Published: Oct 5, 2025

The 35 most commonly misused words & phrases (and what they actually mean)

Paul Stainton

Director of Content & SEO

Marketing Opinion

An article about the most commonly misused words and phrases

Table of Contents

Why we mess up words in the first place
The 25 most commonly misused English words (with examples)
10 commonly misused phrases that sneak into your copy (and your DMs)
Say what you mean (and mean what you say)

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QUICK SUMMARY:

Misused words and phrases can weaken even the strongest messaging, especially when they go unnoticed. This article highlights 35 of the most commonly misused words and phrases in everyday communication, offering memorable examples that help agency professionals write with clarity, credibility, and confidence.

In the chaotic group chat that is the internet, words fly fast. Tweets, texts, Slack messages, email threads, TikTok captions, and LinkedIn manifestos—we're all communicating constantly, and publicly. And when we’re typing at speed, fueled by caffeine and autocorrect, precision can go out the window.

That’s how literally ends up meaning not literally. How effect shows up where affect should. How unique somehow gets a modifier (“very unique,” anyone?). Most of us know better—or at least, we meant to Google it before hitting send.

A meme illustrating the commonly misused used word 'literally'

But misusing words isn’t just a grammar purist’s pet peeve. In marketing, client communication, and digital-first business, word choice actually shapes credibility.

When a report says “adverse” but means “averse,” or a campaign promises “complimentary” services that are actually just “complementary,” it chips away at trust. Even subtle missteps cloud your message.

This isn’t a lecture. You’re not getting graded. You’re getting a grammar glow-up.

In this guide, we’ll break down the 35 most commonly misused English words and phrases that sneak into even the best-written messages. You’ll walk away with clearer writing, sharper thinking—and maybe even a few “ohhh, that’s what that means” moments.

Why we mess up words in the first place

Blame the English language. Or autocorrect. Or that one high school English teacher who let "could of" slide because they were tired and underpaid.

The truth is, English is a mess—a glorious, contradictory, often illogical mess. It borrows from Latin, German, French, Old Norse, and other languages it encountered in its infancy. That’s how we ended up with words that look the same but sound different (lead vs. lead), sound the same but mean different things (their vs. they’re), and words that mean two opposite things depending on context (oversight, anyone?).

But linguistic chaos is only part of the story.

1. We learn words by ear, not by a rulebook

Most of us pick up language through conversation, not from dictionaries. That means we’re repeating what we’ve heard—even if what we heard was wrong. ("For all intensive purposes," we’re looking at you.)

2. We type faster than we think

Online, speed wins. Emails, texts, Slack replies—they’re all short-form, informal, and often written while doing five other things. That creates the perfect storm for misused words that sound right but aren’t right.

3. Spellcheck doesn’t catch everything

Your grammar tool might catch a misplaced comma or an obvious typo, but it won’t always flag compliment when you meant to use complement. And it definitely won’t save you from writing nauseous when you’re actually nauseated (sorry).

4. Pop culture loves a misquote

Misused phrases have gone viral. Social media is full of confidently incorrect language, and it spreads. Fast. Like a catchy song lyric with the wrong words—you don’t realize you’ve been saying it wrong until someone gently (or publicly) corrects you.

Isn’t it Ironic? Don’t you think…

The good news? You don’t need to memorize grammar textbooks to clean things up. You just need a cheat sheet—one that’s fun, useful, and won't make you feel like you're back in 10th-grade English.

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The 25 most commonly misused English words (with examples)

Even the best writers sometimes get tripped up. The words below are some of the most commonly misused in online communication. We’re here to clear them up—so the next time you misuse a word, at least you’ll know you did it on porpoise! 🐬

