Egg Corns and Mondegreens, for all intensive purposes
Have you ever heard of an "egg corn" when learning about language? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an egg corn is "a word or phrase that sounds like and is mistakenly used in a seemingly logical or plausible way for another word or phrase."
In other words, a word or phrase that you say that is incorrect but actually makes sense in the context in which its used.
The word was coined in the early 2000s when someone referred to an acorn as an egg corn, and yeah, they kind of do look like an egg + corn, hence using this word to describe the phenomenon.
Other egg corns:
"For all intensive purposes"
"Nip it in the butt"
"Doggy dog world"
"Escape goat"
"Free reign" (that's a good one to look up)
"Ex-patriot"
"Old-timers disease"
Mondegreens are egg corns derived from songs and poems. One of the most well-known Mondegreens being "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" in Elton John's song "Tiny Dancer". (I'd love to be held close by Tony Danza, so makes sense to me!)
I love the English language and studying it, but every time I do, I'm reminded as to why it's one of the most difficult languages to learn for all intensive purposes.
Anne-Marie E. Fischer, BA (Hons), M.Ed., blends her passion for the written word with her vocation to create a better world through effective communications, education, and Community Based Research (CBR).
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