Learning English as a second language can be quite challenging, but even native English speakers experience their fair share of linguistic mishaps. There are many words and phrases that — despite their simplicity and familiarity — often trip people up. To determine which English terms are most commonly misused, the online tutoring platform Preply surveyed 2,000 native English speakers, asking about the common mistakes they hear all the time. Here’s a look at the top 10 offenders, according to Preply’s survey.

Correct: Library

More than 40% of survey respondents admitted to mispronouncing or misusing phrases for more than a year before learning about the error of their ways. One of the most troublesome pronunciations that respondents claimed to hear is “liberry” instead of “library.” “Library” comes from the Latin liber, meaning “book,” which contains that “ber” sound, but “library” contains a second “r” sound in the middle of the word.

Correct: Picture

According to the survey, the pronunciation of “picture” also proved to be particularly challenging. Many people reported hearing it pronounced more like “pitcher,” as in a jug of liquid. But “picture” should be pronounced with a hard “c” sound in the middle.

Correct: Probably

While “prolly” may be acceptable when casually texting with friends, it’s far from the correct spelling. This misinterpretation of “probably” drops an entire syllable, including both “b” sounds, resulting in a word that’s unduly abbreviated and badly corrupted.

Correct: Probably (again)

When it comes to the term “probably,” the spelling “probly” is even more common than “prolly.” While it does incorporate one “b” sound, it omits the second and remains one syllable short.

Correct: Could Have

When speaking the contraction “could’ve,” it sounds like it could be either a shortening of “could have” or the two words “could of.” But in this case, “could” is being used as a helper verb, so it needs to be paired with another verb such as “have” in order for the phrase to make sense. While “of” may sound similar, that word is a preposition and not a verb, which means it shouldn’t be used in this context.

Correct: Should Have

The same logic applies to the phrase “should have,” which ranked as the fifth most commonly misused term in the survey. The phrase is often incorrectly written out as “should of,” but it should always include the word “have.”

Correct: Regardless

There’s a long-standing debate about “regardless” and “irregardless.” The former is technically correct, but despite how many people despise “irregardless,” it has its supporters. One such defender is Merriam-Webster, which acknowledges “irregardless” as a word that means the same thing as “regardless.” This is based on the fact that so many people use “irregardless” (albeit technically incorrectly) that it’s grown into an established part of the English language that can’t be ignored. Despite being used for almost 200 years, “irregardess” is still classified as a nonstandard usage.

Correct: Anyway

The word “anyway” is correct, and yet 55% of people tack on an “s” at the end. The “s” is unnecessary, but Merriam-Webster has come to accept “anyways.” Much like “irregardless,” “anyways” has become so common among English speakers that it’s considered acceptable in practice.

Correct: Would Have

Once again, we have an entry in the “have” vs. “of” debate. This time it’s the phrase “would have.” It ranks as the second most commonly misused phrase, as Preply found that 58% of survey respondents mentioned this mistake. At this point you probably know why it’s “would have” and not “would of,” so we’ll spare you the spiel.

Correct: I Couldn’t Care Less

Claiming the top spot is the phrase “I could care less,” with 59% of survey respondents stating that they often hear this wording. Many people use “I could care less” to mean they barely care about something, despite the fact that the literal interpretation suggests that the person cares at least a little bit. 

For this reason, it would seem like “I couldn’t care less” is the only correct option, since it makes the speaker’s disinterest very clear. However, this is yet another instance where Merriam-Webster says both phrases are acceptable, even though one is more technically correct than the other. This is due to the fact they’ve become so common among English speakers that both phrases are practically and widely understood to express disinterest.

Architecture has as many regionally specific qualities as language does. When you travel between cities and towns, homes look different and people live in different ways. City dwellers tend to live in apartment buildings, while suburban residents are more likely to live in freestanding houses in planned neighborhoods, and rural living tends to come with more spread-out land. You might find adobe construction in the Southwest and wooden cabins in the Appalachian Mountains. And we find inspiration for the names of these architectural features from languages around the world.  

If you take a walk around New York City or watch a Nora Ephron movie set on the Upper West Side (such as You’ve Got Mail or When Harry Met Sally), you’ll see many buildings with stoops. A stoop is a set of stairs with a railing that leads up to the front door of a home. Under the stoop, there is sometimes another entrance to a garden-level floor, but it’s usually a different apartment or not the main entrance. 

