Words and Phrases That Are Used Incorrectly (and How They Sneak into Fiction)

Hello, fellow fiction writers.

English has a nasty habit of looking simple while quietly laying traps. Some words get misused so often they start to feel correct—even when they’re not. In fiction, these little slips can chip away at clarity and pull readers out of the story.
Let’s look at some of the most commonly misused words and phrases, why they matter, and how to get them right without turning writing into a grammar slog.

🎯 Why This Matters in Fiction
Readers may not know why something feels wrong, but they’ll feel it. Repeated misuse creates friction, and friction kills immersion. Clean, confident word choices keep readers focused on the story—not the sentence.

✏️ Commonly Misused Words and Phrases (With Clear Examples)
“Assure” vs. “Ensure”These two get swapped constantly—and they’re not interchangeable.

• Assure = to give confidence to a person
• Ensure = to make certain something happens

Incorrect:
She ensured him everything would be fine.
Correct:
She assured him everything would be fine.
Correct:
She ensured the door was locked.
👉 If there’s no person involved, you probably want ensure.

“Series” Can Be Singular
This one surprises people.
Incorrect:
A series of events were about to unfold.
Correct:
A series of events was about to unfold.
“Series” is singular—even when it feels plural.

“Blonde” Is Never an Adjective
This one crops up a lot in fiction.

• Blonde = a noun (and traditionally feminine)
• Blond = the adjective

Incorrect:
She had blonde hair.
Correct:
She had blond hair.
Correct:
She was a blonde.
Yes, it feels picky. Readers notice anyway.

“If I Were” vs. “If I Was”
This one depends on meaning.

• If I were = hypothetical or unreal
• If I was = something that might have happened

Correct:
If I were braver, I’d tell her the truth.
(Hypothetical.)
Correct:
If I was rude earlier, I apologise.
(Possible reality.)
Fiction lives in hypotheticals—so were often wins.

“Among” vs. “Between”
This isn’t about numbers anymore—it’s about relationships.

• Between = distinct, separate items
• Among = part of a group

Correct:
The treaty was negotiated between the three nations.
(Separate entities.)
Correct:
She felt safe among friends.
(Group.)

“Less” vs. “Fewer”
If you can count it, use fewer.
Incorrect:
There were less people at the meeting.
Correct:
There were fewer people at the meeting.
Yes, signs get this wrong. Your novel shouldn’t.

"Literally"This one gets everywhere.
Incorrect:
He was literally dying of embarrassment.
Unless he needed medical assistance, he wasn’t.
Correct:
He was dying of embarrassment.
👉 Literally should mean actually. If it doesn’t, cut it.
"Unique"Something can’t be very unique or quite unique.
Incorrect:
Her voice was very unique.
Correct:
Her voice was unique.
It either is or it isn’t—no sliders involved.
"Begs the Question"This phrase doesn’t mean “raises the question,” no matter how often it’s used that way.
Incorrect:
This begs the question: why didn’t she leave sooner?
Correct:
This raises the question…
“Begs the question” actually refers to a circular argument. In fiction, you almost always mean raises.
"Could Care Less"This one’s infamous.
Incorrect:
I could care less what he thinks.
That means you do care… at least a bit.
Correct:
I couldn’t care less what he thinks.
One tiny word flips the meaning completely.
"Effect vs. Affect"These two cause more writerly sighs than almost anything else.
Affect is usually a verb (to influence)
Effect is usually a noun (the result)
Example:
The storm affected her mood.
The effect was immediate.
When in doubt, check. Even editors do.
"Irregardless"It’s widely used—and still wrong.
Incorrect:
Irregardless of the risk, she went ahead.
Correct:
Regardless of the risk…
Yes, it appears in some dictionaries. No, that doesn’t mean it won’t make readers wince.

👣 A Personal ConfessionI once used ensure when I meant assure throughout an entire manuscript. My editor highlighted every instance and wrote: “You’re comforting objects again.”
She was right. The fix took minutes. The embarrassment lasted much longer.

🛠 How to Catch These Before Readers Do

1. Keep a personal watch list.
   Everyone has pet problem words. Know yours.
2. Don’t trust frequency.
   Just because something’s common doesn’t mean it’s correct.
3. Use targeted searches during edits.
   Check problem words intentionally.
4. Let your editor be fussy.
   That’s what they’re for.

🎬 Wrapping It Up
Misused words don’t make you a bad writer—they just make you a human one. What does matter is cleaning them up before readers stumble over them.
Clear language keeps your story smooth. Confident word choices build trust. And once you know these traps exist, they’re easy to sidestep.

Your turn: Which of these catches you out most often? Or is there a sneaky word you always have to double-check? Share it in the comments—misery loves company. I answer all comments personally. James