Language Tips: Frequently misused words

  • By chance i saw this *article about the English language in the S.T. Monday (28th) paper and i thought seeing it was better than seeing a $5 note on the ground. (lol!). Because of it’s educational value, i thought i should alert members who had missed it to check it out.
  • The frequently misused words in the article include revert, whereby, everyday/every day, less/lesser, mature/matured and welcome/welcomed. The writer explains how the words should be used and gives good examples.
  • Language Tips  series appears on every Monday and it’s a pity to miss these free ‘lessons’.

*S.T.Monday 28/5/2012, CATS section pg C6

Author: Jassmine Teo

I came to know about the SHC from eNN (Seng Kang). My interests are varied. I write on the forum regularly to improve my writing. In my autumn years, my priority is voluntary service. Hope to meet like-minded people and help initiate a programme/project for the disabled like the hearing impaired.

8 thoughts on “Language Tips: Frequently misused words”

  1. I find that my simple English can be understood by almost everyone.
    But as I get older I also start to learn many new words. These are words which I would rather not have to know but they keep cropping up.
    Words like
    Osteopath
    Dentistry
    Prosthodontics
    Periodontist
    Cardiologist
    Endoscopy
    Laparoscopy
    Endoscopy
    Colonoscopy
    Urologist
    Neuroulogy
    Oncologist
    Opthalmology

    And the list goes on. They should be classified as ‘dirty’ words.The more you come across these words, the poorer you get and the nearer you come to know everything.

  2. Hi Tian Soo
    I tried looking up the ST Monday, 28 May, Page C6, but cannot find the English Language section that you referred to. What I see on Pg C6 are two articles: On Track For Change and My life so far. Am I looking at the right Page?
    Appreciate your advice,

    Tks, Barbara

  3. Hi TS #1
    The words you listed are technical words and if you can use them correctly, you’ll get admiring looks from your listeners! lol! :)

    Hi Barbara #2
    Look for C6 in the Classified (CATS) section. It’s there. :)

  4. Tian Soo

    The topic is frequently misused words not frequently used words when you are a senior…

    Your words cost a lot of money; any one of them will make a doctor or specialist very, very rich. And also can afford a Ferrari although he will not speed along Rochor Road only rev the car at Mt Elezabeth Hospital.

  5. Dug up the old papers and found it.
    Mature and matured
    Welcome and welcomed.
    Hmmmm…enlightening

    CRAZY language indeed.
    Thank you Jassmine !

  6. Hi Jasmine

    Thank you for pointing me to the right page of ST. I found it. I was earlier looking at C6 under Lifestyle.

    rgds, Barbara

  7. Hi Daniel #5, Barbara #6

    It’s my pleasure. i think people trip over the correct choice of word in welcome/welcomed and mature/matured because the general grammatical rules do not apply to them. They are special cases! lol!

  8. *Today’s Language Tips article focuses on the correct pronunciation of ‘salmon’, ‘almond’ and ‘sword’. The writer just could not hide her exasperation at the way ‘hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans’ mispronounce ‘sword’. lol!

    * S.T. Monday 11 /6/2012

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