Confusing Words

Which spelling is correct? Is it backward or backwards? The good news is that both of them are perfectly correct for the adverb form. But it depends on whether you write in US or British English. For US writers, there is usually no S. But for the UK and some other national varieties of English,…

You’re waiting impatiently for news, but nothing arrives. Are you on tenterhooks or on tender hooks? Yes, the suspense is agonizing and unbearable. Each passing moment seems like forever as you constantly check your phone, email, or glance at the clock. But in the meantime, it might help to know that the correct answer is…

Yes, the correct answer is in regard to. It is incorrect to use in regards to. It’s so easy to make this mistake when writing, and it’s an error you can miss when proofreading. However, the grammar for regard and regards can be a little confusing because it is also correct to use as regards.…

Continuously and continually are two very similar adverbs. However, there is a subtle difference between the meanings of the two words. Continuously means without interruption, whereas continually indicates repeatedly or at regular intervals. In many situations, you could use either one. It would make little difference to your readers. It’s not a classic grammar mistake.…

When you mince your words, you are not getting to the point, or you are speaking indirectly or vaguely. We use the expression mostly in the negative form. For example, you might tell someone to stop mincing words because you want them to get to the point or speak more directly. But we generally associate…

Death throes is an expression that authors, in particular, might use in writing from time to time. What is odd is that the noun, throes, is a plural noun rarely seen in its singular form. In fact, many dictionaries don’t mention the singular form. It’s an unusual expression, but be careful not to confuse or…

Hazard a guess, has at a guess, or has it a guess? You often see these three expressions used in writing. However, the correct phrase is hazard a guess. Because the phrases sound almost the same when speaking, it’s very easy to get the expression wrong. But yes, to have a guess is perfectly correct.…

Criteria and criterion are two words that show the evolution of modern English. Strictly defined, the word criterion is a singular noun, and criteria is the plural form. However, it is rare to see this applied in writing today. Unless you are a stickler for accuracy in your writing, the plural form is now generally…

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, baited breath instead of bated breath is a common spelling mistake. It also says that nearly a third of citations for this idiom in the Oxford English Corpus use incorrect spelling. The confusion about the correct form of this idiom is because the word bated is not in…

Is it a moot point or a mute point? The correct answer is a moot point. We use the word mute to mean silent or unable to speak. You use a mute button to silence a television or computer. But moot, as an adjective, means having little or no practical relevance. Moot can also mean something…