Did the title of this blog make your forehead wrinkle in confusion? If it did, then you’re the victim of an egg corn. Actually, two egg corns. If the title were written correctly, it would say, “In Other Words, Cut to the Chase.” Which means, “By way of explanation, stop wasting time and tell me what’s most important.” But that wouldn’t be as fun, now would it?
If you’re wondering what the fluff? an egg corn is, I wondered the same thing a couple months ago. An egg corn is a word or phrase that someone substitutes for a common phrase they’ve misheard or misinterpreted, because to them, their phrase still makes sense. Sometimes the substitution can be somewhat logical. But often, it’s hilarious or absurd. The word “acorn” has been mistakenly spoken as “egg corn” by countless people since the 1800s. In 2003, Mark Liberman finally coined the phrase “egg corn” as an official linguistic term and made a blog post about it. And here we are today.
Editors will typically correct an egg corn that has been mistakenly substituted for a common phrase. Even before I was aware of the term, I corrected these types of phrasing errors. But I can think of a few situations when authors might intentionally include an egg corn or two in their writing:
in dialogue, when a character unknowingly speaks a phrase incorrectly
in dialogue, when a character is trying to be funny
in narrative, as an intentional play on words in relation to surrounding text
in narrative, as a method of humor
If you’re looking for a list of egg corns, there’s a link to one at the end of the post. Keep reading to solve a couple egg-corn quizzes that I created for your amusement.
In each pair of phrases below, one is the correct original form, and the other is an egg corn. For each of the ten pairs, guess which phrase is correct:
stand at attention
stand at a tension
[check answer]
Correct!
[check answer]
Nope.
old wise tale
old wives’ tale
[check answer]
Nope.
[check answer]
Correct!
happy as a clown
happy as a clam
[check answer]
Nope.
[check answer]
Correct!
taken for granted
taken for granite
[check answer]
Correct!
[check answer]
Nope.
run the gambit
run the gamut
[check answer]
Nope.
[check answer]
Correct!
tongue in cheek
tongue and cheek
[check answer]
Correct!
[check answer]
Nope.
takes two to tango
takes two to tangle
[check answer]
Correct!
[check answer]
Nope.
for all intensive purposes
for all intents and purposes
[check answer]
Nope.
[check answer]
Correct!
nip it in the bud
nip it in the butt
[check answer]
Correct!
[check answer]
Nope.
shutter to think
shudder to think
[check answer]
Nope.
[check answer]
Correct!
This one might be a little bit tougher. After experimenting with AI, I came up with these five images that represent some well-known egg corns. For each image, first try to guess the egg corn and then the original phrase that the egg corn comes from. Then reveal the answer on the right.
[reveal answer]
Egg corn: chicken spots
Original form: chicken pox
Usage: Sandra caught chicken pox from another kid in her class. Meaning: Contagious viral illness, causing an itchy rash of red spots.
[reveal answer]
Egg corn: wheelbarrel
Original form: wheelbarrow
Usage: Joe pushed the wheelbarrow full of gravel to the driveway. Meaning: A small cart with one wheel and two handles used for carrying loads.
[reveal answer]
Egg corn: biting my time
Original form: biding my time
Usage: I’m biding my time until I ask my boss for a raise. Meaning: Waiting patiently for the right moment to act.
[reveal answer]
Egg corn: escape goat
Original form: scapegoat
Usage: The coach made the rookie the scapegoat for the team’s loss. Meaning: A person or group unfairly blamed for others’ mistakes or problems.
[reveal answer]
Egg corn: skyscratcher
Original form: skyscraper
Usage: The skyscraper towers over the city skyline. Meaning: A tall city building typically over 40 stories high.
And finally, I thought it would be fun to make up some new egg corns. For example, I made up an egg corn for “back to the drawing board.”
His first plan didn't work, so he went to smack two chalkboards and try something else. 😆
Here are 6 common American phrases. I’d love to hear how you think someone might accidentally (or purposefully) rephrase them. The more outrageous, the better. And bonus points if you use it in a sentence. Let me know in the comments!
Maintaining consistent and appropriate verb tenses in a book prevents confusion related to past, present, and future events. A book’s main narrative verb sense stays the same throughout. However, verb tenses vary in spoken dialogue, inner dialogue, memories, and flashbacks. Verb forms are also based on whether the person/thing performing the action (subject) is singular or plural, but for this article, I won’t be addressing that aspect.
English nonfiction books tend to be written in present tense, but not all. Nonfiction books focused on historical events—for example, memoirs and biographies—are written in past tense. Poetry can be written in any verb tense, based on the perspective of the poet.
English fiction novels are typically written in past tense, but not always. For example, young adult fiction books are sometimes written in present tense because it’s more engaging and creates an increased sense of involvement.
