by Hugh Culver (used with permission)

I’m not a word-nerd, really.

But, when I’m scrolling through your post or email or book draft or whatever and come across a word that doesn’t belong (or, for that matter, doesn’t exist), I come to a screeching stop—can’t help it.

So I thought I would save you the embarrassment and share a list of 11 incorrectly used words. You can thank me by adding your own examples in the comments below.

Hair we go (just kidding).

1 – Everyday and every day

Years ago, my wife and I were driving a rented convertible VW in Baja with our 6-year-old daughter in the back when I saw an airline’s billboard that, in part, read “veulos total dia” (flights all day).

Trying to sound smart, I started asking anyone serving us if they had what I wanted “total dia.” The comical looks I received told the whole story; what I should have asked was do they have it every day (“¿cada dia?”).

In English, we say everyday when we mean common or normal, as in “It became an everyday occurrence.”

Whereas, every day means today, tomorrow, the next day, and so on, as in “It happens every day.”

2 – Adapt and adopt

If you adapt something you change it, to adopt is to take it as your own. So, after you read this list you can adopt the correct word use and adapt it for your blog.

3 – Already and all ready

You can simplify this one by thinking of already as talking about the past, as in “I already told him that.” And all ready as being about the future, as in “I was all ready to tell him that.”

Have you got that already?

4 – Regardless and Irregardless

Let’s set the record straight on this one: “irregardless” is not a word; the word you want is regardless. Regardless of what you’re working on or speaking about, that should make you sound smarter.

5 – Especially and specially

This is one of those examples you might need to say out loud to know which to use.

Usually, especially means particularly, as in “The speech was especially difficult to finish.”

Whereas specially usually means “in a special or careful manner” or “specifically,” such as “She made a special effort for that client.”

That was an especially subtle distinction.

6 – Between and among

Use between when you’re distinguishing between a list of separate, distinct items: “The difference between a Frappuccino, latte and espresso is…”

Use among when talking about things that are not distinct: “There’s a big difference among bloggers.” You can also use among to indicate someone is part of a group: “She felt at home among the coffee-drinking bloggers.”

7 – Advise and advice

Put simply, advise is a verb, advice is a noun. The quickest test is to say your sentence out loud. Like this one: “Nobody goes to a coach for advice.”

8 – Stationary and stationery

You write on stationery that is (hopefully) stationary. Get it?

9 – Principle and principal

Your high school principal might have taught you principles. You might even say that was principally her job.

My trick to remember the difference between principal and principle is the “pal” in principal refers to a person – so then principle must be the other meaning.

There are other meanings for principal, including the non-interest part of your loan and the principal in a firm (as in high-level partner).

10 – Then and than

When you use then you’re talking about time, as in, “I finished my blog and then doubled checked it against Hugh’s list of 11 incorrectly used words.”

You use than to compare something, such as “After reading Hugh’s list, I’m smarter than before.” (Of course you are.)

11 – Impact, affect, and effect

This is a tricky one.

First, impact should only be used when there is a physical action involved: “I was impacted from behind.”

Use effect if you are making a change happen and affect if you are helping make the change happen.

Bottom line: stop saying you’ll impact change, sales, productivity, or your marriage (especially marriage); use affect instead.

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Hugh Culver a recovering over-achiever who researches, writes, and speaks on how to THINK better, PLAN smarter, and ACT now on what really matters. Learn lots more at www.HughCulver.com