Confusing Words

If you had asked me yesterday about this fixed expression, I would have said that when worse comes to worst is the correct form. However, when I stumbled upon a text that used the phrase when worst comes to worst, I wondered if my assumption was correct. The trouble with assumptions is that you can…

Free rein and free reign not only sound the same but seem to have similar figurative meanings related to freedom. Yes, the correct form of the phrase in writing is free rein, but there is more to the story. You often see free reign used in the same sense, and for good reason. Not because…

You might use this phrase only occasionally, but it’s easy to get it wrong in writing. One fell swoop is the correct form of the expression. When you hear people using the phrase to say that something happened suddenly, it usually sounds like one foul or fowl swoop. It’s rare to hear people pronounce it…

When a magician performs magic tricks, especially with cards, are the illusions a sleight of hand or a slight of hand?  You could ask the same question about the skills of a nimble-fingered pickpocket. The correct form of the expression is sleight and not slight. However, if you were writing 200 years ago, slight was…

The quick answer is that straight-laced and strait-laced are now both generally accepted as correct. However, if you are a language purist, most dictionaries and style guides agree that strait-laced is the original and correct form. The meaning of both forms is the same: that someone is strict in manners, morals, or opinions or has old-fashioned and…

The vocabulary we use when writing about the Internet and technology is constantly evolving. Deciding whether to use web page or webpage is a perfect example, even if both are correct and acceptable. When we use words that start with web, there is often a choice between a one-word or two-word variant. But which one…

You might think that the two words, disinterested and uninterested, are synonyms. In some contexts, yes, it’s possible to use either word because they both infer a lack of interest. But in reality, there is a subtle difference in meaning between them. One refers to a lack of interest due to impartiality, while the other…

Poured and pored are two words that can often cause confusion because they sound the same. But the meanings are totally different, and it’s so easy to make the wrong choice when you are writing. Poured is the past tense of the verb pour, which means a flow of liquid. Pored, on the other hand,…

When you describe past habits or states in writing, you use the phrases use to or used to. But which one is right? The answer is that both are correct, but it depends on grammar, as always. The basic rule is that used to is correct in the positive form, while use to is correct…

You might think that make sure and ensure are interchangeable in writing. But it’s not always the case because there are differences in use and meaning. Your choice can depend on the level of formality and certainty or the expression of a desire or intention in a sentence. Here are two examples that highlight the…