This installment of the Using the Right Word Series takes a look at I and K words.
I know I’m skipping the J’s, but I couldn’t find any confusing words that start with J. If you can think of any, put them in the comments please!
Let’s get started.
If, whether
If is used to express a condition. Whether expresses alternatives.
If Nancy decides to give Bob a chance, hell may freeze over.
Whether Bob says yes or no really isn’t a question.
Immoral, amoral
Immoral means morally wrong. Amoral means neither moral or immoral or not caring about moral judgments.
Nancy knew it would be immoral to steal the shoes from the store.
Bob’s amoral friend didn’t see a problem with stealing shoes.
Imply, infer
Imply means to suggest or state indirectly. Infer means to draw a conclusion.
Nancy implied she might be interested in going to the party.
Bob inferred from that comment that he should ask her to go to the party with him.
In, into
In indicates location or condition. Into indicates movement or a change in condition.
Nancy was in a good mood after talking to her friends about the party.
Bob went into the room to ask Nancy to the party.
Ingenious, ingenuous
Ingenious means clever or resourceful. Ingenuous means naive.
Nancy was ingenious enough to trick Bob into thinking he had a chance with her.
Bob was shockingly ingenuous and bought her trick.
In regards to
In regards to is a misuse of two different phrases: in regard to and as regards. Don’t use in regards to. Use one of the other two phrases instead.
Insure, ensure
These two words have the same meaning—to make certain. Insure has the additional meaning of protecting from financial loss. I recommend using insure only when you are referring to premiums and insurance policies. Otherwise, use ensure.
Nancy insured her car because the law required it.
Bob sought to ensure Tom he would show up for supper.
Irregardless, regardless
Hopefully you already know this one, but in case you don’t, irregardless is not a word. It came from mistakenly combining the words irrespective and regardless. Always use regardless.
Regardless of whether Nancy hurt Bob’s feelings, she was not going to the party with him.
Its, it’s
Its is a possessive pronoun, just like his or hers. It’s is the contraction for it is. The best way to know if you have this right is to replace “its” with “it is” anyplace you find it. If it makes sense as “it is,” you should use it’s. If it doesn’t make sense, use the possessive its.
Nancy’s cat found its toys in the living room.
It’s Bob’s fault the door was left open.
Kind of, sort of
Avoid using these phrases when you really mean “somewhat.”
Nancy was a little (not kind of) bored at the party.
Also, don’t put “a” after either kind of or sort of.
That kind of (not kind of a) cucumber is quite tasty.
That’s it. The I’s and K’s are in the books. Next time, we take a look at the L’s. There are quite a few L words that can be misused, and we’ll break them all down.
See you next time!