Comments on: Busting, Bussing and Other Word Fails

By: nemo

nemo — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:06:48 +0000

Here are a few that are used wrong so often that most people think you are wrong when you are right:

"Try a different tact". The word is "tack"–as in point of sail….you can approach a windward point obliquely from two directions, but not directly.
"Momento" — correct word is "memento" which has everything to do with remembering and memory and nothing to do with moments.
"That doesn't jive" — the correct expression is "gibe" and it means to line up, and has nothing to do with dancing, although the image is interesting.
"Kudo(s)" — There is no such thing as a "kudo". Kudos is a singular noun, like ethos, eros, pathos, etc. It means "praise".

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:24:27 +0000

I remember in my younger days in Colorado, I always heard the weather peeps refer to wind chill temps. I didn’t understand what difference “WindShield” temperatures made to me. Oh, what a fool:~)

By: Raychel

Raychel — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:01:03 +0000

Here in Dallas there is a tollway called The George Bush Turnpike and my mom never fails to call it "The Bush". We die laughing every time. There's also a road here called Coit and she cannot pronounce it right to save her life. She calls it co-it.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:12:46 +0000

My favorite misheard lyrics…

From Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know": It's not fair… to remind me… of the CROSS-EYED BEAR that you gave to me (you you you oughta know). Yes, for real.

A friend from high school once thought the words were "Hold me close, I'm trying to dance… uhhhhhh." Yes, "uhhhhh" were her actual lyrics.

And I gotta say, Tyler, the fact that you are a Friends fan (and even quoted Joey's "moo point") just got you butt-loads of points in my book, above all the other dudes I've been reading lately. It was a mix of my pastor's blog (Pete Wilson from Cross Point in Nashville) and Donald Miller, but I have somehow come across you, Tripp, Bryan Allain, and John Acuff in the past month… and my boring days at work have been forever enlightened.

By: kendra

kendra — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:57:10 +0000

one of my friends thought that "risque" was a fancy way of saying "risky". So while driving one day, i changed lanes rather quickly and she announced later to a group that i was a risque driver. Someone asked if that meant i drove around naked.

Also, until recently i called dachshunds "dash-unnnds"

By: Greta

Greta — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:47:33 +0000

Wow, two typos in my own comment. Barf.
I wasn't just in middle….that was middle school. And, of course, I meant there haven't been many times in my LIFE that I've laughed that hard.

By: Twitteresque Updates « tylerstanton.com

Twitteresque Updates « tylerstanton.com — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:38:28 +0000

[...] + Don’t know if you’ve read the comments on my Word Fails post, but they’re incredibly entertaining. Check them out here. [...]

By: unrehearsedsymphony

unrehearsedsymphony — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:52:43 +0000

After Macy Gray busted out the song "I Try", I thought for years that she was saying "…when I try to hide it, it's clear, I wore goggles when you are not there."
I went into McDonalds once and wanted a chicken burger seared rather than crispy. I said "sea-red". The guy laughed at me. Then I laughed at myself. Good times..

**my world crumbles when you are not there**

By: tripp crosby

tripp crosby — Sun, 16 May 2010 14:51:24 +0000

"this safternoon"

CCR – "theeeeeere's a bathroom on the right"

By: Breanne

Breanne — Sun, 16 May 2010 05:41:23 +0000

Umm..pretty sure I just said this phrase about 10 times in my head after reading this comment. I have apparently always said it wrong as well. Good to know now!