Misused Words

 

HACKNEYED OR OVERUSED EXPRESSIONS

HACKNEYED	BETTER ALTERNATIVE
Acknowledge receipt of your letter	We thank you for your letter
This is with reference to	This is regarding
This pertains to	This is about
As per your request	As you requested
Attached herewith you will find	Enclosed is
According to our records	Our records show
In lieu of	Instead of
I remain	I thank you
Thanking you in advance	Thank you

 

Prepared by:

Tan, Emmanuel B. LPT

FREQUENTLY MISUSED WORDS

 

Affect. It means to influence.	Effect. It can be either a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to cause; as a noun, it means a result.
Allude. It means to refer to something without specifically mentioning it.	Elude. It is to escape or escape detection.
Averse. It means being opposed to something.	Adverse. It means an unfavourable condition.
Canvas. It is a heavy cloth usually used for painting.	Canvass. It means to survey, usually, the market prices of particular commodities.
Censor. It means to prohibit publication or to severely edit or eliminate objectionable parts.	Censure. It means to condemn or to disapprove.
Cite. It means to invoke or to quote.	Site. It refers to physical location.
Complement. It refers to something added to make something complete.	Compliment. It means a word of praise, an appreciation, or a gift.
Compose. It means to create or to put together.	Comprise. It means to contain.
Council. It refers to an official group (e.g., a government advisory council or a business council).	Counsel. It refers to an adviser, oftentimes associated with a lawyer.
Descent. It means a downward movement.	Dissent. It means a strong disagreement.
Discreet. It means prudent or private.	Discrete. It means detached or separate.
Ensure. It means to guarantee.	Insure. It is also means to guarantee although frequently, it is used to mean to cover with an insurance policy.
Farther. It means at a greater distance.	Further. It means more deeply or to a greater degree.
Incite. It means to arouse or to set in motion.	Insight. It means an understanding of the nature of things.
It’s. It is a contraction of ‘’it is’’	Its. It is the possessive form of the pronoun ‘’it’’
There. It is a directional word pointing	Their. It is the possessive form of the

toward a specific location.	pronoun ‘’they’’
Jibe. It means to agree with or to fit with.	Jive. It means to talk nonsense or to scam.
All together. It means ‘’in a group’’	Altogether. It means thoroughly or entirely.
Eminent. It means someone who is high, lofty, prominent, or renowned.	Imminent. It means something that is likely to happen without delay.
Incidence. It refers to the rate of occurrence.	Incident. It means a single event.
Stationary. It refers to an object that does not move.	Stationery. It means a quality paper used for business correspondence.

 

Prepared by:

Tan, Emmanuel B. LPT