Some words, even words that you’ll often hear people
using, just don’t exist according to the rules of good grammar.
Here are some of the most commonly heard nonexistent words.
acrossed
Unacceptable: How are we
supposed to get acrossed this river?
Better: How are we supposed
to get across this river?
alot
Unacceptable: Sondra has
alot of Xbox games.
Better: Sondra has a lot
of Xbox games.
alright
Unacceptable: Stop yelling
at him, alright?
Better: Stop yelling at
him, all right?
anyways
Unacceptable: Anyways, what
do you care?
better: Anyway, what do
you care?
a ways
Unacceptable: The bees live
a ways toward the lake.
Better: The bees live a
long way toward the lake.
drownded
Unacceptable: The ant drownded
in the pool.
better: The ant drowned
in the pool.
everywheres
Unacceptable: Everywheres
Jack looks, he sees Meg’s face.
better: Everywhere Jack
looks, he sees Meg’s face.
heighth
Unacceptable: In terms of
breadth, depth, and heighth, Mr. Blunt has no equal.
Better: In terms of breadth,
depth, and height, Mr. Blunt has no equal.
irregardless
Unacceptable: Colin decided
to see the slasher flick irregardless of the terrible reviews it
received.
Better: Colin decided to
see the slasher flick regardless of the terrible reviews it received.
nowheres
Unacceptable: Loretta felt
she had nowheres else to go.
better: Loretta felt she
had nowhere else to go.
somewheres
Unacceptable: Nina said
the shoelace must be somewheres around here.
Better: Nina said the shoelace
must be somewhere around here.
