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11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly - Improve Your Writing - Literature - Nairaland

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11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly - Improve Your Writing by RapportNaija(m): 5:58pm On May 01, 2017
Do you know there are some words we use incorrectly and we don’t even know about it until today? Some of these words, you have used it incorrectly all your life that if you read about it now on this post, you would become embarrassed. These particular words actually mean the opposite of what we thought they mean to us, but they sound like they are not.

Let’s look through these eleven words many of us might have been using incorrectly all our life and we have to get it right once and for all:

1. Bogus (adjective): This word does not mean “big or massive” or anything relating to size. It actually means “not genuine or true”, “illegal”, “counterfeit”, etc.

Examples:
i. Tammy delivered some bogus documents to back up his claim, but he ended up not been able to defend himself.
ii. I didn’t pay him because that estimate was quite bogus.


2. Dupe (verb or noun): The way we use the noun form of this word is the problem. A person who dupes people is not someone who deceives or cheats people. A dupe is the real victim of deception. Do you understand?

Examples:
i. He was acting smart until he became the dupe.
ii. When I realized I was a dupe, I wept uncontrollably.

3. Terrific (adjective): This word is not the synonym for the words “terrible” or “terrifying”, but it means “great”, “very good”, “tremendous”, etc. It formerly meant “to cause terror” in the old days.

Examples:
i. I had a terrific feeling at the audition.
ii. He had a terrific performance at the dance competition.

4. Double date (noun)/double-date (verb): Many people believe this compound word simply means “infidelity” or “to have more than one love/date partner”. The actual meaning of this word is “a situation where two couples (say your friend and his/her love partner together with you and your love partner) go out on a date” or “to take part in such a date”.

Examples:
i. Tammy and Kenny are coming over to the bar, so it’s a double-date.
ii. We have been friends with them for many years: we’ve even been double-dating since college.

5. Restive (adjective): If you think this word has anything to do with “resting”, then you’re wrong. It actually means the opposite of that. When one is restive, then he or she is “unable to stay calm or still” or “unwilling to be controlled”.

Examples:
i. She was so hurt that she remained restive throughout the party.
ii. Let’s calm the restive ones before the issue escalates beyond control.


6. Talkative (adjective): I have also been using this word incorrectly. The word “talkative” isn’t a noun, so it is wrong to say Ibrahim is a talkative. It is an adjective which means “fond of talking a lot”.

Examples:
i. Curry is not very talkative.
ii. She was so in a talkative mood the last time we met.

Read more on the rest: http://www.rapportnaija.com/2016/10/11-popular-words-we-use-incorrectly.html

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Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly - Improve Your Writing by Partnerbiz(f): 6:11pm On May 01, 2017
This is good and not bunkum like others.

Also note that:

This is insultive insulting.

You are the one who is are mad
Etc.


See below for data pls

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Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly - Improve Your Writing by amtalkin(f): 9:07pm On May 01, 2017
You learn everyday
Double date i had a wrong definition of it. Now i know.

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Re: 11 Popular English Words We Use Incorrectly - Improve Your Writing by EvaJael(f): 10:28pm On May 01, 2017
I got dupe and talkative wrong. Thanks

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