commonly misused English words - I to J

List of commonly misused English words

This is a list of English words which are commonly misused. It is meant to include only words whose misuse is deprecated by most usage writers, editors, and other professional linguists of Standard English. It is possible that some of the meanings marked non-standard may pass into Standard English in the future, but at this time all of the following Non-standard phrases are likely to be marked as incorrect by English teachers or changed by editors if used in a work submitted for publication. Some of the examples are homonyms or pairs of similarly spelled words which are often confused.

I to J

• imply and infer. Something is implied if it is a suggestion intended by the person speaking, whereas a conclusion is inferred if it is reached by the person listening.
  • Standard: When Tony told me he had no money, he was implying that I should give him some.
  • Standard: When Tony told me he had no money, I inferred that I should give him some.
  • Non-standard: When Tony told me he had no money, he was inferring that I should give him some.

• inherent and inherit. A part inherent in X is logically inseparable from X. To inherit is a verb, meaning "pass down a generation".
  • Standard: Risk is inherent in the stock market.
  • Standard: The next president inherits a legacy of mistrust and fear.
  • Non-standard: There is violence inherit in the system.

• it's and its. It's is a contraction that replaces it is or it has (see apostrophe). Its is the possessive determiner corresponding to it, meaning "belonging to it".
  • Standard: It's time to eat! (it is time)
  • Standard: It's been nice getting to meet you. (it has been)
  • Standard: My cell phone has poor reception because its antenna is broken.
  • Non-standard: Its good to be the king.
  • Non-standard: The bicycle tire had lost all of it's pressure.

• irony. Something is ironic if it is the opposite of what is appropriate, expected, or fitting.
  • Standard: It is ironic that the center for the handicapped has no wheelchair ramp.
  • Standard: It is ironic that Alanis Morissette wrote a song called "Ironic" with many examples, not one of which is actually ironic.
  • Non-standard: It is ironic that George W Bush is right-handed and Republican while Bill Clinton is left-handed and Democratic.
  • Non-standard: It is raining on our wedding day! Is it not ironic?

• isle and aisle. An isle is an island. An aisle is corridor through which one may pass from one place to another.
  • Standard: He came from a small isle in the Caribbean.
  • Standard: The coffee is down the third aisle on the left.