70 words (and phrases) you’re probably using all wrong

No one would fault you if right about now you were wondering: if “shone” is the past tense of “shined,” then why doesn’t anyone say “I had my shoes shone yesterday”?

The answer is that in modern writing, it’s considered archaic (and therefore, wrong) to use the word “shone” to refer to having shined anything so mundane as shoes, silverware or windows. That said, it’s perfectly acceptable in modern writing to say that after you shined your shoes, your silverware, or your windows, they shone brightly.

Shone is a past and past participle form of the verb shine, when shine is used as an intransitive verb meaning to emit light. Shone comes from the Old English word scinan, meaning shed light, be radiant, illuminate.

Discrete means individual, separate or distinct.

Discreet means careful, cautious or evidencing good judgement.

To remember the difference, think about one “e” versus two. Use one “e” to refer to something singular. Use an extra “e” to show extra care.

That said, “discretion” requires only one “e,” but when you exercise discretion, you’re adding two more.

When you leave your country to permanently live in another, you emigrate.

When you arrive in another country to live permanently, you immigrate.

To keep these two words straight, think about them in alphabetical order: you emigrate before you immigrate. You’re an emigrant before you become an immigrant. Or simply think about the fact that when you immigrate to a new country, you must pass through that new country’s “Immigration Department.”

Elicit means to draw forth or to coax out.

Illicit means improper.

To remember which is which, think of the “e” in “elicit” as standing for the “e” in “exit.” And even if you think there’s something e-xciting about things that are illicit, consider that “illicit” contains the root, ill.

Both words come from the root continue, but they really shouldn’t be used interchangeably. Here is how to use them properly:

Continuous refers to something that has no end, which is to say that if something continues ad infinitum, it is continuous.

Continual refers to something that stops and starts.

If you’re on a continuous search for connection, you might be lonely. If your search for connection is continual, then you might be a serial dater.

They sound alike, but don’t confuse one for the other:

Farther refers to actual physical distance, which is to say, a literal distance, as in “My car’s making a funny noise. How much farther is it to the service station?”

Further refers to a figurative distance, as in “How much further can this car go before I have to sell it for scrap metal?”

Trick question: What did you bring to John’s party?

Snarky answer: Nothing, because you don’t bring stuff to parties, you take stuff to parties. I did bring home the leftover chips, however.

You bring things here. You take them there.

Hone is always a verb. It means to sharpen or make more acute. For example, you can “hone” a skill.

Home is a noun that is also used sometimes as a verb to mean to move in toward a destination or target with accuracy. For example, you can “home in on that delicious smell and realise it’s freshly baked cookies.”

Although you might think that you can “hone in” on a target, the proper word is “home.” The rule to remember is that if you need to add “in” or “in on” after the verb, you probably should be using “home.” If not, then it’s “hone.”

If you’re talking about adding substance to something, like writing an article that you’ve merely outlined, then it’s “fleshing out,” as in adding flesh to bones.

If you’re talking about finding something that’s not easily visible, then it’s “flushing out” as in “flushing out the enemy.”

Viable and feasible are often, albeit incorrectly, used interchangeably. However, viable refers to whether something is capable of surviving. Feasible refers to whether an action is possible.

Accordingly, a viable candidate must have a feasible plan.