Word	Common Mistake	What It Actually Means	Example (Used Correctly)
Literally	“I literally died laughing.” Unless you’re ghostwriting this from the afterlife, no. You didn’t.	Actually, factually happened	“I literally choked on my bagel during the Zoom call.”
Ironic	“Rain on your wedding day is ironic.” Nope. That’s just bad luck—not irony, unless your spouse is a meteorologist.	The opposite of what you’d expect	“The fire station caught fire—that’s ironic.”
Affect / Effect	“That will effect our budget.” Using effect as a verb? That’ll affect how seriously people take your digital marketing proposal.	Affect = verb Effect = noun	“The new policy will affect morale, with minimal effect on output.”
Fewer / Less	“There are less people here today.” People aren’t soup. Use fewer.	Fewer = countable Less = uncountable	“Fewer emails. Less stress.”
Comprise	“The panel is comprised of three experts.” If the whole comprises the parts, you’re right. If it’s comprised of — not so much.	Means “includes”; the whole comprises the parts	“The panel comprises three experts and a moderator.”
Infer / Imply	“She inferred that I missed the deadline.” She implied it. You inferred it. And now you’re both mad.	Imply = suggest Infer = conclude	“Are you implying something? Because I’m inferring a lot.”
Irregardless	“Irregardless of the outcome, I’m done.” This word is like a mullet in a boardroom. Technically allowed. Universally frowned upon.	Nonstandard word for “regardless”	“Regardless of the results, the client was happy.”
Disinterested / Uninterested	“She was disinterested in the meeting.” Unless she’s a neutral third party, she was just bored.	Disinterested = impartial Uninterested = disengaged	“We need a disinterested reviewer—not someone who’s just uninterested.”
Bemused	“He looked bemused at the joke.” Unless he was staring into the distance like a confused cat, you meant amused.	Confused, bewildered	“The client looked bemused—she didn’t get the reference.”
Unique	“This idea is very unique.” Fun fact: you can’t be very one-of-a-kind. That’s like being “kind of immortal.”	One of a kind, can’t be modified	“That visual identity is unique. Nothing else like it.”
Peruse	“I perused the contract in 30 seconds.” If you skimmed it between Slack pings, you didn’t peruse—you glanced.	To read thoroughly and carefully	“He perused the contract like it hid a trapdoor.”
Enormity	“The enormity of the party was wild.” Unless it was a morally bankrupt rager, you meant something else.	Extreme seriousness or wickedness	“The enormity of the breach stunned the agency.”
Nonplussed	“She was totally nonplussed—so chill.” If she looked chill, she wasn’t nonplussed. She was just over it.	Stunned, bemused	“The feature launch left users nonplussed and full of questions.”
Excepted / Excluded	“Everyone here overuses buzzwords—present company excluded.” Unless you’re kicking us out, you meant excepted.	Excepted = excluded from a statement	“Most marketers overuse jargon—present company excepted.”
Adverse / Averse	“I’m adverse to feedback.” Being adverse to feedback sounds like it caused a hurricane. You’re just averse.	Adverse = harmful Averse = opposed	“I’m averse to micromanagement and adverse weather conditions.”
Compliment / Complement	“The new logo is a great compliment to the brand.” It’s not sending praise—it’s working alongside it.	Compliment = praise Complement = enhancement	“The new logo complements the website perfectly.”
Historic / Historical	“It was a historical win for the team.” Unless the team time-traveled, it was historic.	Historic = significant Historical = related to history	“The brand hit a historic milestone this year.”
Continuous / Continual	“I’m dealing with continuous interruptions.” Unless someone has been talking for three days straight, you mean continual.	Continuous = unbroken Continual = happens repeatedly	“Slack messages are continual. My headache is continuous.”
Decimate	“We were decimated—totally wiped out.” Actually, only 10% was lost. But sure, go off. Another term that has changed meaning over the years, but the original definition was only 1 in 10.	Originally meant “reduce by one-tenth”	“We decimated the budget—trimmed it by exactly 10%.”
Fortuitous	“That lucky break was fortuitous.” It might’ve been fortunate, but fortuitous just means random.	Happening by chance (not always lucky)	“A fortuitous typo led us to a great rebrand idea.”
Nauseous / Nauseated	“I feel nauseous after reading that pitch deck.” If you’re causing nausea, congrats — you’re nauseous. Otherwise, you’re nauseated.	Nauseous = causes nausea Nauseated = feels sick	“That ROI math made me nauseated.”
Travesty	“That finale was a travesty. I cried.” Travesty isn’t just a tragedy. It’s a mockery. Big difference.	A distorted or absurd imitation	“Calling that funnel a strategy is a travesty.”
Penultimate	“The penultimate episode was an amazing way to end the season!” Only if the season ends early. Otherwise: second to last.	Second to last	“We lost the deal on the penultimate slide—they didn’t even make it to the end.”
Complacent	“I was feeling complacent, so I relaxed.” Complacency isn’t self-care. It’s overconfidence with a blind spot.	Self-satisfied while unaware of risk	“The agency got complacent, and the client walked.”
Ascetic / Aesthetic	“He’s got a strong ascetic. His apartment is minimalist.” That’s aesthetic. Ascetic means no Netflix, no cheese, no joy.	A disciplined, pleasure-denying lifestyle	“No phone, no caffeine, no carbs — the man lives ascetically.”

