Things that make me throw shoes at the radio
"Utilize" - This does not mean "use". It means "find a use for". Even then, you could always just say "use".

"Refute" - This does not mean "deny". There's a pefectly good english word for "deny", and that's "deny". Refute means "prove wrong". See also...

"Rebut" - This does not mean "deny", or even "refute". It means "turn an argument back against someone".

"Enormity" - This has nothing to do with size. No, really it doesn't. The word you are looking for is "enormousness". Yes, that sounds silly. Just use "scale" or just "size" instead.

"Beg the question" - Just don't use this. Just don't. It is a poor english translation of a technical Latin term. Don't use this unless you have a degree in Philosophical Logic. Or even then. Just use "Raise the question" or "Invites the question" instead.

"Fewer" and "less" - don't mix these up unless you want me to kill you with my Pedants' Society membership card.
(ragged, Thu 8 Apr 2010, 14:16, 1 reply)

Oh, yes.
"Refute" and "beg the question" are two of my particular bugbears (unsurprisingly, perhaps, given what I do for a living).
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 8 Apr 2010, 14:22, closed)