5 Phrases You’ve Probably Been Saying Incorrectly

After reading these five phrases that you are most likely saying and/or spelling incorrectly, you will absolutely catch yourself the next time you misuse it. It’s inevitable, some of these phrases sound better when you say them wrong or they look better when you spell them wrong. But, if you’re a content specialist, a social media manager, an ad copywriter, or hold any position of grammatical significance, you’re going to need to use these and spell these phrases correctly. I’ll give you the right spelling, but I’ll also explain why.

Wrong: For all intensive purposes
Right: For all intents and purposes

The wrong phrase is saying “for all severe purposes” meaning you want something done during all severe moments. But “for all intents and purposes” means is you want an action taken in every practical sense.

Wrong: Beckon call
Right: Beck and call

Beckon call is a redundant phrase. It’s like saying “she responds to every call call”. Beckon and call can be used synonymously. Beck and call refers someone being attentive to any and all requests.

Wrong: One in the same
Right: One and the same

The correct phrase means the same person or thing as the subject you’re referring to. Example, “My two friend’s personalities are one and the same.” One in the same is essentially saying there is something similar inside of the subject you’re referring to. Sort of odd, right?

Wrong: I could care less
Right: I couldn’t care less

This one always bugs me when I hear it. When you say “I could care less” you are saying you do care but you could care less than you already care. No one using that phrase is trying to say that. You’re trying to say you “could not care less”, meaning you have already reached the lowest point you could possibly care. If there was a care scale, you’d be at 0.

Wrong: Nip it in the butt
Right: Nip it in the bud

Going out on a limb, and guessing this one originated from a gardening term. When you want to “nip it in the bud” you’re saying you want to stop something before it starts, or stop something at an early stage. When you say you want to “nip it in the butt” you want to bite something or someone on their bottom, and that’s just not nice. It’s also not what you’re trying to say… or is it?