98
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
malapropisms part 1:
collaborate/corroborate,
defer/refer, envious/enviable
Mrs. B has used her share of malapropisms, and she wants to save
you the embarrassment.
A malapropism is a word confused with another word that sounds
like it but doesn't mean anything like it.
"Collaborate" means to work together.
v
Our investigative unit will COLLABORATE with the health
reporter on the meningitis series.
"Corroborate" means to support with evidence.
v
If we can CORROBORATE her allegation, we'll go with the
story.
"Defer" means to submit to another.
v
The news director surprised us all by DEFERRING to the EP for
what to lead the show with.
"Refer" means to direct attention to something.
v
No one at the afternoon meeting REFERRED to last night's
debacle.
"Envious" means to feel envy.
v
It's hard not to be ENVIOUS of channel 10's numbers.
"Enviable" means very desirable.
v
Our weather guy has an ENVIABLE sense of humor.
