What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dogberryism
Example
His constant dogberryisms made it difficult to understand what he was trying to say. [dogberryism: noun]
Example
She unintentionally committed a dogberryism when she said 'irregardless' instead of 'regardless'. [dogberryism: noun]
malapropism
Example
She committed a malapropism when she said 'pineapple' instead of 'pinnacle'. [malapropism: noun]
Example
His frequent malapropisms made his speeches more entertaining than informative. [malapropism: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Malapropism is more commonly used than dogberryism in everyday language. Malapropism is a well-known term that has been used in literature and popular culture, while dogberryism is less common and may be unfamiliar to many people.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between dogberryism and malapropism?
Both dogberryism and malapropism are informal terms that are not typically used in formal contexts.