“Wait, That’s Wrong?” – 5 English Phrases You’ve Been Saying Incorrectly
“Wait, That’s Wrong?” – 5 English Phrases You’ve Been Saying Incorrectly
Ah, English — that beautifully chaotic language where one misplaced word can make you sound either poetic… or completely perplexing.
But fret not. Missteps are integral to mastering any language. In fact, those little linguistic hiccups often lead to the most unforgettable “aha!” moments. So here are five common phrases many people get wrong and how to elevate your English with confidence.
- “I could care less.”
That implies you still care even if it’s just a smidgen.
✔ Correct: “I couldn’t care less.”
When you’re absolutely, positively done caring, this is the one to use.
- “For all intensive purposes.”
Unless your purposes are training for a military bootcamp… not quite.
✔ Correct: “For all intents and purposes.”
Meaning: in every practical sense.
- “Make due with what you have.”
“Due” as in a deadline? Not the right fit.
✔ Correct: “Make do with what you have.”
To manage resourcefully and that’s always commendable.
- “Nip it in the butt.”
A slightly alarming mental image, isn’t it?
✔ Correct: “Nip it in the bud.”
Like trimming a budding issue before it grows wild.
- “Each one of them have their own opinion.”
Grammatically incongruent and just a little jarring.
✔ Correct: “Each one of them has their own opinion.”
“Each” is singular, so it pairs with “has.”
Why these little slip-ups are a big deal? Because they’re the bits you remember. They make you laugh, maybe cringe a little, but most importantly they teach you. Every time you catch and correct a mistake, you’re giving your brain a power-up.
So, the next time you catch yourself saying something a little off… smile. Fix it. And carry on. Because language learning, after all, isn’t linear — it’s a wonderfully unpredictable journey.
Words to learn:
Elevate – to raise something or lift something up
Perplexing – confusing, often because you do not know how to solve something
Integral – necessary and important as a part of a whole
Smidgen – a very small amount of something
Incongruent – not suitable or not fitting well with something else
Jarring – unexpected, or unpleasant in a way that is difficult to accept or like
At ILTI, we encourage our learners to polish their language skills via real-life situations. We do not practise the chalk and talk approach – we learn and have fun at the same time. Join us today by calling / WhatsApp 010-395 3067 or email: info@ilti.edu.my.