Did you know that English has twelve main verb tenses? Along with basic past, present, and future tenses, we all use variations of the basics on a daily basis, despite most of us not being able to name them. If you’ve ever studied a foreign language, then you know that mastering any language involves learning the proper verb forms.
Following is a list of the twelve verb tenses, along with two short examples for each. The relevant verbs are in bold print.
present simple
I want to go home.
She wants to go home.
present continuous
I am helping my friend.
They are helping each other.
present perfect
I have tried Japanese food.
He has never tried sushi before.
present perfect continuous
I have been waiting forever.
She has not been waiting long.
past simple
I started the car.
You started the meeting.
past continuous
I was looking away when he walked by.
We were looking at the screen when it turned off.
past perfect
I had finished my meal when she called.
They had finished the job by the time the owner arrived.
past perfect continuous
I had been wondering where you were when you texted.
He had been wondering what to do when you left.
future simple
I will walk to work today.
She will walk to the store later.
future continuous
I will be visiting a friend next week.
He will be visiting his parents on Thanksgiving.
future perfect
By Friday, I will have used all of my crafting paint.
They will have used most of their mobile date before the end of the month.
future perfect continuous
I will have been driving for hours by the time I reach the hotel.
She will have been driving the new truck by then.
Other verb forms often considered separate tenses:
future in the past
I thought I would finish the project by Saturday.
conditional
He could sing if he wanted to.
imperative
“Stop the bus!”
subjunctive
She insisted that he leave.
Below is an excerpt from the story “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” published in Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1892). Tenses for six highlighted verbs have been changed to demonstrate how using the wrong verb tense alters the meaning of a passage and can confuse the reader. See if you can determine what the appropriate verb tense should be in each case. Then keep reading to see the original text with the correct verb tenses reinserted.
(incorrect verbs highlighted)
Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, all-comprehensive glances. “You must not fear,” said he, soothingly, bending forward and patted her forearm. “We are setting matters right, I have no doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see.”
“You know me, then?”
“No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you will have had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station.”
The lady gave a violent start, and stared in bewilderment at my companion.
“There is no mystery, my dear madam,” said he, smiling. “The left arm of your jacket was spattered with mud in no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver.”
“Whatever your reasons may be, you would be perfectly correct,” said she. “I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I could stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. I have no one to turn to—none, save only one, who cares for me, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you had been helping in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you shall not find me ungrateful.”
Holmes turned to his desk, and unlocking it, draws out a small case-book, which he consulted.
Here is the original text with the correct verbs. Explanatory notes are included below each affected paragraph.
Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, all-comprehensive glances. “You must not fear,” said he, soothingly, bending forward and patting her forearm. “We shall soon set matters right, I have no doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see.”
Incorrect: are setting – present continuous Correct: shall set – future simple “Are setting” infers that the action had already begun. “Shall set” correctly indicates that their action will happen in the future.
“You know me, then?”
“No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station.”
Incorrect: will have had - future perfect
Correct: had - past simple
“Will have had” infers that her drive will be completed by a certain time in the future.
“Had” correctly indicates that her drive happened in the past.
The lady gave a violent start, and stared in bewilderment at my companion.
“There is no mystery, my dear madam,” said he, smiling. “The left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver.”
Incorrect: was – past simple Correct: is – present simple Using “was” here refers to the action of spattering mud, which he did not witness. Using “is” here correctly indicates that he currently sees spattered mud on her jacket.
“Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct,” said she. “I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. I have no one to turn to—none, save only one, who cares for me, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you shall not find me ungrateful.”
Incorrect: would be – conditional Correct: are – present simple “Would be” infers that the accuracy of his conclusion is conditional based on something else. Yet, she does not specify a condition. “Are” correctly indicates that his conclusion is currently definitely correct, regardless of which reason he associated with his conclusion.
Incorrect: had been helping – past perfect continuous Correct: helped – past simple “Had been helping” infers that he helped Mrs. Farintosh in the past and continued to over a period of time. “Helped” correctly indicates that he helped the woman in the past at a specific time.
Holmes turned to his desk, and unlocking it, drew out a small case-book, which he consulted.
Incorrect: draws – present simple Correct: drew – past simple If the narrative tense throughout the book were present tense, then “draws” would be fine. But the narrative tense throughout the book is past tense, so “drew” is correct, and indicates that he performed the action in the immediate past.
When editing, if I ever really get stuck on a verb that is clearly wrong that I’m not sure about, first I ask the client what their intentional meaning is, then I consult Perplexity AI to confirm the correct tense/form. It’s very helpful with solving complicated grammar issues.
Vague language leaves readers with too many questions, unsure about what the author is describing or explaining. Imprecise language also tends to be bland compared to a well-written narrative. Precise yet vivid language creates a clearer picture of the scene in readers’ minds. The difference between the two can be compared to the difference between looking through a wet, dirty textured glass window and looking through a dry, clean plate glass window. Brevity may often be lauded as the “soul of wit,” but only if the writer hasn’t sacrificed clarity and imagination in the process.
