usage error
Wrong word choice
A usage error is a mistake in how language is used—applying a word incorrectly, violating grammatical conventions, or misusing an idiom.
Unlike typos or spelling mistakes, usage errors reflect misunderstanding rather than carelessness: confusing affect and effect, writing could of instead of could have, or using literally to mean figuratively.
What counts as a usage error depends partly on who's judging; descriptivists note that yesterday's errors often become today's standard usage.
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- grammaticalFollowing language rules
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- run-on sentenceClauses joined without punctuation
- split infinitiveAdverb bisecting an infinitive
blunder · incorrect · misspelling · spell check · flaw · slip · wrong · awkward · clumsy · word salad · mixed metaphor · improper · correction · red pen · proofreading · edit · strikethrough · solecism
- language errorsspelling mistake, typo, misspelling, comma splice, run-on sentence
usage errorproper usage
Appropriate manner of employment
grammatical correctness · idiomatic expression · proper English · standard form
usage errortypo
Printing mistake
typographical error · transcription error · clerical error · spelling mistake · spelling error
usage, error, use, user, used, using, usable, usability, useful