In linguistics, an eggcorn is an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect. Characteristic of the eggcorn is that the new phrase makes sense on some level ("old-timer's disease" for "Alzheimer's disease"). Eggcorns often involve replacing an unfamiliar, archaic, or obscure word with a more common or modern word ("baited breath" for "with bated breath").

Creation and definition

The term "eggcorn" was coined by Geoffrey Pullum in September 2003, in response to an article by Mark Liberman on the website Language Log, a blog for linguists. Liberman discussed the case of a woman who substitutes the phrase egg corn for the word acorn, arguing that the precise phenomenon lacked a name; Pullum suggested using "eggcorn" itself.

While there are several similar classes of linguistic deviation which have been recognised for longer, Liberman argues that the original "egg corn" does not fit any of them:

• It is not a folk etymology: it is an error made by an individual, rather than an entire community over time.
• It is not a malapropism: egg corn and acorn are nearly homophonous in the dialect in question, while malapropisms feature only vaguely similar words.
• It is not a mondegreen: it is an error of misinterpretation from common speech rather than from a lyric or similar recitation, and also does not acquire an entirely new meaning.

Examples

• for all intensive purposes instead of for all intents and purposes
• hone in instead of home in on
• just desserts instead of just deserts (the correct usage has one "s". The dictionary defines "deserts" as "that which one deserves". Any reference to food or "eating one's just desserts" with this idiom is erroneous usage, although the misspelling is occasionally used deliberately as a play on words.)
• old timers disease instead of Alzheimer's disease
• on tenderhooks instead of on tenterhooks
• on the spurt of the moment instead of spur of the moment
• once and a while instead of once in a while
• pot marks instead of pockmarks
• preying mantis instead of praying mantis
• sore grapes instead of ''sour grapes
• splashy instead of plashy
• tow the line instead of toe the line
• wanton to do instead of wont#adjective

A fairly extensive list of Eggcorn examples can be found at the Eggcorn Database

See also

• List of frequently misused English words

References

Further reading

• Letters to the Editor in response to an Opinion piece on eggcorns.
• Liberman, Mark, and Geoffrey K. Pullum. Far from the Madding Gerund and Other Dispatches from Language Log. Wilsonville, OR: William, James & Co., 2006.

External links

• Eggcorn database
• Mark Liberman's [[September 23] 2003 entry on Language Log] - First introduction of eggcorns on the internet.
• Michael Quinion on the eggcorn on Centrifical Discussion of an eggcorn and the definition
• Metaforix@ A discussion of the phenomenon and some examples.
• Psychology Today: Word Watch: The Eggcorn; A funny little poem and symptom of human intelligence and creativity.
• NPR: How the Web Is Changing Language
• Chronicle of Higher Education: "Like a Bowl in a China Shop". Article by Mark Peters on eggcorns and teaching writing.
• Article about eggcorns by a Penn Linguist