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10 commonly misused phrases that sneak into your copy (and your DMs)

Words get misused. Phrases? They evolve in the wild—misheard, misspelled, and passed down like a game of broken telephone. These are the classic phrases that people say with confidence and just enough conviction to make everyone else doubt their sanity.

Let’s break them down before they end up on your homepage… or your next pitch deck.

Phrase	Common Mistake	What It Actually Is	Used Correctly
I could care less	“I could care less about the deadline.” Really? So… you do care a little?	I couldn’t care less—meaning zero cares left to give.	“I couldn’t care less what their logo looks like in dark mode.”
For all intensive purposes	“For all intensive purposes, the strategy is working.” It sounds like you're doing marketing in a wind tunnel.	For all intents and purposes	“For all intents and purposes, the campaign is a win.”
Nip it in the butt	“Let’s nip that in the butt before it spreads.” Unless this is veterinary surgery, no.	Nip it in the bud — like pruning a plant, not kicking someone in the behind.	“We need to nip this reporting delay in the bud by using custom marketing dashboards.”
One in the same	“Those two brands are one in the same.” They might be similar, but they’re not hiding inside each other.	One and the same	“The founder and the CEO are one and the same.”
Hunger pains	“I skipped lunch and got hunger pains.” Hunger pains. Hunger Games. All have the same vibe, but pangs is the actual word.	Hunger pangs	“At 3:00, the hunger pangs hit like a freight train.”
You’ve got another thing coming	“If you think I’m working late again, you’ve got another thing coming.” Close, and becoming increasingly accepted in modern culture, but the original version makes slightly more sense.	You’ve got another think coming.	“If you think we’re doing manual reports again, you’ve got another think coming.”
Biting my time	“I’ve been biting my time until the client replies.” Unless you’re chewing on a clock, try again.	Biding my time	“I’m just biding my time until the next client onboarding call.”
Case and point	“It tanked on Instagram. Case and point.” The only thing on point here is the mistake.	Case in point	“Organic engagement is down. Case in point: this post only got two likes.”
Chomping at the bit	“The team’s chomping at the bit to launch.” Close enough that most people let it slide, but not quite. Unless you’re doing so very noisily, the correct word is “champing.”	Champing at the bit	“The team was champing at the bit to test the new features.”
Should of / would of / could of	“We should of followed up sooner.” This is the written equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.	Should’ve / would’ve / could’ve Or Should have / would have / could have	“We should have automated our client reporting months ago.”

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Frequently Asked Questions About Commonly Misused Words and Phrases

Still a bit confused about the words and phrases that always get mixed up? Don’t worry—we’re not here to judge (well, maybe just a little). Here’s some extra clarity to help you untangle, explain, and avoid the usual suspects.

A literal meaning is precisely what the words say—no exaggeration, no poetry. A figurative meaning uses metaphor, exaggeration, or a creative twist. If someone says they were “buried in emails,” we assume it’s metaphorical. If they’re typing from under a pile of laptops, maybe not.

Check the verb form and whether you’re writing in the present tense, past tense, or future tense. For example, “She walks” is the third-person singular present; “She walked” is the past tense. “They walk” would be in the third-person plural present tense. Misusing tense is one of the fastest ways to make writing feel off.

