Amalapropismis a word that is used in mistake for one that
sounds similar. It usually results in nonsense and Sheridan
used it to great effect in his comedy. In the following extract
Mrs Malaprop describes the education she would give her
daughter if she had one.
She should have a supercilious (superficial) knowledge of
accounts. I would have her instructed in geometry
(geography) that she might learn something of the
contagious (contiguous) countries... and that she might
reprehend (comprehend) the true meaning of what she is
saying.This...iswhatIwouldhaveawomanknow and I
don’t think there is a superstitious (superfluous) article in
it.Don’t fall into the same trap as Mrs Malaprop!
Check your words in the dictionary.Avoiding confusion
The two words ‘comprise’ and ‘compose’ are often confused.
The verb ‘comprise’ requires a complement to follow it.
His librarycomprises a collection of rare books and manu-
scripts.The verb ‘composed’ is usually followed by the preposition
‘of’.
His library iscomposed of rare books and manuscripts.AVOIDING COMMON MISTAKES / 119