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.

Tips To Keep You From Sounding Stupid

Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: Learn the difference between "bad" and "badly." There is a moment in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that I especially appreciate (that whole film is wonderful), a moment that perfectly illustrates the difference. When I saw this movie in the theatre, I couldn't help but applaud when Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) corrects Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) after Harry says, "I feel badly." "Bad," Harmony says. She explains: "'Badly' is an adverb, so to say you feel badly would be saying that the mechanism which allows you to feel is broken." Harry doesn't quite learn the distinction, and later makes a mistake when talking with Perry (Val Kilmer). And Perry corrects him. "Who taught you grammar? Get out. Vanish." Perhaps that should be our response when anyone makes this mistake.

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.