Okay, here it is! 5 misused phrases that make you sound dumb!
1. It’s a “mute point” should be “it’s a MOOT point” . . . spelled M-O-O-T. Obviously “mute” means to silence something. “Moot” means something that’s insignificant.
2. “Deep-seeded” should be “deep-SEATED.” It means something buried deeply within an existing structure. Most people won’t call you out on it. But “deep-SEEDED” should only be used if you’re talking about March Madness teams or gardening.
3. The term “shoo-in” is actually spelled S-H-O-O. It only matters when you write it. But It comes from the horseracing term “shoo,” meaning to urge in a certain direction. As in, “That horse is going to win, and then they’ll shoo him into the winner’s circle.”
4. “Should of” is wrong, and “should HAVE” is right. People get it confused because the contraction “should’ve” sounds like “should OF.” So it’s another one that really just matters when you write it.
5. “It’s a doggie dog world” should be “dog-EAT-dog” world. A “doggie dog” world sounds cute. A “dog-EAT-dog” world describes a ruthless place, where dogs are so desperate they’d eat each other if necessary.