“Stoop” comes from the Dutch word stoep, which means “flight of steps, doorstep, threshold.” When Dutch settlers were living in what was then called New Amsterdam, they brought their language and style of home building. The stoop served an important function in the Netherlands because it helped avoid flooding, and now stoops are common front-of-house features of rowhouses and brownstones in New York City. Along with subway stop names such as Hoyt-Schermerhorn, the stoop is a feature that closely connects New York City to its Dutch origins. You’ll now find that the Dutch influences have spread from New York to stoops in other cities. 

Apartments are the primary type of residence in urban cities. The word “apartment” originates from the Latin verb appartīre (“to apportion”). The French word appartement came into circulation in English in the 1640s, and at the time it meant “private rooms for the use of one person or family within a house.” It retains a similar meaning now: Apartments are apportioned living spaces in larger buildings. 

In suburban and rural areas, we find more freestanding houses. Linguistic inspiration for these spaces comes from around the world. 

Not to be confused with a stoop, a porch is “a covered area adjoining an entrance to a building and usually having a separate roof.” Homes with porches are usually freestanding, as opposed to connected row houses with stoops. The word “porch” has its origins in the 11th-century Old French word porche and the Latin term porticus, with similar meanings to the modern “porch.” 

A veranda is a more elaborately decorated outdoor space. It’s similar to a porch because it’s attached to a home and covered with a roof, but a veranda typically extends further around the home. Unlike porches, verandas are not typically closed off by screens and tend to have latticework and other types of architectural flourishes. Though the origins of the word are in dispute, there are several possible antecedents in Hindi, Bengali, and Sanskrit. The word first appeared in written English in 1775, from an English writer commenting on Indian architecture. 

Other outdoor spaces have Romance language origins. A patio is a roofless inner courtyard, and the word was borrowed directly from Spanish, dating back to the 1400s. Patios are a part of traditional Spanish and Mexican home architecture. “Portico,” meaning “a colonnade or covered ambulatory especially in classical architecture and often at the entrance of a building,” is an Italian word but also comes from the Latin porticus.

Finally, before we get into the house, we stop in the foyer. When it originated in English in the mid-19th century, “foyer” referred to the lobby of a theater or opera house. The word foyer in French means “a room for actors when not on stage” (now commonly called a “green room”). That’s how it filtered into English: The foyer is the space before we’re truly inside and at home — just as actors find themselves at home on the stage.

It’s only natural that we tend to repeat the same verbs everyone knows. After all, they’re easy to use and their familiarity helps get a point across. But the more those verbs show up in text and everyday speech, the more that our communication falls flat. Take “eat” and “walk,” for instance — while there’s nothing inherently wrong with those verbs, there are many, many interesting alternatives that can take your communication to the next level. Here are some verbs you should think about replacing, and some intriguing synonyms worth considering instead.

The word “eat” is quite generic — it doesn’t paint a detailed picture or offer any additional context or clues. For instance, are you scarfing down a massive meal or nibbling on a light snack? In the case of the former, a better option might be “devour” — meaning “to eat up greedily or ravenously” — derived from the Latin devorare, which combines de (“down”) with vorare (“to swallow”). 

When having a small bite, try “graze.” Though commonly used in the context of animals eating grass in a field, this verb applies to humans as well. It means “to eat small portions of food throughout the day.”

It’s time to tell the verb “walk” to take a metaphorical walk. There are many far more interesting, descriptive alternatives. One option is “stride,” meaning “to move with or as if with long steps,” which has been in use since before the 12th century.

If you find yourself on a more casual stroll, “saunter” is an excellent option, defined as “to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner.” While the origins of “saunter” are unknown, one theory is that it comes from the French s’aventurer, meaning “to take risks.”

“Make” is a relatively vague term that could refer to physical manufacturing, developing products, or affecting someone else’s mood. For this reason, it’s better to rely on other terms that are more focused on the topic at hand. For instance, if you’re physically creating something, use “construct,” meaning “to make or form by combining or arranging parts.” “Build,” “produce,” and “craft” are also good options.

