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100 Words that instantly make you sound dumber

41. Honestly

Definition: with truthfulness

There’s nothing inherently wrong with the word honestly, but it’s overused as a general rule. Unless you need to very sincerely point out your truthfulness, adding honestly is pointless. Hopefully, every statement you make is honest.

42. Idea vs. ideal vs. idear

Definition: a standard of excellence or perfection; embodiment of such perfection

A perfect example is “ideal.” A thought or concept is an idea (no L). “Idear” (with an R) isn’t a word.

43. Illinois and Arkansas

The most commonly mispronounced state names. It’s ILL-I-NOY and AR-KAN-SAW.

44. Incident

An “incident” is an event. The word “incidence” is a real word, but has a different meaning.

45. Infer vs. imply

To imply means to make a subtle indication that something is true. Once someone has implied something, you can then infer, or make a reasonable guess or assumption, that they implied something.

46. Inflammable

Definition: combustible; capable of being set on fire

The definition says it all. Contrary to popular belief, inflammable doesn’t mean the same thing as nonflammable or flame-retardant.

47. Imput vs. input

It’s input (with an N).

48. Intensive purposes

The phrase is “for all intents and purposes.”

49. Inter-webs

Definition: a slang term for the internet

Just say “internet.”

50. Irregardless

Definition: a grammatically incorrect form of regardless, meaning to have no regard or care for

It’s just not a word. Because it has two negative elements (ir- and -less), it’s technically a double negative. Use “regardless” instead.

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