In our last post, “Are You Using That Word Correctly?”, we discussed how to avoid using inappropriate or incorrect words and phrases when writing and speaking. We described some of the embarrassing faux pas that we see in verbal and written communications and provided a handy cheat sheet detailing commonly misused words and their appropriate counterparts. We might laugh at these mistakes, but they can also be damaging to one’s reputation. Late psychologist, best-selling author, and Nobel Memorial Prize winner Daniel Kahneman explains, “Your first impression of a thing sets up your subsequent beliefs. If the company [or person] looks inept to you, you may assume everything else they do is inept.”

In this follow-up, we take our effort to save your reputation a step further. After all, misusing a word isn’t the only way to make an eyebrow-raising blunder. You could inadvertently misstate an entire phrase, likely as a result of mishearing it and erroneously committing the wrong version to memory. You might misuse the original phrase so often that it starts to sound correct, even though it certainly doesn’t pass mustard! This communication mutation is known as an eggcorn or a malapropism.

What Are Eggcorns and Malapropisms?

An eggcorn is a misused word, phrase, or saying that sounds like another word, phrase, or saying and—although incorrect—still makes (some) logical sense. For example, the phrase “For all intents and purposes” is sometimes spoken incorrectly as “For all intensive purposes.” Though the former is correct, you’re likely to understand someone who uses the latter. 

Geoffrey Pullum, a linguist, came up with the term eggcorn in 2003, when someone mistakenly referred to an “acorn” as such. The error made for a compelling (and amusing) discussion. After all, isn’t an acorn the egg of an oak tree, in a way?

The term malapropism first appeared in English texts in the 19th century. Like an eggcorn, a malapropism occurs when one word is improperly used in place of another. The main difference is that malapropisms are typically less logical and more humorous. For example, where one might say, “It’s a dog-eat-dog world,” someone else might incorrectly state, “It’s a doggy dog world.” Though the latter sounds like the former, the illogical idea of a “doggy dog world” causes the phrase to lose its meaning.

The word has its origins in the character Mrs. Malaprop from the play “The Rivals,” written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in 1775. Mrs. Malaprop’s name was based on the French phrase mal à propos, which means “ill-suited.” Her character provides comic relief in the form of verbal gaffes.

Such errors are charming, forgivable, and even funny coming from Mrs. Malaprop, but they are not as charming coming from a business leader or entrepreneur. The use of eggcorns and malapropisms can create a negative first impression that, once set, could color all future perceptions of you, your company, and even your goods and services.

So, how can you prevent eggcorns and malapropisms from making their way into your lexicon and damaging your reputation?

Common Communication Mistakes

The following list of common eggcorns and malapropisms—and their correct counterparts—is an excellent reference when planning your communications, such as emails, phone calls, online content, or speeches. Whether they are categorized as eggcorns or malapropisms can be left up to interpretation. The less they make sense, and the more they make you laugh, the more likely they are the ladder. 

Common Eggcorn or Malapropism	Correctly Stated Phrase	Explanation
Biting our time	Biding our time	To “bide” means to wait patiently; to “bite” means to seize with teeth or jaws. The correct phrase is intended to mean “waiting patiently for the appropriate time.”
Case and point	Case in point	A “case in point” is an example of the point being discussed; a “case and point” are a container and a sharp object, respectively.
Could care less	Couldn’t care less	If you “couldn’t care less,” you don’t care about something at all or are completely unconcerned; if you “could care less,” there are other things you care less about, which is the exact opposite of the correct phrase.
Deep-seeded	Deep-seated	“Deep-seated” means firmly established or fixed in place; “deep-seeded” could indicate that seeds were planted deeply in the ground, if it were a real phrase.
Did a 360	Did a 180	If you turn 180 degrees, you end up facing the opposite direction; if you turn 360 degrees, you end up facing the same direction you started in.
Do diligence	Due diligence	“Due diligence” is a legally required or policy-required investigation, usually related to financial transactions. You can’t “do diligence” because diligence isn’t an action to be performed.
Doggy dog world	Dog-eat-dog world	A “dog-eat-dog world” is a competitive environment where people may harm others to succeed; a “doggy dog world” is (presumably) a world full of doggy dogs.
First come, first serve	First come, first served	“First come, first served” means that if you are the first to arrive, you will be served first; “first come, first serve” isn’t grammatically correct as a sentence.
For all intensive purposes	For all intents and purposes	“For all intents and purposes” is used to describe something that has the same effect as something else; “intensive” means vigorous and does not make sense in this context.
It’s a mute point	It’s a moot point	A “moot point” is an argument point that is unimportant, or debatable but irrelevant; “mute” means silent and does not make sense in this context.
Make due	Make do	“Make do” is used to signify that a person will be able to succeed with what they already have on hand; “make due” might make sense to a landlord or debt collector, but in this context, it does not.
Pass mustard	Pass muster	To “pass muster” is to meet expectations, or (in a military context) to assemble as a group for inspection; to “pass mustard” is to hand someone a condiment made of mustard seeds.
Piece of mind	Peace of mind	To give someone “peace of mind” is to make them free from worry or put them in a state of tranquility; to give someone “a piece of your mind” would mean to give your strong opinion on a topic.
Peaked (or peeked) my interest	Piqued my interest	To “pique” means to excite or trigger, and to “pique interest” means to give someone a reason to be interested; to “peak/peek interest” doesn’t make sense in this context.
Should/would/could of	Should/would/could have	In verbal communication, would’ve, could’ve, and should’ve sound like “would of, should of, could of,” which leads to this common error.
To be pacific	To be specific	“To be specific” is to indicate precision or carefully define something; “to be pacific” is to be peaceful or conciliatory (or, if capitalized, to be the Pacific Ocean).
Unphased	Unfazed	To be “unfazed” is to be unbothered; to be “unphased” is to not be structured in phases.
Wet your appetite	Whet your appetite	To “whet” your appetite is to sharpen your interest in something (food); to “wet” your appetite is to soak your appetite in liquid.
Whet your whistle	Wet your whistle	To “wet” your whistle is to have a drink (making your mouth wet in the process); to “whet” your whistle is to whittle it for the purpose of making it sharp.

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