When someone says “on accident” instead of “by accident,” does it make you cringe? I first noticed “on accident” when my daughter said it years ago, and then I heard my 7th grade students and even younger teachers say it. It seems to be a generational grammar issue. Although the correct phrase is “on purpose, ” it is not “on accident.” It is “by accident.” Here are some more confused words and phrases:
1.bad/badly – Bad is an adjective, used to describe a noun: I have a bad feeling about that. Badly is an adverb that describes an action verb: I did badly on that quiz. The problem arises when you have a “being” or “linking” (or sensory) verb like feel, taste, or smell. Then you use the adjective, bad: I feel bad about how it turned out is correct. I feel badly is not correct, but is often used.
2. baited/bated – I waited with bated breath. Baited refers to a fish hook.
3. bazaar/bizarre – You can buy things at a bazaar. If you buy something really weird, it is bizarre.
4. because of/due to – Due to is used after the verb to be: His absence was due to having the flu (not because of having the flu). Because of means as a result of and is not used directly after the verb to be: She avoids strangers because of her extreme shyness.
5. beside/besides – Beside means next to: Come sit beside me. Besides means in addition to: There is no one here besides you and me.
6. biannual/biennial – Biannual is twice a year: The biannual catalog comes out every January and July. Biennial is once every two years: Every other year, we have our biennial talent show.
7. bimonthly/semimonthly – Bimonthly is generally every two months: The bimonthly calendar comes out six times a year. Semimonthly means twice a month: Our semimonthly newsletter comes out the second and fourth Mondays of every month.
8. born/borne – Born means brought forth by birth: I was born on July 6. Borne is the past participle of the verb to bear: She has borne six children.
9. bring/take – These two words go in opposite directions. You bring something back, and you take something away: Take these books back to the library. Bring home some new ones.
10. by accident/on accident – See above!
Here is the link to my upcoming talk on the Nonfiction Writers Association teleseminar on July 1.
“Because of” (#4) is the first clue in the Ross & Shortz “Making Arrangements” crossword puzzle today in my Sunday Times Leader, here in n.e. PA.
“Due to” will not fit as a possible answer as there are seven spaces to fill. This must mean there is something else available. ( I’m counting on it having an “i” and a “p” in the middle of it.)
I hope you were right and you finished the puzzle!
Good topic. When you get up to the Ps, please be sure to include “past” and “passed.” I’ve been a serious writer for 40 years and I still can go crazy trying to figure out which to use in certain situations. The New Oxford American Dictionary that comes with Word software only expands the confusion. Under “Past” it has ” … now that the danger is past,” and under ‘Pass” has ” . . . Now that the danger has passed.” Incredible!They both mean exactly the same thing. I know in the first usage it’s an adjective and the second a verb, but both seem to me equally plausible when I’m trying to decide which to use. The dictionary caps everything off in the origin section: past, the adjective/noun/adverb/preposition is derived from the past participle of the verb to pass. What a language.
Lee
I take these words from my book on confused words, and past and passed is definitely there. When you use past, there will be a verb before it: I walked past the school. When you use passed, it will be the verb: I passed the school.
Dear Arlene,
First of all: I read your ‘cri de cœur’ (It’s All About Me; rightly so …) relating to the stressful situation you have found yourself in. Let us hope that things may be really looking up soon (and hopefully all your remaining stress may be lifted when the result of the November election turns out to be ‘demoposicrative’-of my own invention, but you may understand what I mean).
As to the often-confused words I may have nice additional remark. As a former and present student of English, I have to rely on dictionaries to enhance my understanding of the language.
Exerpting from the above:
… biannual is twice a year …
… bimonthly is generally every two months …
I find that the original meaning of the prefix ‘bi-‘ was, of course, ‘twice in a’, as in: bidiurnal, bimonthly, biquarterly, biweekly, biwinter, biyearly.
That is why my good old Oxford English Dictionary aptly states: <<>>
And then goes on: <<>>
Confusing? Especially for this linguistically poorly equipped Dutchman?!
Kind regards.
Will
(P.S.: Prune and redact this possibly somewhat impulsive reaction to your heart’s content.)
For some reason, which I do not understand, the use of angular brackets seems to cut the text in between (??!!), so here they are:
“The ambiguous usage is confusing, and might be avoided by the use of semi-; e.g. semi-monthly, semi-weekly; cf. half-yearly.)”
and:
“The adjs. are also used substantively: bi-weekly, a newspaper, magazine, etc., published once every two weeks.”
(A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Florida)
It is confusing, which is why no one knows how to use them – including moi!
And of course there are many more. For example, “waiting on you” is what your waiter or waitress does. “Waiting for you” is what I do when you are late. Cringe-worthy indeed.
Good one, Dan. Yes, there are many more. I have gotten only through the Bs! Thanks for the comment.
Thank you, Arlene!
Oh how I wish more people would follow your practical, easy to understand advice.
Thank you, Robin! Me too!