-esteem |
|
self-defacing |
self-effacing |
|
sense of false security |
false sense of security |
|
should've went |
should've gone |
|
shutter to think |
shudder to think |
|
similiar or simular |
similar |
|
|
|
|
skiddish |
skittish |
|
|
|
|
skun your knee |
skinned your knee |
|
sleep acnea |
sleep apnea |
|
slither of cake |
sliver of cake |
|
smashed potatoes |
mashed potatoes |
|
smoking mirrors |
smoke and mirrors |
|
smothered onions |
smothered with onions |
|
soak and wet |
soaking wet |
|
somulent |
somnolent |
|
sorted past or story |
sordid past or story |
|
stain glass |
stained glass |
|
stainless teal |
stainless steel |
|
strident |
stringent |
|
subsiding on |
subsisting on |
|
substantative |
substantive |
|
supremist |
supremacist |
|
tactile squad |
tactical squad |
|
terminity |
temerity |
|
thankyou |
thank you |
|
techknowledgy |
technology |
|
Theolonius Monk |
Thelonious Monk |
|
thread a fine line |
tred a fine line |
|
Tiajuana |
Tijuana |
|
tie me over |
tide me over |
|
times the number |
multiply the number |
|
tittering on the brink |
teetering on the brink |
|
to eaches own |
to each his own |
|
took it for granite |
took it for granted |
|
turpentime |
turpentine |
|
two sense worth |
two cents' worth |
|
tyrannical yolk |
tyrannical yoke |
|
unchartered territory |
uncharted territory |
|
unloosen |
loosen |
|
udderly |
utterly |
|
up and adam |
up and at 'em |
|
upgraded |
upbraided |
|
valevictorian |
valedictorian |
|
Valentimes |
Valentines |
|
vaulted |
vaunted |
|
verbage |
verbiage |
|
very close veins |
varicose veins |
|
viadock |
viaduct |
|
visa versa |
vice versa |
|
vocal chords |
vocal cords |
|
voiceterous |
boisterous |
|
vunerable |
vulnerable |
|
wait ago |
way to go |
|
weary |
wary |
|
wheedle down |
whittle down |
|
whelp |
welt |
|
Wimbleton |
Wimbledon |
|
wideth |
width |
|
windshield factor |
wind chill factor |
|
witch |
which |
|
without further adieu |
without further ado |
|
|
|
|
world-renown |
world-renowned |
|
worse case scenario |
worst-case scenario |
|
worth its weight in salt |
worth its weight in gold |
|
worth wild |
worthwhile |
If you'd like to share common bloopers you come across when people speak/ write in English, do mail your list, along with their correct alternatives to englishbloopers@rediffmail.com -- we'll highlight them right here as a helpful guide to those trying to improve their English. Also, make sure you include your FULL NAME, AGE, OCCUPATION and the CITY you are based in.