There's a word for that...

[lisamoe]

I was unaware until today that there is a term for the common usage of an incorrect word in place of a similar sounding word. Like using "quickclaim deed" for "quitclaim deed" or "hone in on" for "home in on." Apparently, the word for this is eggcorn, from a misapprehension of the word "acorn." I think it also applies to things like "with baited breath" instead of "with bated breath" where it's written incorrectly even though it sounds the same when you say it out loud.

A few that come to mind that I hear/read sometimes are "for all intensive purposes" rather than "for all intents and purposes," "upmost" for "utmost," and "tow the line" for "toe the line."

It really gets my dander up, as opposed to getting my dandruff up, as it apparently does some folks. ;-)

Comments

[oldmanpops.livejournal.com]

I would have thought of these as malapropriations, but according to WickedPedia, there is a definate difference.

[lisamoe.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, malapropriations!

[kitwench.livejournal.com]

Ooh, now the one you posted the other day never bothers me, but many of these do !
*squick*

[lisamoe.livejournal.com]

I took an informal poll around the office and that combined with my lj poll has convinced me that people who are voracious readers are more likely to think it's "another think coming," probably because they've seen it in print more often. If you only ever hear it out loud, you may perceive that you're hearing "another thing coming" even when someone has actually said "think." And vice versa, I suppose. I always assume people are saying "think."

[kengr]

wrongworddammit

[oldmanpops.livejournal.com]

What is your take on blue cheese?

[oldmanpops.livejournal.com]

Today I ran onto "running amuck" as opposed to "running amok."

[wamba-gurth.livejournal.com]

You should go look at "The Eggcorn Database" http://www.eggcorns.lascribe.net