Modern English is an interesting language and is always changing and evolving. Words are altered and definitions are updated accordingly. We can’t all be linguists, but we should know how to correctly use the words we choose.
Compelled
What they think it means: To do something voluntarily by choice.
What it actually means: To be forced or obligated to doing something.
To be compelled is to be forced to do something, regardless of whether you actually want to do it or not.
Bemused
What they think it means: Amused.
What it actually means: Confused.
While it sounds similar to Amused, its meaning is completely different. It originally comes from the middle-English words Be, which is an intensifier, and Muse, which is to contemplate.
Irony
What they think it means: Something that is funny.
What it actually means: Contrary to what you are expecting.
From the Greek word “eirōneia” – meaning “to simulate ignorance”. There are different kinds of irony but they generally are the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite.
Redundant
What they think it means: Repetitive.
What it actually means:Unnecessarily excessive.
Not all repetition is redundant. Only when there’s too much of something – it becomes redundant
Effect
What you may think it means: To cause something to change.
What it actually means: An event that causes a change.
If an individual wants to change another’s opinion, the individual will need toaffect it somehow. The action taken was the effect that caused the change of opinion.
i.e.
What they think it means: For example.
What it actually means: In other words.
From the Latin “Id Est” (meaning: in that), i.e. is used when you want repeat something in a different manner – i.e. to say something again in another way.
Plethora
What they think it means: A lot of something.
What it actually means: More than is needed.
From the Greek “plēthōrē”, meaning “Be full”. 10,000 people in a stadium are not a plethora of people, but put them in a small house and they suddenly become a plethora.
Disinterested
What they think it means: Bored.
What it actually means: Neutral.
If you are bored – you are uninterested (it doesn’t interest you). But if you aredisinterested – you simply don’t care either way.
Obsolete
What they think it means: Old, out of date.
What it actually means: Not produced, used, or needed.
You might think that your old cellphone is obsolete, but cellphones are still produced, used and needed. A good example of something that is obsolete will be a steam engine – they’re so inefficient compared to today’s combustion & electric engines, that no one produces it, uses it or needs it.
Chronic
What they think it means: Severe.
What it actually means: Over the course of a long time.
A person with chronic pain is not necessarily in severe pain, but have been experiencing the pain for a long time.
Can
What they think it means: What is permissible.
What it actually means: What is possible.
If you were to ask me: “Can I have a drink?” – You’re not asking me if you are allowed to have a drink, but rather, if you are actually capable of drinking.
Total
Total means exactly what people think it means but it is used unnecessarily on a frequent basis. When there is a total of 50 people, the total is 50 whether or not you use the word “total”. You might hear someone say that they were totally surprised. Surprise is not a conditional emotion – You were either surprised or not. The use of total didn’t add anything of value to the sentence.
Source……www.ba-bamail.com
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