Language: Madness VS. Un-foolishness

"Our language is the reflection of ourselves. 

A language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers." 

~ Cesar Chavez
American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association.

(1927 - 1993)

    

While March may represent madness to some, whether it is on the basketball court or otherwise, language need not be made up of misstatements, misnomers, or mis-communication. Below is a list of thirty-one (one for each day of the month) statements, words or expressions that get used both ways that are presented here. Please take a look and determine which you believe to be un-foolish and correct versus what is madness in the statement, and even maddening to one or many:

1)   I could care less vs. I couldn't care less

2)   One in the same vs. One and the same

3)   Each one worse than the next vs. Each one worse than the last

4)   On accident vs. By accident

5)   For all intensive purposes vs. For all intents and purposes

6)   Extract revenge vs. Exact revenge

7)   Momento vs. Memento 

8)   Irregardless vs. Regardless

9)   Orientated vs. Oriented

10) Sorta vs. Sort of

11) Made a 360 degree change vs. Made a 180 degree change 

12) It's a doggy-dog world vs. It's a dog-eat-dog world

13) Waiting with baited breath vs. Waited with bated breath

14) Pawn off vs. Palm off

15) Take a different tact vs. Take a different tack

16) It's a mute point vs. It's a moot point

17) Hunger pains vs. Hunger pangs

18) Wet your appetite vs. Whet your appetite

19) Pour over vs. Pore over

20) Tow the Line vs. Toe the Line

21) Peak or peek my interest/curiosity vs. Pique my interest/curiosity

22) Tongue and cheek vs. Tongue in cheek

23) Take for granite vs. Take for granted

24) First-come, first-serve vs. First come, first-served

25) Deep-seeded vs Deep-seated

26) Shoe-in vs. Shoo-in

27) Make due vs. Make do

28) By in large vs. By and large

29) Do diligence vs. Due Diligence

30) Case and point vs. Case in point

31) Flustrated vs. Frustrated or Flustered (separately)

Did you get them all right? I did not during my research. If you are wondering which expressions were correct, they are all the latter of the two options, the second in the statements or words. When you remove the madness from your language, you will confidently, and un-foolishly share with others what you really mean!