@Waiting2exhale The incorrect use of bring and take used to drive my mother crazy! It’s emblazoned upon my brain, and whenever I hear it used incorrectly, which is almost everyday, I cringe…and think of her!
Incorrect use of the word decimate. The word means to reduce by 1/10. People too often use it as a fancy form of devastate, which is better suited to imply severe damage.
Homophones, and words people think ought to be homophones.
Seen most recently in the first category: break used when the intended word was brake. Most egregious “logical” conclusion: “The car in front of me broke hard, which is why I rear-ended it.”
Seen most frequently in the second category: weary when the intended word was wary.
@skieurope - sloppy usage isn’t acceptable as evolution, more like devolution.
Another word misuse - virtually. Virtually is a synonym for truly, but it’s used to mean “almost but not quite truly”, as in “this will leave your dishes virtually (but not quite…) spotless”.
We can agree to disagree, but for me, if it’s in the dictionary, I’m good to go. Regardless, if you find the usage annoying, I’d classify them more as pet peeves than incorrectness. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the English language is not regulated by a handful of immortals such as those that exist within the Académie française who try, often in vain, to retain the “purity” of the language.