If you’re producing something creative, try using “compose,” meaning “to create by mental or artistic labor.” And if you’re doing something that affects someone’s mood, think of verbs that are specific to the feelings you’re trying to convey. For example, you might say, “Puppy videos always lift my mood,” instead of “Puppy videos always make me happy.” Or instead of “The movie made me mad,” try “The movie enraged me.”“

The verb “show” leaves so much detail on the table. Are you putting on a performance, demonstrating a theory, revealing the truth, or something entirely different? The alternative “flaunt,” which is defined as “to display ostentatiously or impudently,” is a great option if you’re showing off something you’re proud of, whether it’s a new outfit or vast wealth. 

Another synonym for “show” is “usher,” which you may be familiar with as a term for employees who guide theater guests to their seats. But it can also be used a bit more generally; for instance, you may help usher someone who’s lost to their destination. If you’re revealing the truth, you might try “uncover” or “disclose,” and if you’re showing off a new skill, you can try “demonstrate.”

“Be” (and any conjugations including “was” and “is”) ranks as the most common verb in English. Swapping it out for another viable option helps your writing and speech stand out from the pack. 

If you’re talking about an event that just happened, you could say, “That was the case.” Or you could say the events “transpired,” which is a more eloquent verb meaning “to take place.” Or let’s say you’re discussing a person’s positive personality. Rather than saying, “That person is brave and smart,” you could use “embody” (meaning “to personify”) and say, “They embody bravery and intelligence.”

The American Revolution caused a seismic shift in the geopolitical world, but it also had a notable effect on the world of linguistics. It was an era that helped popularize a number of formal and slang terms for various types of artillery, fortifications, groups of soldiers, and other concepts you’d associate with battle. While many of the words have fallen into disuse or obscurity, they were essential to wartime communication during the Revolutionary era. Here’s a look at 10 terms you may have encountered back then.

The minutemen were a subset of larger New England-based militias who fought  for American independence. Their name comes from the idea that they were primed and ready to fight with no more than a minute’s warning. They were often first on site at any battle, stalling enemy forces until additional units could arrive in support.

The term “rampart” was immortalized in the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but that song was about the War of 1812. Decades before then, ramparts played a useful role in the American Revolution. These large protective mounds used as fortifications against enemy fire were frequently made of earth or sometimes sandbags. The word is derived from the French verb remparer, meaning “to fortify.”

A grasshopper was a 3-pound cannon that was easily maneuverable while still being relatively powerful. However, its light weight meant that it wasn’t stable during launch. The cannon would “hop” up into the air while recoiling, inspiring the nickname related to the jumping insect.

The most famous Liberty Tree was an elm tree located near Boston Common. It served as a meeting point for revolutionaries and a rallying point for those promoting resistance to the British crown. While this first Liberty Tree was felled by British loyalists in 1775, its existence inspired other American communities to adopt liberty trees for themselves. 

On the other side of the conflict, the British had trees of their own. The King’s Trees were any number of trees reserved by the government to be cut down and used to fortify royal naval vessels. King’s Trees were marked with an arrow on the trunk to inform members of the public that the trees were not for general use.

During the Revolution, a life guard wasn’t someone who patrolled beaches or kept a watchful eye on pools. Instead, the role of a life guard was specifically to protect George Washington. In 1776, Washington ordered that all commanding officers select four men from each regiment to serve as his personal guards. Washington’s life guards were required to be born in North America (not Britain) so as to encourage loyalty to the American cause.

You’ve probably heard the term “brigade” to mean “a large body of troops.” It comes from the Italian brigare, meaning “to fight.” While “large body” is a bit vague, brigades were pretty clearly defined in Revolutionary times.

According to the American Battlefield Trust, a company was made up of 50 to 100 men, 10 companies composed a single regiment, and four regiments made up one brigade. Two to five brigades made up a division, and two or more divisions made up one corps. And finally, one or more corps made up an army.

The Mechanics are considered the first known American intelligence group, and Paul Revere was arguably the most famous member. The group operated in secret in Boston, made up of members who were skilled artisans or tradesmen who could fix anything — hence the nickname. But as they performed their daily labors, they also moonlighted as spies. Not only would they gather intel about the locations of British troops, but men like Revere — a trained silversmith — would intentionally sabotage British equipment.

The term “picket,” referring to wooden posts or stakes, dates to the 1680s.  But before any picket fences or picket lines existed, Revolutionary forces deployed a strategy of creating defensive pickets. In this context, the term “picket” typically referred to a group of 40 to 50 men who would stand in a rough line at the entrance of an army camp. This was meant to protect the camp from surprise attacks and to hold off enemy forces long enough for those within the camp to get ready to join the fight.