Top 5 Usage Errors

This is compiled from previous posts, but it’s important information.

1) Uninterested or Disinterested?

This is an issue I’m seeing a lot in published books, which have presumably passed by editors. Disinterested has become a trendy word in books the last few years. However, it does not mean the same as uninterested.

Uninterested means one is not interested in something; indifferent.

Disinterested means one is impartial and unbiased; lacking a conflict of interest.

You want a judge to be disinterested but not necessarily uninterested. You will rarely, if ever, see disinterested outside of legal contexts.

Trick to Remember

If something is uninteresting, you are uninterested in it. If you are disinterested, you are distancing yourself from the interested parties in a conflict.

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2) Comprise or Compose?

Comprise is used in place of compose all the time now. Writers use it to sound distinguished and educated. The actual effect is the opposite.

Compose means to form something by putting things together. It’s often used in passive voice (… is composed of …).

Comprise means includes; is made up of. It is NEVER used in passive voice (… is comprised of …) because that would be illogical.

Fifty states comprise the United States.

The United States is composed of fifty states.

Bacon, eggs, and juice comprise my breakfast.

My breakfast is composed of bacon, eggs, and juice.

The non-passive use of compose is not as common now.

Trick to Remember

Compose is rarely used wrong, but comprise is misused all the time. So, if you’re writing comprise, replace it with is made up of and see if it still makes sense. You can also just avoid comprise altogether; you can live without it easily enough.

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3) Amused or Bemused?

Note the meanings of these two different words (Merriam-Webster):

amused: pleasantly entertained or diverted

bemused: marked by confusion or bewilderment, lost in thought or reverie

Too many writers are using bemused to mean amused. They are not interchangeable!

Trick to Remember

Bemused is similar to bewildered.

Amused makes you say ah! ooh!

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4) Entitled or Titled?

This poor word (entitled) has been abused so often, I think the dictionaries are caving and allowing it to be synonymous with titled.

Entitled means to have permission; entitle is to give permission

Titled means to have a title; title is to give a title.

Right: The book is titled War and Peace.

Wrong: The book is entitled War and Peace.

Right: You are entitled to a heated work environment.

Wrong: You are titled to a heated work environment. (Nobody makes this error.)

Trick to Remember

Title is only for titles, names of things.

The book has a title, and it has been titled War and Peace.

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5) Farther or Further?

Guess what? These two words are not interchangeable. 

Farther is for distance: The store is farther than the school. You have to run farther than that.

Further is for degree: We need more money to further the cause. I will look into the matter further.

Trick to Remember

Farther is for things that are far. 

Further is related to furthermore and metaphorical distances.