solecism Definition
- 1a grammatical mistake or a breach of good manners or etiquette
- 2a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage
Using solecism: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "solecism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
His speech was full of solecisms and mispronunciations.
Example
Using 'they' as a singular pronoun is considered a solecism in formal writing.
Example
She committed a solecism by interrupting the speaker during the conference.
solecism Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for solecism
- error
- mistake
- blunder
- impropriety
- faux pas
Phrases with solecism
Example
The play was a comedy of errors, with missed cues and forgotten lines.
Example
I thought the movie was directed by Spielberg, but I stand corrected; it was actually directed by Scorsese.
Example
He's always splitting hairs over minor issues instead of focusing on the bigger picture.
Origins of solecism
from Greek 'soloikismos', meaning 'speaking incorrectly'
Summary: solecism in Brief
A 'solecism' [ˈsɒlɪsɪzəm] is a grammatical error or a breach of good manners. It can also refer to nonstandard or ungrammatical usage. Examples include using 'they' as a singular pronoun and interrupting a speaker during a conference. The phrase 'comedy of errors' describes a situation where everything goes wrong, while 'to stand corrected' means to admit being wrong. 'To split hairs' refers to arguing over insignificant details.