Overview
Breaking news: finally a cure for clichés, misused, overused and confused words!
Which word should I use?’ It can be a daunting decision given the breadth of the English language. Other apps, not least our own Chambers 200 Words You Should Use, lend a helping hand, offering useful advice on the words you should introduce into your lexicon, and the best way to use them in everyday speech.
This app, however, offers the user the reverse: 200 misused, overused, clichéd and confused words from current English, all with real examples from books, magazines, newspapers and websites. The sources of these examples range from broadsheets to tabloids, fiction to non-fiction, highbrow to popular culture. These citations are included not to embarrass or accuse the authors and editors responsible: rather they are intended to illustrate the pitfalls and hazards of the English language and to act as a reminder that no one is immune.
Chambers 200 Words You Shouldn’t Use provides easy-to-understand guidance on 200 of the trickiest and commonest usage problems in English and offers a fascinating snapshot of the language as it really is.
Features
Chambers 200 Words You Shouldn’t Use includes:
▸ A selection of 200 words terms to make you squirm
▸ Word definitions with correct usage or suggested replacements
▸ Roots of a word to shed light on the fundamental meaning
▸ Content divided into four sections: Misused, Overused, Clichés and Confusables
▸Illustrative quotations drawn from books, newspapers, magazines and websites
▸ An exhaustive quiz to help you master these 200 words
▸ Functions to save to favourites and share words with friends on Facebook
▸ A carousel to serendipitously discover words
▸ Refreshing graphic design, a far cry from boring dictionary apps
▸ Intuitive user interface that’s practical and effective
How best to use this app
There are several ways to study the words in this app.
If you like to simply browse words that interest you, you can click on a word from the main screen.
If this is a word you’d like to study or refer to in the future, you can mark it as a favourite.
If you prefer to go through the words more systematically, you can choose a word from the index and work your way through alphabetically, flicking from one word to the next.
You can also search words by using the alphabetical scroll bar at the bottom of the screen.
Once you’ve gone through the words you feel you need to study, try taking the quiz. The quiz challenges you with a completely random set of questions each time you take it, so you should be able to test yourself several times.
Keep going back to your favourites to review their meanings and the potential pitfalls of using each word. Practise avoiding and replacing your most frequently misused and overused words each day. You’ll soon find they disappear from your repertoire altogether.