Weird Word Wednesday: Eggcorn
By Diana B.
@BloggerDi (3121)
United States
September 16, 2020 7:34pm CST
Hi! Now let me try this again after many months: Weird Word Wednesday!
I'd heard the word eggcorn, but never knew what it meant. Is it a strange food?
No. It refers to the common occurrence of using a wrong word or phrase, because it sounds so similar to the correct one. People often memorize a phrase the wrong way, but never even realize it.
Another reference I found says that acorns are sometimes called 'eggcorns', because they are long and oval, like an egg.
Here's a short video which explains eggcorn and gives an example of a common one.
Can you think of any eggcorns? Were you familiar with this word and its meaning?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/is-it-all-over-sudden-or-all-of-a-sudden-video?
13 people like this
11 responses
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Sep 20
It is the first time I have heard this word. You got me interested and I think you might like this link
Several thousand people sent NPR examples of their favorite eggcorns — words or phrases that are mistakenly used but still make some sense. We read them all and picked some of the best.
4 people like this
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
18 Sep 20
Thanks @RasmaSandra! I like that the blog post has more than one link to other articles about eggcorns and examples of many common ones.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
17 Sep 20
these days i screw'p more schtuff'n i get correct :) most 'nterestin', this 'eggcorn'. purty certain some'd jest be a southern thingy??
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
18 Sep 20
@BloggerDi yer welcome :) 's far's i can recall, 'd ne'er heard 'f such a word 'til yer discussion. but 's southerners've lots 'f thingies we say a tad diff'rent, lol.
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
18 Sep 20
Hi @crazyhorseladyx, thanks for commenting. I don't know if "eggcorn" is just a southern thing or not.
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
28 Sep 20
Ha! Yep, it's that time of year! Thanks @DianneN.1 person likes this
@erictsuma (9725)
• Mombasa, Kenya
17 Sep 20
No I didn't have any idea about that thank you for letting me know about it
2 people like this
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
18 Sep 20
You're welcome @erictsuma.Thanks for your comment.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8250)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 20
I've never heard of the word, but I am aware of many incorrect phrases being used, probably by being misheard. Many of these don't even make sense when said/written correctly.
Welcome back "Weird Word Wednesday"!
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
20 Sep 20
Thank you @Orson_Kart. I agree that many eggcorns probably originated by being misheard. Many of don't make sense, that's true. But some of them could possibly make sense, which is why people keep saying them, I think.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/one-in-the-same-one-and-the-same-eggcorn-video
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
19 Sep 20
Well, from the responses here, I think most people haven't. Thank you @jstory07.
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
19 Sep 20
Thank you @JudyEv. @RasmaSandra shared a link that includes a list of many common ones.
2 people like this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
17 Sep 20
So the word "eggcorn" is used to refer a phrase or word that some people mispronounced? What a curious fact!
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3121)
• United States
18 Sep 20
Yes, @jvicentevalra. A mispronounced word or wrong word that sounds similar to the correct one.
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
19 Sep 20
@BloggerDi thank you Diana! I must say I have learned something new about English grammar. I appreciate it!
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
17 Sep 20
Before I read the entire post I have already in mind that the term is a compound words combined together. I thought of egg and acorn.
1 person likes this
