15 Commonly Misused Phrases to Look Out for While Proofreading

As a proofreader, you need to be on the lookout for misspelled words and phrases. To help you spot mistakes, we’ve compiled a list of commonly misused phrases that you should be aware of while proofreading. Here are fifteen phrases that often trip up writers:

1. First Come, First Serve (First Come, First Served)

“First come, first served” means that people will be served in the order they arrive (i.e., the first to come will be the first to be served). However, some writers miss the “d” from “served”:

We operate on a first come, first served basis. ✓

We operate on a first come, first serve basis. ✗

Look out for this missing “d” if you see this phrase in a document. Additionally, some people hyphenate it when using it adjectivally before a noun:

We operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

This is a matter of preference, but you should ensure it is applied consistently.

2. Shoe-In (Shoo-In)

“Shoo-in” started as a term in horse racing, where it referred to the winner of a fixed race. Nowadays, it simply refers to a certainty or easy winner, without the implication of dishonesty:

Patrick is a shoo-in for the school council. ✓

Unfortunately, some people mistake “shoo” for the more common word “shoe”:

Patrick is a shoe-in for the school council. ✗

This is always an error, so make sure to correct the spelling if you spot this mistake.

3. One in the Same (One and the Same)

The phrase “one and the same” means “the same thing or person”:

My best friend and worst enemy were one and the same person! ✓

However, some people mishear this phrase as “one in the same”:

My best friend and worst enemy were one in the same person! ✗

But “one in the same” does not make sense (unless your client is referring to two things being combined inside a person or thing). As such, it should always be corrected.

4. Case and Point (Case in Point)

A “case in point” is an example that proves or helps explain something. But some people confuse the “in” for an “and,” writing “case and point” instead:

The 2008 financial crisis is a case in point for critics of free market capitalism. ✓

The 2008 financial crisis is a case and point for critics of free market capitalism. ✗

As with “one in the same,” this is based on mishearing the phrase and should be corrected.

5. To Peak Interest (To Pique Interest)

If something “piques our interest” or curiosity, we want to learn more about it:

The promotion is designed to pique the interest of teens and twenty-somethings. ✓

But many people confuse “pique” with the more common term “peak”:

The promotion is designed to peak the interest of teens and twenty-somethings. ✗

“Peak” can be a verb, but it means “reach a high point” (e.g. unemployment numbers peaked earlier this year). As such, it is not interchangeable with “pique” in this phrase.

6. Wet Your Appetite (Whet Your Appetite)

The phrase “whet your appetite” is most commonly used when referring to something that stimulates desire, as the word “whet” means “sharpen”:

This novel will whet your appetite for surrealist fiction. ✓

However, in modern English, we only really use “whet” in relation to sharpening a blade. Many people therefore confuse it with the more common word “wet”:

That starter really wet his appetite. ✗

But while it is clear what “sharpening” one’s desire for something would mean, an “appetite” isn’t the kind of thing you can get wet. As such, “wet your appetite” is always an error.

7. Sneak Peak (Sneak Peek)

To take a “sneak peek” at something means to look at it before you’re meant to:

Lucy took a sneak peek at her birthday presents. ✓

Some people write this incorrectly as “sneak peak”:

He gave us a sneak peak at the new plan. ✗

But “peak” refers to the pointed top of an object (most commonly a mountain or hill). So, unless your client is referring to a sneaky mountain, this should be corrected.

8. Slight of Hand (Sleight of Hand)

The phrase “sleight of hand” refers to the way that some people, especially magicians and other performers, use fine motor skills to entertain or misdirect:

Sleight of hand is a key skill in close-up magic. ✓

“Sleight” is an unusual word, though, which some people confuse with “slight”:

Successful pickpockets use slight of hand. ✗

However, while “slight of hand” could be a poetic way to refer to someone with particularly petite fingers, it is a mistake in this context, and you will need to correct it.

9. An Escape Goat (Scapegoat)

The word “scapegoat” comes from the Bible, which mentions a ritual in which a goat was burdened with the sins of the Hebrews and sent into the wilderness, taking their sins with it.

