There are words in English that confuse even native speakers. They are used incorrectly on a daily basis. If you want to test your English, check if you correctly use the words and phrases below; your native speaker friends will be impressed if you can correct them!

➡️ Ironic

An ironic situation means "something with an opposite result".

Ex:

Isn’t it ironic that the dietitian is bedridden because of diabetes?

This is not ironic, the correct word is "unfortunate", which means unhappy, unfortunate.

✔️ Isn’t it unfortunate that the dietitian is bedridden because of diabetes?

➡️ Enormity

This word has two meanings: indignation + referring to excessive wickedness. So depending on the context, the phrase can contain two meanings, as in: "I could not believe the enormity of the situation," a sentence spoken by former President George W. Bush after being elected.

➡️ Ultimate

Although this term has the meaning of "last of a process or of a series", over the years the word acquired a new meaning as in the example:

✔️We've found the ultimate burger of the city.

Hard to believe that this hamburger is the "last" prepared in the city, so the new sense that appears in this example is "more developed, maximum."

➡️ Literally

This word meaning "literally" is often misused with an opposite meaning.

✖️ My friend took literally one hundred years to walk to my house.

This happened figuratively and obviously it did not take nearly a thousand years to walk, so it should be used figuratively.

Did you already know the correct way to use these words? Schedule an English lesson with our native speaker tutors to learn more words today!

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