GetWiki

Language change

Etymology

Examples

• "baited breath" for "bated breath"WEB, Wallraff, Barbara, 2006-09-01, Word Court,weblink 2023-07-18, The Atlantic, en, NEWS, Staff, 2006-08-26, The word: Eggcorns, 52, New Scientist,weblink live, 2006-12-21,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070322115853weblink">weblink 2007-03-22,
• "beckon call" for "(wikt:beck_and_call|beck and call)"WEB, 2010-01-22, Beckon call,weblink 2023-07-18, Grammarist, en-US,
• "damp squid" for "(wikt:damp squib|damp squib)"WEB,weblink 'Review: Don't be a Damp Squid', November 24, 2021,
• "ex-patriot" for "expatriate"WEB,weblink Anu Garg, eggcorn, A Word A Day, February 21, 2013, June 18, 2020, May 16, 2020,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20200516141315weblink">weblink live,
• "the feeble position" for "the fetal position"WEB, A damp squid, for all intensive purposes: 14 'eggcorns' to make you laugh, McG, Ross,weblink www.metro.co.uk, 7 August 2022, en,
• "for all intensive purposes" for "(wikt:for all intents and purposes|for all intents and purposes)"WEB,weblink 'For All Intensive Purposes': An Eggcorn, Merriam-Webster, June 18, 2020, June 18, 2020,weblink live,
• "free reign" for "(wikt:free_rein|free rein)"WEB, 'Free Rein' or 'Free Reign'?,weblink Merriam-Webster, 13 December 2021, en,
• "in one foul swoop" for "in (wikt:one_fell_swoop|one fell swoop)"
• "jar-dropping" for "(wikt:jaw-dropping|jaw-dropping)"
• "just desserts" for "(wikt:just_deserts|just deserts)"WEB, 'Just Deserts' or 'Just Desserts'?,weblink 2023-07-18, Merriam-Webster, en,
• "old-timers' disease" for "Alzheimer's disease"
• "old wise tale" for "old wives' tale"WEB, 2016-03-31, Old wives' tale vs old wise tale,weblink 2023-07-18, Grammarist, en-US,
• "on the spurt of the moment" for "(wikt:spur of the moment|on the spur of the moment)"JOURNAL, Peters, Mark, March–April 2006, Word Watch: The Eggcorn – Lend Me Your Ear,weblink dead, Psychology Today, 39, 2, 18,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20060709191315weblink">weblink 2006-07-09, 2006-07-13,
• "preying mantis" for "praying mantis"
• "real trooper" for "real trouper"WEB, This Is What 'Eggcorns' Are (and Why They're Jar-Droppingly Good,weblink www.time.com, 26 August 2022, en,
• "ripe with..." for "rife with..."
• "scandally clad" for "(wikt:scantily_clad|scantily clad)"WEB, Fozzard, Anna, 2017-06-09, Eggcorns and other cute things children say,weblink 2023-07-18, Stratton Craig Copywriting Agency, en,
• "to the manor born" for "(wikt:to_the_manner_born|to the manner born)"
• "wet your appetite" for "(wikt:whetVerb|whet) your appetite"WEB, 2016-03-20, Whet one's appetite vs wet one's appetite,weblink 2023-07-18, Grammarist, en-US,

Similar phenomena

• Where a folk etymology is a change in the form of a word caused by widespread misunderstanding of the word's etymology, an eggcorn may be limited to one person rather than being used generally within a speech community.
• A malapropism generally derives its effect from a comic misunderstanding of the user, often creating a nonsensical phrase; an eggcorn on the other hand is a substitution that exhibits creativity or logic.
• A mondegreen is a misinterpretation of a word or phrase, often within the lyrics of a specific song or other type of performance, and need not make sense within that context.WEB, Marko Ticak, 24 Nov 2016, Humanity's Best Eggcorn Examples,weblink grammarly blog, An eggcorn must still retain something of the original meaning, as the speaker understands it, and may be a replacement for a poorly understood phrase rather than a mishearing.
• In a pun, the speaker or writer intentionally creates a humorous effect, whereas an eggcorn may be used or created by someone who is unaware that the expression is non-standard.WEB, Zwicky, Arnold, 2 Nov 2003, LADY MONDEGREEN SAYS HER PEACE ABOUT EGG CORNS,weblink live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190308091414weblink">weblink 8 March 2019, 29 June 2018,

References

Further reading

• WEB, Diamond, Graeme, September 2010, September 2010 new words,weblink Oxford English Dictionary, 2010-09-16,
• NEWS, Freeman, Jan, So wrong it's right,weblink The Boston Globe, 3 October 2010, 2010-09-26,
• Harbeck, James. (2010-06-02) "My Veil of Tears" Retrieved 2012-01-26.
• Liberman, Mark, and Geoffrey K. Pullum. (2006) Far from the Madding Gerund and Other Dispatches from Language Log. Wilsonville, OR: William, James & Co.
• Liberman, Mark. (2003-09-23) "Egg corns: folk etymology, malapropism, mondegreen, ???" Language Log (weblog) Retrieved 2009-06-23.
• Peters, Mark. (2006-08-09) "Like a Bowl in a China Shop." The Chronicle of Higher Education: Chronicle Careers. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
• MAGAZINE, Time, This Is What 'Eggcorns' Are (and Why They're Jar-Droppingly Good),weblink 30 May 2015, Katy Steinmetz, 20 September 2019, 12 June 2019,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190612111405weblink">weblink live,

External links

• Eggcorn database