Every once in a while, it's OK for writers to go back to the well. Take me, for instance. Three years ago, I wrote a blog listing common phrases and expressions we get wrong all the time in written content, on social media, and in everyday conversations.
For instance, "I could care less" when it should be "I couldn't care less."
I'm sure you've seen or heard that a time or two and wanted to instantly correct that person.
You've likely also seen "nip it in the butt," "slight of hand," and "for all intensive purposes."
Those are all the incorrect versions of some pretty popular sayings, so I showed the right way to write them and so many others in that blog post.
As it turned out, it was a pretty popular post!
Therefore, I'M GOING BACK TO THE WELL.
Why? Well, there are three big reasons.
I know y'all enjoy reading this stuff.
There are a ton of examples.
Why not? It's fun!
33 Common Phrases and Expressions Writers Get Wrong All the Time
I don't mean to pick on writers exclusively, by the way. The truth is that we all do it, regardless of what you do for a living, your education level, etc. We may think we have been using these phrases and expressions correctly for years in our writing, and the worst part is that we also speak them the same way. In reality, they've been butchered severely.
Want to know how to write them correctly and learn what else you've been writing and saying wrong this whole time? Then please keep reading.
What you wrote: Cut and dry
What you should have written: Cut and dried
What you wrote: Doggy-dog world
What you should have written: Dog-eat-dog world
What you wrote: Hunger pains
What you should have written: Hunger pangs
What you wrote: Wet your appetite
What you should have written: Whet your appetite
What you wrote: All and all
What you should have written: All in all
What you wrote: Butt naked
What you should have written: Buck naked
What you wrote: Peak my interest
What you should have written: Pique my interest
What you wrote: Could care less
What you should have written: Couldn't care less
What you wrote: Chester drawers
What you should have written: Chest of Drawers
What you wrote: One in the same
What you should have written: One and the same
What you wrote: All for not
What you should have written: All for naught
What you wrote: Nip it in the butt
What you should have written: Nip it in the bud
What you wrote: White as a sheep
What you should have written: White as a sheet
What you wrote: For all intensive purposes
What you should have written: For all intents and purposes
What you wrote: Biting my time
What you should have written: Biding my time
What you wrote: Passes mustard
What you should have written: Passes muster
What you wrote: Step foot in
What you should have written: Set foot in
What you wrote: You've got another thing coming
What you should have written: You've got another think coming
What you wrote: Extract revenge
What you should have written: Exact revenge
What you wrote: By and large
What you should have written: By in large
What you wrote: Slight of hand
What you should have written: Sleight of hand
What you wrote: Deep-seeded
What you should have written: Deep-seated
What you wrote: Giving you leadway
What you should have written: Giving you leeway
What you wrote: Baited breath
What you should have written: Bated breath
What you wrote: Irregardless
What you should have written: Regardless
What you wrote: Mute point
What you should have written: Moot point
What you wrote: Chomping at the bit
What you should have written: Champing at the bit
What you wrote: Shoe-in
What you should have written: Shoo-in
What you wrote: Beckon call
What you should have written: Beck and call
What you wrote: In the feeble position
What you should have written: In the fetal position
What you wrote: Scott-free
What you should have written: Scot-free
What you wrote: Case and point
What you should have written: Case in point
What you wrote: Hone in
What you should have written: Home in
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It's fun to tease friends for grammar mistakes or point out other errors in written copy. But any spelling or grammar error in business writing–brochures, website copy, blog posts, press releases, newsletters, etc.–wreaks havoc on your company's image.
Studies show that when choosing between two companies, customers prefer the one with clear and error-free written communication.
We hope you enjoyed today's blog. If you want Edit This® to handle your company's content writing and editing needs, call us today! We can write copy from scratch or spruce up your writing. Everyone could use an extra set of eyes when it comes to grammar.
STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. He is also the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.