Everybody Writes, 2nd Edition



42Words We Always Get Wrong

Some words seem interchangeable with others because they sound similar. Others are abused because their meanings are confused in everyday speech.

Here are some of the most commonly misused words in marketing writing.

First let's sort out 20 pairs of similar sounding words. (They seem interchangeable but often aren't.)

Then we'll clear up usage confusion. For example, can you sub bring for take? Or may you sub bring for take? Or should we all rephrase the whole question to avoid revealing our inability to tell the difference?

Similar or Seemingly Interchangeable Words

• Disinterested: Impartial or unbiased.
• Uninterested: Don't care.

  You'll notice this confusion in news headlines. I saw this headline the other day: “Woman Goes Missing; Disinterested Police ‘Guess' She Eloped, Shut Case.”¹

  That same day, I noticed this: “Eight in Ten SMEs [small and midsize enterprises] Disinterested in Seeking Finance.”² Both the police and the small business owners were actually uninterested—not disinterested.

• Accept: Agree to receive.

  As in: “Joakim Noah Reluctant to Accept Praise.”³

• Except: Not including, excluding.

  As in: “Two Charts That Will Enrage Everyone (Well, Except Bankers).”⁴

• Historic: Having importance in history.
• Historical: Having taken place in history or in the past.

  “Historic” means something significant and important happened, so important that it's worthy of being recorded in history.

  As in: David Meerman Scott's ...