A couple of posts ago, I discussed some commonly confused English phrases, their actual uses, and a bit about their origins. Unfortunately, there are far more than just five common phrases that regularly trip up native and non-native writers alike. As with my series on commonly confused words, a single post is nowhere near sufficient to cover all the most common mistakes. Here we are yet again with four more phrases you should know how to write correctly to create professional-quality work.
Like last time, for the sake of clarity, correct spellings will be in green and incorrect spellings will be in red.
Deep-Seated vs. Deep-Seeded
As I’ve discussed before, the abundance of homophones in English can make writing a nightmare for non-native speakers. The problem is made worse by our abundance of idiomatic expressions. These word traps are easily mistaken for phrases for the commonly mistaken versions.
The phrase deep-seated means ‘firmly established’. Deep-seeded implies seeds buried far below the ground, an evocative phrase that somehow seems to capture the intention of deep-seated better than the correct phrase itself. If you read my last post, you know how much I love diving into the etymology (the study of language use over time) of phrases, but nothing I could find explains why one is correct, and the other is not. Deep-seated is simply the correct spelling.
Example:
Much of marketing is rooted in a deep-seated human desire to avert perceived loss, even when the perception is illogical.
Free Rein vs. Free Reign
Here, we have another case of homonym trouble, but this one at least makes a bit more sense. Free rein means to be allowed freedom in action or expression. Reins are the straps that a rider uses to control a horse. When the rider drops the reins, the horse is no longer controlled and can do as it pleases, thus having free reins.
Reign spelled with a ‘g’ means to hold royal office, as supreme ruler, or sovereign (a word meaning ‘to rule over’). The phrase free reign would imply the ability to express one’s will forcefully, unilaterally, and unencumbered. In many cases, this would seem to be a perfectly reasonable alternative to free rein. However, the usual context of free rein does refer to the removal of obstacles. This makes the first understanding not only correct but also able to provide a slightly more accurate metaphor in general usage.
Example:
The lab director was given free rein in determining staff picks, record-keeping protocols, and safety procedures.
Peace of Mind vs. Piece of Mind
The confusion for this one likely comes from the fact that two widespread phrases use ‘peace/piece of’ and mind. However, these phrases are very different. “Giving someone a piece of your mind” means subjecting them to a stern talking-to. On the other hand, “giving someone peace of mind” is quite the opposite, meaning you set them at ease.
While ‘piece of your mind’ is a far more figurative phrase, ‘peace of mind’ is fairly self- explanatory. You are feeling peace (freedom from disturbance, tranquility) in your mind. There isn’t much of a profound explanation beyond that. Just make sure you know the meaning of the phrases you use, understand what you are trying to say, and don’t rely on spellcheck to catch every mistake (because, in this case, it wouldn’t even register).
Example:
While placebos do not contain any actual medicine, research has shown that the benefits to patients produced by the placebo effect go well beyond mere peace of mind.
You’ve Got Another Think Coming vs. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
This phrase is a tough one because of its highly colloquial nature. That is to say. It doesn’t use proper grammar. This explains a lot about why it’s so commonly misused, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
The phrase is usually the second half of a two-part sentence, generally starting with “If you think [insert preposterous idea here]…”. Altogether, the sentence appears to be a folksy way of expressing indignation and rejection towards an idea. Here’s a generic example of the form:
“If you think you can do that, you’ve got another think coming.”
The tricky part of this phrase is that if we were using proper grammar, think would be thought. However, to make the two halves of the sentence mirror each other, the verb think is used as a noun. This use of ‘think’ isn’t even totally uncommon, but it is pretty much never used in formal writing. As a result, thing is often mistakenly used in its place.
To learn more about writing grammatically correct, well-written, and most importantly publishable work in English, contact me.