Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: Learn the difference between "healthy" and "healthful." The word "healthy" means "having health" while "healthful" means "serving to promote health." When talking about a meal or diet, for example, you should use "healthful." A healthy meal would be one that is still alive, and while that would certainly make dinner time more interesting, it is probably not what you mean.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: The word "quality" by itself doesn't mean anything in terms of describing the worth of something. Saying "quality workmanship" or "quality merchandise" tells us nothing whatsoever. It could be high-quality, it could be low-quality. Who knows? Think of "quality" the way you think of "degree." If someone said, "degree workmanship," you'd immediately understand how meaningless the statement was. I used to think the use of the word "quality" like that was deliberately deceptive, a way for companies to avoid telling the truth without lying. Now I just think people are idiots.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: "Snuck" is not a word. "Sneaked" is the correct past tense form of "sneak."

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: The correct phrase is "can hardly wait," not "can't hardly wait." "Can't hardly" is a double negative. 

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: The phrase is "couldn't care less," not "could care less." Saying "I could care less" means you do care, at least a little bit. 

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: "Irregardless" is not a word. I think this abomination comes from people aiming to say "regardless" or "irrespective" and somehow garbling the two. Whatever the cause, "irregardless" is not a word and should never be uttered by anyone who wants to be considered even moderately intelligent.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: The word "hopefully" means "in a hopeful manner," not "I hope that." This sentence is correct: "The child hopefully opened his gifts." This sentence is not correct: "Hopefully Donald Trump, his whore and all his offspring will die today" (though the sentiment is correct).

Remember, a common mistake is still a mistake.