Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: The word "legend" refers to a story or event that people believe in, but for which there is no real evidence. For example, the story of King Arthur is a legend. Mick Jagger, on the other hand, is someone we know to be a real person, and so not a legendary figure. And to be clear, the stories are what are the legends, not the characters. People, whether they are fictional or not, should never be referred to as legends.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: The word "forte," the musical term meaning "loud," and the word "forte," meaning "something a person does especially well," are heteronyms and not homonyms. The first "forte" is two syllables, while the second is only one. The "forte" that means one's strong suit rhymes with "snort" and "port."

Remember, a common mistake is still a mistake.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: Learn the difference between "sitting" and "seated." The word "sitting" is the action of lowering yourself onto a chair (or someone's face or whatever). But once that action is completed, you are no longer sitting. Now you are seated.

Remember, a common mistake is still a mistake.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: Never use the word "ask" as a noun. I don't know what imbecile started this trend, but it does you no good to follow examples set by idiots. The word "ask" is a verb. There is one exception to this, as I've learned, and that is if you happen to travel back in time in a certain part of the UK, and are using it to mean "asker," which is a newt, but I doubt very many of you will be doing that.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: Don't use the word "comprise." Just don't. It is rare that I find it used correctly even in print, even in books by somewhat respected authors. If you have an urge to use the word, instead use "compose." Ninety-nine out of a hundred times, "compose" is the word you wanted anyway. But, here's a little test you can take. Of the following three sentences, only one uses the word "comprise" correctly. Which one do you think it is?

1. Nine players comprise a baseball team.
2. A baseball team is comprised of nine players.
3. A baseball team comprises nine players.

Okay, first of all, yes, I know there are more players on a team. But as far as fielding a team, you need only nine. That being said, which option did you choose?

The only correct one is the third sentence: "A baseball team comprises nine players." You can never say "comprised of." That is always wrong. Say "composed of" to avoid sounding ignorant.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: A word that many people should simply avoid using is "literally." Often when I hear people say it, they actually mean "figuratively," which is basically the opposite. And the emphasis they put on the word makes them sound even dumber. I once heard someone say, "I literally died," with great emphasis on "literally." My urge, of course, was to cut the person's head off because she was admitting to being a zombie, and those creatures never mean us any good.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: Never say that something is "really unique" or "very unique" or "somewhat unique." Things are either unique or they aren't. You cannot modify that adjective. There are no degrees of uniqueness. The word "unique" means that there is just one of whatever it is you're talking about. If there is more than one of something, it is not unique.