English is wild like that. Many words shift based on context, tone, or grammar—especially between noun, verb, and adjective meanings. Take guarantee: It can be a noun (“a money-back satisfaction guarantee”) or a verb (“We guarantee results”).

Past participles often get confused with past tense. For example, “She had written the report” uses the past participle written, not wrote. If you're unsure, run the sentence through a step-by-step procedure—or just Google it. No shame.

Say what you mean (and mean what you say)

Words matter. Not in a “your eighth-grade English teacher was right” kind of way—but in a “your client, your boss, and your audience will notice” kind of way.

The problem with misused words isn’t that they’re embarrassing (though… sometimes, yes, they are). It’s that they muddy your message. They make sharp ideas sound fuzzy. And in the world of client reports, campaign strategies, and team communications, fuzzy doesn’t fly.

You don’t need to be a grammar snob. You just need to be clear. Because when your language lands, your message does too—and that’s where the real impact happens.

So whether you’re avoiding your next literally, second-guessing a comprise, or finally fixing that case and point, here’s your reminder:

Clarity isn’t fancy, but it’s effective. Effective always sounds smart. And the correct usage of words shouldn’t be taken for granite. 🤣

Written by

Paul Stainton

Paul Stainton is a digital marketing leader with extensive experience creating brand value through digital transformation, eCommerce strategies, brand strategy, and go-to-market execution.

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Complacency means self-satisfaction that blinds you to danger. It’s not about being relaxed—it’s about being unbothered when you really shouldn’t be. In agencies, it typically appears just before a client churns.

Because the misuse is widespread. Technically, nauseous means “causing nausea,” while nauseated means “feeling sick.” But in today's America, even the largest-circulation news publications and their editors mix it up.

English loves an archaic word meaning moment. Awful, for example, once meant “awe-inspiring” (aka "full of awe"). Language shifts—sometimes slowly, sometimes like a viral video on TikTok.

Metaphors help you communicate ideas using familiar things, like saying a budget is “under water” or “on fire.” These are indirect or metaphorical references. They work best when the intended meaning is still crystal clear. Adding “literally” to a metaphor defeats the purpose.

Look for words or phrases that sound dramatic but say nothing. “Future possibility” (everything in the future is just a possibility), “seriously big money” (as opposed to unserious small money?), and “typical or ideal example” (please pick a lane) are all red flags.

Because we mix metaphors and jargon like it’s part of the strategy. One sentence talks about a “capable lead guard” (unless your agency runs a basketball team, this is a weird flex), and the next has “parallel railway tracks converging” (which defeats the point of parallelism). If it’s meant to impress—it usually just confuses.

Language changes whether we like it or not. Posterity means future generations—but depending on your audience, it might sound like a retirement fund or a Web3 startup. That’s why once-standard phrases like “thine own self” now read like cosplay. The past refers to different rules—but not always better ones.

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The most overused marketing buzzwords (and what to say instead)

Why we mess up words in the first place

1. We learn words by ear, not by a rulebook

2. We type faster than we think

3. Spellcheck doesn’t catch everything

4. Pop culture loves a misquote

The 25 most commonly misused English words (with examples)

10 commonly misused phrases that sneak into your copy (and your DMs)

Frequently Asked Questions About Commonly Misused Words and Phrases

Still a bit confused about the words and phrases that always get mixed up? Don’t worry—we’re not here to judge (well, maybe just a little). Here’s some extra clarity to help you untangle, explain, and avoid the usual suspects.

What’s the difference between literal and figurative meaning?

How do you know if a word is being used in the correct verb form or tense?

Why do some words have more than one meaning?

What’s a common mistake with past participles?

Say what you mean (and mean what you say)

See how 7,000+ marketing agencies help clients win

What does “complacency” mean in business writing?

Why do people say “nauseous” when they mean “nauseated”?

What’s an example of a word that used to mean something different?

How do metaphors affect meaning?

What’s the best way to spot a vague phrase in writing?

Why does business writing sound like a financial thriller sometimes?

How does grammar shift across generations?