How do I politely tell someone they’re using a word incorrectly, or thay don’t know the definition of the word?

22 comments

1. There is no impolite way to tell someone theyre wrong

2. Why does it matter? Do you still understand whatever point they’re trying to make?

3. I just don’t. Not doing so will save them the embarassment and you the trouble of having to explain to them why they’re wrong.

4. Ask them if they know the meaning of the word and correct if they say the wrong meaning

5. Firstly is it worth it? Is it a common word or could it cause significant misunderstanding? I think it depends on the word and the setting. Is this a friend or a work colleague? Perhaps you could use it correctly around them lots.

6. [Like this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y8Sx4B2Sk)

7. “Listen the fuck up, buck-o…!”

8. Pull them aside and just tell them. You can soften it with her do you mean “x?” I’d want someone to tell me so I don’t keep saying it to a bunch of people.

9. I mean, just say it in conversation as soon as they use it incorrectly.

   “Sorry to interrupt you, you said x, I think you mean y, x is defined as, whereas y is defined as..”

   If the person is a dickhead and can’t take being corrected on something as trivial as using the wrong fucking word they’re a complete moron and I’d keep away from them.

10. “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” -Inigo Montoya

11. Same thing as telling someone they have spinach in their teeth– they’d want to know, and you being the bearer of embarrassment doesn’t outweigh their (potentially delayed) appreciation. If it’s someone you care about, especially. Better to be the one to tell them kindly than some dickhead give them a hard time about it.

12. Forget it. People will ignore or attack you. Or drown you in countless stupid bogus arguments.

13. As long as you understand what they are trying to say then they have communicated what they wanted you to know.. There is no polite way of saying it and there is always one, that even in the most serious conversations pulls up everyone up about grammar/dictionary defintions etc. We have a couple and privately we are not very nice about them as its a dick move and more important problems exist.

14. Use this as a test of their character. We all make mistakes and get words wrong at some point. Plainly ask them if they know the definition of the word and see how it develops. If you get a response that is positive then the person is good and worth keeping in your life, if the response is negative then consider dropping them because they probably have some bad mental characteristics.

    Bizarrely this is a golden opportunity to get a peak at their real personality.

15. do you need to? unless they’re a friend who is a repeat-offender, i’d likely not bother.

16. Respond as if they intended it’s correct meaning

17. You don’t have to make it about them. You just say “that’s not what this word means” and then you give the proper definition. It’s not a big deal.

18. Family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues – Tell them directly.

    Superiors at work – Don’t tell them.

19. Do it directly . Like in your case , you misspelled “they” .

20. Sometimes life stings a little.. just tell them

21. Start using other words incorrectly and when they correct you, say oh sorry I thought we were boycotting Websters today. Because you were not “literally” flying down the highway.

22. I’m an editor for a living and I definitely don’t want to be editing people in real life. I’d leave it be and let them figure it out. If they ask you, gently correct them. Otherwise, move on.