MLP: Jeers to pretenders

A poseur, a word of French origination around mid-19th century, is someone who pretends to be what he is not. A pretender; a fake. Something made-up.

While English has no official authority to ordain words into legitimacy, and certain words become so for no better reason than years of misuse lead to confused acceptance, as much as Mrs. Language Person can determine the following are still incorrect. Bogus. Imitators. Poseurs.

Administrate: A made-up verb form of administration. Instead use "administer."

Commentate: Same idea, from commentator. The correct verb is simply, "comment."

Dimunition: The "i" and "u" are switched; a mispronunciation of "diminution" (think of "diminutive")

Supposably: You wouldn't say, "supposab," so why add "ly?" Supposedly it's supposed.

Undoubtably: It's undoubtedly that which is not doubted.

Firstly: As wrong as secondly and thirdly, although common. Use first, second, and third to list.

Heighth (Ugh! Pet peeve!): A frequent error especially when spoken, likely because it sounds like depth, length, and width. Yet inexplicably and to MLP's great relief, no one says "weighth."

Irregardless: An unnecessary addition to "regardless;" drop the "ir;" otherwise it's like a double negative.

Orientate: Another improper verb form; one "orients" oneself or finds an orientation.

Participator: Nope (informal for "no" and used since 1880s). It's "participant."

Preventative: MLP laments. Once firmly incorrect, this has become an inexplicably acceptable variant of preventive.

Societal: A sometimes correct variant of social, but with distinct connotation (e.g., "social event," but "societal trends"). "Societal" refers to society. Social can mean communal, shared, collective.

'Till: An incorrect form of the clipped "until." A till is a cash container. The abbreviation of until is 'til (note the apostrophe represents the missing "un").

Anyways: Anyway, drop the "s."

Prolly: This seemed to start with texting, but persistently proliferates. The adverb is "probably;" the adjective, probable. "Proll" is an obsolete version of the verb prowl, and meant to rob or plunder.

Finally, a common phrase often stated incorrectly: "I could care less..." Really? Could you? How sweet; if you could care less (than you actually do) that means you care. If one has no caring, one says, "I couldn't care less."

MLP could not care less for those who couldn't care less about the lamentable loss of language.

Sholeh Patrick is a word nerd with the Hagadone News Network. To commentate, email her at [email protected]. She'll prolly reply.