Yesterday marked a month since I posted an article to LinkedIn that I had titled 7 words that keep confusing the Internet. It turned out to be my most popular article on LinkedIn. In fact, it’s still my most popular.
It received over 50,000 views and 345 thumbs up. It was tweeted (not counting retweets) nearly 200 times, liked on Facebook over 400 times, shared on Google+ over 50 times, and shared on LinkedIn over 2,000 times.
Plus, it had over 460 comments.
People clearly loved the article, but some comments were concerned that I limited the list, and people freely shared words they thought should also be on the list. So, with that, let me introduce the reader edition.
I picked this next batch of 7 words because they seemed to be the ones that were submitted the most and that received the most likes in the comments. Certainly, there are many others that people keep confusing. (By the way, have you read my “Difference Between” ebook? Sign up for my weekly writing and social media tips to get your free copy.)
Here we are:
Than vs. then
“Then” is always used in reference to a sequence of events, as in:
We went to the store, then we came home
“Than”, on the other hand, is used to compare things, as in:
My dad is stronger than your dad.
A trick to remembering them is “then” has an “e”, and “event” starts with an “e”.
To vs. too vs. two
Of the 7 words, these are possibly the trickiest because 2 of them have more than one meaning.
“To” can be used as a preposition or to indicate an infinitive:
I’m going to Jamaica.
He wants to read a book.
“Too” can mean “also” but it can also indicate excessiveness:
Do you want to go to Jamaica, too?
I can’t eat another bite. I’m too full.
“Two” is easy; it just means a number.
I have two dogs and you have two cats.
One way to remember the difference is to remember that “too” has an extra O, which indicates more (more people going to Jamaica, more food in my belly, etc). Also, notice that there is a W sound in “one” but no W written, and it’s the other way around for “two”. :)
Loose vs. lose
“Lose” is a verb. It means to misplace something or to not win something.
I better not lose my car keys again.
I predict that the Hurricanes will lose their last hockey game.
“Loose” is an adjective and means something that isn’t tight or it’s free from constraint.
My pants are too loose.
Lethbridge roads are covered in loose gravel leftover from winter road maintenance.
The trick here is similar to that for “too”. “Loose” has an extra O, which implies more room.
Easy as pie. What words do you think confuse people the most? Let me know in the comments below.
