Technically, the words I’m about to list are words. People use them in everyday speech. In fact, one of them has been in use since at least the 18th century. Actual examples that aren’t words would be things like juritaly and hopikilre, both of which I just made up.
Anyhow, so what are the two words that others claim aren’t words?
Irregardless and unthaw
Have you ever used either (or both) of these words when talking to others? Perhaps, you might have said something like, “I need to unthaw the turkey by Monday.” or “Irregardless, I’m still going to Calgary.”
Despite what some grammar purists claim, these aren’t incorrect because they’re actual words people use every day, and they convey meaning that most hearers comprehend. Irregardless, for example, has been in use since at least 1795.
That being said, they’re unnecessary words.
Irregardless is used in exactly the same way as “regardless”, so why not just use regardless?
When people use “unthaw”, they likely mean “thaw”. Technically speaking, to unthaw something is to freeze it after it’s been thawed. On the other hand, “unthaw” has another meaning, too: to keep frozen (as in “Throw the pizza, unthawed, into the 450 ° oven).
So are you guilty of using irregardless or unthaw? Or did you give up these habits long ago? What other unnecessary words have you heard others use?
