solecism

[ˈsɒlɪsɪzəm]

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

Phrases with solecism

  • comedy of errors

    a situation where everything that can go wrong does go wrong

    Example

    The play was a comedy of errors, with missed cues and forgotten lines.

  • to stand corrected

    to admit that one was wrong and accept correction

    Example

    I thought the movie was directed by Spielberg, but I stand corrected; it was actually directed by Scorsese.

  • to argue or quibble over small or insignificant details

    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'

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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.