Do you know any words that have been used incorrectly so often that they have become acceptable?

Question

For example, "Peruse" means to scrutinize carefully, but enough people use it to mean "Skim," so now that's an accepted usage. "Irregardless" recently made its way into the dictionary, even though it's not a word.

Does anyone know any other incorrectly used words that have become acceptable due to sheer repetition?

Answer 1

"gay" means happy, but enough people use it to mean "homosexual," so now that's an accepted usage.

Answer 2

How about "alternate." It is used instead of "alternative" even though it really means "to switch between two possibilities." An "alternative" is "one choice that precludes the other." This misuse of the word has actually made it into some dictionaries.

Answer 3

Sorry this is not a racist comment, but I consider many words used in Ebonics to be incorrect, but acceptable. I just don't believe it's a very articulate means of communicating, even though it is used by many.

Answer 4

A word's proper use is relative to its actual use.

Words constantly evolve, 500 years ago most the language you've used in your question would be unintelligible and thus unacceptable.

Answer 5

How about when someone is asking permission to do something and says, "Can" instead of "May". Can ask if you have the ability whereas May asks for permission or approval.

Answer 6

irony. people use "ironic" to describe pure coincidences. i.e. alanis morisette (although i guess her song "ironic" could be classified as ironic because it's a song called "ironic" that isn't ironic.)

gay has become a slang term for stupid, particularly among dim witted teenage boys

Answer 7

"Flammable". The correct word is "inflammable" but people think that means that something CAN'T catch fire, so now the incorrect word is better known.

Answer 8

Hopefully

Their (instead of "his or her")

"Sea change" -- used for any change, instead of the change that happens to a dead body that's spent a week in the ocean

Answer 9

The "who" and "whom" distinction is a big one.

Answer 10

irregardless...grrrrrrrrr