Read through your manuscript out loud and try to put yourself in the mind of a fresh reader who doesn’t have any background information, doesn’t know what’s going to happen later, and is reading it for the first time. When you refer to a character or location, will your reader know who or where you’re talking about? Will they have to reread a few pages to find out? Will they just have to remain in the dark and hopefully make the connection later?
Below are six examples of both fiction and nonfiction narrative that is vague or confusing. Possible questions the author might address to clarify the content are listed next. Following the questions for each example, the content is rewritten in more specific and expressive language.
She reached down to grab a pot and fill it with water.
Questions the author might address: Was the pot on the floor or in the cupboard? What type of pot was it? How big was it? Did she fill it from the faucet or a water bottle?
Rewritten: She bent down to pull open the cupboard door and reached in to grasp the handle of a medium-sized pot. She carried it to the sink and twisted the faucet handle to run the cold water.
I saw the kitten go up to my new boss and lick him. Nick took him to the kitchen.
Questions the author might address: How did the kitten go up to Nick (new boss)? How did Nick react? What else did Nick do?
Rewritten: Out of the corner of my eye, I barely caught a glimpse of the tiny black shadow that streaked across the floor to slide comically into a heap in front of my new employer. Nick’s face lit up and he bent down to scoop up the kitten, who was now purring furiously and trying to lick any part of his human that he could reach. Chuckling, Nick carried him into the kitchen, setting his laptop case down on a chair, and a few pieces of mail on the dining table.
After pressing the numbers, I heard the lock click, then went inside. I entered the wrong code, then did it right, and disabled the alarm.
Questions the author might address: How many numbers were in the code? Did she enter the code inside or outside or both? How much time did she have to enter it correctly? How did she know the code was wrong? How did she react?
Rewritten: After pressing each of the six numbers carefully, I heard the lock click, then grasped the curved handle. I pushed the door open then closed it behind me. A duplicate keypad was on the far wall of the foyer, and I crossed quickly to enter the same code within ninety seconds to disarm the alarm. After screwing it up the first time, the keypad flashed red accusingly at me. Anticipating the blaring alarm, ready to cover my ears, I cursed and entered the code correctly.
When I read the scene that takes place at the ball, I picture the ballroom, dancers, and musicians in my mind. Everything is beautiful and I wish I was there.
Questions the book reviewer might address: What does this ballroom look like? How can this beautiful scene be described in more detail? How does it make the reviewer feel? Why should readers care?
Rewritten: When I read the scene that takes place at the ball, it transports me to a fanciful ballroom, where I find myself gliding effortlessly around to a waltz, in the arms of a debonair, masterful dancer. The décor is fabulous and twinkly, and the ladies’ gowns are voluminous and dreamy. The musicians are flawless, and the sonatas and concertos surround us. Time is suspended, and cares float away.
Unsurprisingly, the discovery of this diagnosis allowed physicians to label women as unfit to handle stress—an argument to limit their exposure to work or education.
Questions the author might address: Did the doctors say that women were unable to handle any amount of stress? What type of diagnosis is being discussed? Was the argument actually used in this way or was it only intended to be used in this way?
Rewritten: Unsurprisingly, the discovery of this new, universal diagnosis allowed physicians to label women as unfit to handle excessive stress—an argument exploited to limit their exposure to work or education.
Today, twenty-seven percent of all funding for energy R&D is spent on nuclear energy.
Questions the author might address: Was the funding by the US, a group of countries, or worldwide? Was it federal or private funding? What timeframe is the statistic from?
Rewritten: In 2016, twenty-seven percent of U.S. federal funding for energy R&D was spent on nuclear energy.
“The greater portion of the globe has become dependent on English for international exchanges and practical matters including business and other involvement in world activities.” (Feng Teng, M., 2017; NMET Policy in Mainland China.)
My thoughts
I was actually surprised to learn of the prevalence of English in international business when editing the quoted article. This prevalence would not exist in local business, of course, outside English speaking countries.
I’m always amazed when people claim that immigrants shouldn’t be required to learn English when they come to the United States. If English is so necessary for international business, why on earth should anyone expect to be able to live in the US and not know the dominant language? If I ever move outside of the US, I would certainly make an effort to learn the native language of the country I’m moving to, both before and after I move. Heck, I’d probably be required to in order to become a resident. I love language, and I love diversity of culture and language. But I don’t feel that it’s reasonable for anyone to expect to move somewhere and not attempt to conform to the local society, laws and language.
Editing projects for week ending August 13, 2017 Gaming Items and Services Website, Academic Research Article Client countries: US, China
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