Etymologically, then, a “scapegoat” is literally an “escaped goat,” with “scape” an old-fashioned shortening of “escape.” But these days the term refers to someone who is wrongly blamed for the faults of others and should always be written as a single word:

He became a scapegoat for the manager’s mistakes. ✓

I don’t want to be an escape goat for you! ✗

The one exception is if your client is literally referring to a goat on the loose. But we tend to find that situation arises less these days than it did in Biblical times.

10. Lack Toast and Tolerant (Lactose Intolerant)

Finally, to be “lactose intolerant” is to lack the ability to digest a sugar found in dairy:

The doctor informed her that she was lactose intolerant. ✓

“Lack toast and tolerant” and “lack toast intolerant,” however, are merely comical variations of this term that result from someone mishearing it:

I can’t eat ice cream because I’m lack toast and tolerant. ✗

It’s fine to have a private giggle at errors like this one, but don’t let it affect your professionalism!

11. For All Intensive Purposes (For All Intents and Purposes)

The correct phrase is “for all intents and purposes,” meaning “in every practical sense” or “virtually.” The original phrase dates back to sixteenth-century English law, where it appeared as “to all intents, constructions, and purposes.” Over time, it was shortened to the modern idiom we use today.

The project is, for all intents and purposes, complete. ✓

However, some people mistakenly write this as “for all intensive purposes”:

The project is, for all intensive purposes, complete. ✗

This error is known as an eggcorn – a misheard phrase that still seems logical. In this case, “intensive” sounds similar to “intents and,” leading to confusion. Despite sounding plausible, “for all intensive purposes” is incorrect and should be avoided in writing.

12. Deep-Seeded (Deep-Seated)

The phrase “deep-seated” means something is firmly established or deeply ingrained and 

has been in use since at least the early eighteenth century. It’s often used to describe emotions, beliefs, or conditions that are deeply rooted and difficult to change.

Her deep-seated fear of flying prevented her from traveling abroad. ✓

This is often mistakenly written as “deep-seeded”:

Her deep-seeded fear of flying prevented her from traveling abroad. ✗

This is another example of an eggcorn. In this case, “deep-seeded” evokes the image of a seed planted deeply in the ground, which might seem to align with the idea of something being deeply ingrained. Nevertheless, this version is incorrect and should be avoided.

13. Nip It in the Butt (Nip It in the Bud) 

The correct expression is “nip it in the bud,” and originates from gardening practices, where pinching off a bud prevents a plant from flowering. In general usage, it means to stop something at an early stage before it has a chance to develop into a bigger problem:

We need to nip this issue in the bud before it escalates. ✓

However, some people mistakenly use “nip it in the butt”:

We need to nip this issue in the butt before it escalates. ✗

This misinterpretation likely arises from the similar sounds of “bud” and “butt.” While “nip it in the butt” might conjure a humorous image, it deviates from the original meaning and shouldn’t be used.

14. A Mute Point (A Moot Point)

The phrase “moot point” has its origins in early English law, where a “moot” was an assembly for debate. In modern usage, a moot point is an issue that is either open to debate or no longer relevant to the current discussion:

Whether we should invest in that startup is a moot point, now that it has been acquired. ✓

Some people confuse “moot” and “mute” due to the similarity in how they are pronounced:

Whether we should invest in that startup is a mute point, now that it has been acquired. ✗

While “mute” means silent or lacking speech, it doesn’t convey the intended meaning of a debatable or irrelevant issue.

15. Tow the Line (Toe the Line) 

“Toe the line” means to conform to rules, standards, or expectations. The phrase originates from the practice of individuals placing their toes on a line, such as athletes at a starting line or soldiers in formation, symbolizing readiness and compliance.

Employees must toe the line with the company’s policies to maintain their positions. ✓

A common misinterpretation is “tow the line,” which erroneously suggests pulling something along:

Employees must tow the line with the company’s policies to maintain their positions. ✗

This version lacks the metaphorical meaning of adherence to rules and is considered incorrect.

Learn to Spot Common Errors

That’s it for now! Watch out for these misused phrases when proofreading. If you’d like to learn more about common errors and improve your proofreading skills, consider signing up for our Becoming A Proofreader course. You can even try it for free!