8 Sexy Summer Language Lessons

If you've taken the summer off from proper usage of English, don't let this list bemuse you.

"Forté" is not a word in English or French

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon / Via latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

The word commonly used to describe a person's strong point does come from a French word, fort, that originally meant the strong part of a sword. The proper pronunciation of this term sounds like "for," with a silent "T". There is an Italian word forte, which is pronounced "for-TAY." It is a musical term meaning "loud; with force."

Example usage: This is Will Forte. Comedy is his fort.

"Bemused" ≠ Amused

Via feminspire.com

Most people use the word bemused to mean "slightly amused," but in fact, it actually means "bewildered, confused, or stupefied." Don't feel bad; even New York Times writers make this mistake. Just don't do it again.

"Literally" & "Figuratively"

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Sure, there is an argument that language and usage are evolving, but the use of literally for emphasis will figuratively annoy the crap out of anyone with any respect for the English language.

"I Could Care Less"...OK, but don't

Via jitesh.com

"Couldn't care less" properly describes the sentiment that it would be impossible to care less about something. "Could care less" means that you at least care a little.

"Comprise" vs. "Comprise of"

Via memegenerator.net

This is a tricky one. The word comprise in itself means "to consist of," so many grammar purists insist it is wrong to say "comprised of." However, according to Merriam-Webster, among other sources, the passive "comprised of" is actually acceptable usage. See their citation of Jimmy Carter saying "about 8 percent of our military forces are comprised of women."

"Enormity"

Via quickmeme.com

Unlike what many modern news reports will have you believe, enormity, a noun, does not mean "vastness." It just doesn't. When used correctly, enormity describes extreme immorality, such as a "crime of great enormity."

"Ultimate" & "Penultimate"

Contrary to what many marketing campaigns will have you believe, ultimate and penultimate do not mean "awesome" and "super-duper awesome," respectively. According to the Cambridge Dictionary's very simple definition, "penultimate" means "second from the last." The last, of course, being the "ultimate." The owners of the above business are confused because if they really were offering the ultimate car wash, then "wash all you want" would either be unnecessary or impossible.

"Hopefully"

Via i.dailymail.co.uk

Hopefully means "full of hope," as in, "she sent in her job applications hopefully." However, the use of hopefully to mean "it is to be hoped that" or "I hope that" is so pervasive, that many grammarians have simply given up. It's your call, but make the right one.