Please state in which country your phrase tends to be used, what the phrase is, and what it should be.

Example:

In America, recently came across “back-petal”, instead of back-pedal. Also, still hearing “for all intensive purposes” instead of “for all intents and purposes”.

  • stickyShift@midwest.socialEnglish
    15·
    12 days ago

    “per se” (US) - people generally use it as “exactly” or “specifically”, e g. “It’s not circular, per se, more like a rounded rectangle”. However, it actually means “in and of itself”. I have a coworker that misuses this one constantly (and also spells it incorrectly) and it’s become a huge pet peeve.

    • sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      2·
      11 days ago

      This is one of those ones that’s taken on it’s own meaning, unfortunately, if you’re a fan of what it originally meant.

      Same with “peruse.” People normally mean browse through a selection, but it originally meant examine thoroughly.

      Or “fortuitous” which used to mean purely “by chance” but now means “by happy chance”.