We continue on with the series of confusing words with the letter I:
1 I could care less – I think we all know by now that the correct phrase is I couldn’t care less. If you could care less, that means you care. However, the phrase implies you don’t care at all.
2. Idol/Idle – An idol (noun) is someone you look up to. Idle (adjective or verb) means not doing anything.
- Her older brother had always been her idol.
- I am usually idle on Saturday, which is my day of relaxation.
3. If/Whether – If is often used when whether should be used. If is conditional. Whether implies a choice. If or not appears in the sentence, use whether.
- I am not going hiking if it rains.
- I don’t know whether I should drive or fly. (not if I should drive or fly)
4. Imply/Infer – We are still getting this one confused. Think of the words as going in opposite directions. To imply is to suggest something without coming out and saying it directly. It goes from you out to others. To infer is to assume something from information you are hearing. It comes to you from someone else.
- I implied to her that I probably would not be attending her party.
- She inferred from what I said about being busy that I would not attend her party.
5. In regard to/In regards to – Both are fine. In regard to is preferred. In regards to is more formal.
6. Into/In to – This one does make a difference.
- I poured the wine into the glasses.
- I turned my overdue book in to the library.
- I turned my overdue book into the library. (No. Unless you performed magic and turned your book into a library 😎 )
7. Incidentally/Incidently – Incidentally means by the way. Incidently doesn’t mean anything because it is not a word.
8. Incite/Insight – To incite is to stir up or encourage. It is a verb. Insight is a noun and means intuitive knowledge.
- The large, angry mob incited a riot.
- I gained insight about life when I started to meditate.
9. Indexes/Indices – These are both plurals of index, but used a little differently. The added sections in the back of a book are generally called indexes. Indices are usually used when talking about financial markers.
- The book has two indexes: one contains the terms in the book, and the other one is strictly for authors mentioned in the book.
- The financial indices this week show a drop in tech stocks.
10. Intolerable/Intolerant – Intolerable means unbearable. Intolerant means unaccepting of people or views different than one’s own.
- When I broke my leg, the pain was intolerable for a few days.
- She is intolerant of anyone who thinks differently than she does.
11. Is where – Avoid this phrase. Rewrite. There are always many ways to rewrite.
- My favorite part of the book is where she finds the treasure. My favorite part of the book is her finding the treasure.
- The best vacation is where you hang out on the beach. Hanging out on the beach is my idea of a perfect vacation.
12. It’s/Its – I almost didn’t bother to include this one! Okay, one more time. It’s is a contraction, meaning it is. All contractions have apostrophes. Its is a possessive pronoun. Like its, no possessive pronouns have apostrophes: yours, hers, theirs, ours
“11. Is where – Avoid this phrase. Rewrite. ” “This is where I live” vs. “I live here.” Other than the latter (latter’s?) being more succinct, I’m wondering why you say to avoid and rewrite.
Just saw that we now can be notified of follow-up comments via email. So happy you followed up on this after someone told to you we didn’t have this “luxury.” Thank you!
Obviously, your example is fine as is. It actually means where. Often it doesn’t indicate place and is a poor introduction to the clause that follows.
Off topic, but within your text ….
It always jars when I see or hear ‘different than’ or ‘different to’. In British English (although it’s changing now) we are taught that something can only be ‘different from’.
In American English it is also “different from.” It is, however, often, spoken incorrectly.
Thank you for the last item! It’s astounding how frequent are errors in the use of apostrophes, especially among possessives! And how often people incorrectly add an apostrophe when simply making a word plural! EEK!
Amen!