7 Phrases People Need to Stop Using Incorrectly ...

7 Phrases People Need to Stop Using Incorrectly ...
By Holly • Oct 19, 2023

There are common phrases people need to stop using incorrectly, because they make the rest of us shudder. You wouldn't want to make an intelligent point, but be laughed at, because you made a tiny error. Of course, it's easy to correct your mistakes, once you know what you're doing wrong. Here are some phrases people need to stop using incorrectly:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Want more like this? Subscribe for personalized picks.

Successfully subscribed.

Check your inbox for personalized content.

1. Old Timer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease causes memory loss. Although it's something that tends to occur in older people, the word "old-timer" is just not in the phrase. It might help you remember what the word means, but never say it aloud, or you'll risk sounding silly. This is one of the phrases people need to stop using incorrectly, because the disease is something to be taken seriously.

2. I Could Care Less

If you're a fan of Orange is the New Black, then you already know all about this error. If you say that you "could care less" about your homework, then that means that you actually do care. The phrase you're looking for is, "I couldn't care less," because it means that there's no possible way that you could care less about it.

3. Escape Goat

A scapegoat is someone who is blamed for the wrongdoings of others. If you and your friends all cheat on a test, but only one of your pals is blamed for it, then he is the scapegoat. An escape goat, on the other hand, is just a goat that escaped from a zoo. They're two totally different things. Don't get them confused.

4. Nipped in the Butt

"To nip" means to pinch or bite sharply, so nipping someone in the butt would be quite painful. It's not something that you'd want to experience. The correct phrase is "nipping it in the bud." It means that you're preventing a problem from growing worse, just like nipping a bud would prevent a flower from growing larger.

5. Safe Haven

A haven means a "safe place," so there's no reason to call something a "safe haven," when safety is already implied. Using the same word twice doesn't make much sense, and causes redundancy. If you've made this mistake in the past, don't worry. It isn't the end of the world, because not everyone will notice it. However, it's easily avoidable, so now that you know what you're doing, you shouldn't say it ever again.

6. The Spitting Image

This one only requires a minor change, but it's "spit and image," instead of "spitting image." So the next time you see a sexy guy, say that he's the spit and image of Ryan Gosling. He'll never receive a better compliment, and he'll think you're smart for using the phrase correctly.

7. Literally

People confuse "literally" and "figuratively" all of the time. Literally means that something is actually, physically going to happen. You are not literally going to drop dead if you fail your Spanish test. Your grades will literally drop, but that's about it. Stop using the word "literally" to describe things that are never going to happen to you.

You don't want to sound silly by using common phrases incorrectly. But now you have nothing to worry about, because this list should help you out. What phrases do you hate to hear being used wrong?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Want more like this? Subscribe for personalized picks.

Successfully subscribed.

Check your inbox for personalized content.

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

  • Guy

    2014-10-12T14:37:22.905Z

    You're wrong on spitting image (so accepted it became a tv show 30 years ago) and safe haven which is just a common phrase. Presumably it came from a sea faring view... a haven would be somewhere safe from storms but not all of them safe! That said, I could care less. And I could care more! :)
  • Tis_Special

    2014-10-06T17:35:38.205Z

    And irregardless
  • Ney

    2014-10-06T18:36:03.777Z

    I understood everything except #6. Holly confused me a little. She corrected "spitting image" to "spit and image" bit in her example sentence she used "spitting image"... now I'll never use the phrase again until I get clarification. Lol... thanks for the article!
  • Bela

    2014-10-07T01:20:16.138Z

    Also add "I haven't done nothing" which people often use to say that they have done nothing, yet still use the word 'haven't' instead of 'have', or 'nothing' instead of 'anything' in the sentence. The change of words alters the meaning to imply that they have actually done something.
  • Jade

    2014-10-09T19:14:08.728Z

    I also hate how every American movie says "because of __" instead of "thanks to __". "Because of__" is negative... "Thanks to__" shows gratitude...
  • Bronza

    2015-08-05T04:21:26.217Z

    I use literally in that kind of sense just for humor, its not that we are using the word wrong, but we want to sound funny. But if you say it all the time then it can get annoying
  • Fontaneous

    2014-10-07T17:19:56.179Z

    Spit n image = archaic. For 100 years people have updated it to spitting image. Get w da program. And ending your story with "wrong" is wrong, it should be incorrectly.
  • Susan

    2014-10-06T17:07:45.798Z

    I'd add infamous to this list!
  • zlati

    2014-10-06T23:06:25.009Z

    Infamous is actually a word...irregardless is not...
  • Alyson

    2014-10-08T07:54:33.031Z

    It's always been 'splitting image'. Should consult your dictionary before doing this article
Commenting as
Add allwomenstalk.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Allwomenstalk app icon

Don't Miss the Latest Version

Get the latest stories, save favorites, and share with friends — all in one place.

New Earn badges & level up while you read

Create your profile. Earn badges. Level up your reading.

Join Allwomenstalk to track your streaks, collect badges, and earn XP for the things you already do—reading, sharing, and taking quizzes.

  • 🔥
    Daily streaks with gentle boosts for 3, 7, and 30 days.
  • 🏅
    Collect badges like Reader I–III, Socialite, and Quiz Ace.
  • ⚡️
    Earn XP for reads, deep reads, likes, comments, and shares.

It’s free. Takes 30 seconds. Already have an account? Sign in.

10,000+ badges earned last month

Level

3

Streak

7 🔥

XP420 / 700

Badges

🔥 On a Roll
📖 Reader I
📣 Socialite

Trending products

Other Cool Reads

Related Topics

only just saw this color roses and their meaning how do you answer whats up slang of the 60s harry pick up lines tsunaina plastic surgery inappropriate spelling learn new language online free negative words to remove from your vocabulary oxford dictionary word of the year 2014