listing

The term Eggcorn, derived from a misspelling of acorn, can be defined as an informal term for a word or phrase that is used (due to mishearing) by mistakes usually because it is a homophone or sounds similar to the original word or phrase. They are words or phrases mistakenly used in a plausible way for another word or phrase because of their homophonic sound.

Thus, Eggcorn involves replacing an unfamiliar word with a more common word. Using a database table, I have put together a list of the 85 eggcorns that are commonly used especially in writing.

List of Eggcorns and Suggestions

EggcornsCorrections
all intensive purposesall intents and purposes
per sayper se
another thing cominganother think coming
ascaredafraid
as dust fellas dusk fell
biting my timebiding my time
biting your timebiding your time
best thing since life’s breadbest thing since sliced bread
bondfirebonfire
 
callapittercaterpillar
chesterdrawschest of drawers
civilwaresilverware
consinctconcise
curly roadscurvy roads
daring-doderring-do
doggy-dog-worlddog-eat-dog
duck tapeduct tape
escape goatscape goat
expressoespresso
eyebulbseyeballs
facetubeyoutube
flush outflesh out
flustratedfrustrated
flutterbybutterfly
free examplesfree samples
genetic brandsgeneric brands
growth sproutgrowth spurt
guilt trapguilt trip
handy-downshand-me-downs
handy downshand-me-downs
happy as a clownhappy as a clam
hearbudsearbuds
hell in a handbaghell in a handbasket
ice teaiced tea
illicit a responseelicit a response
in other worldsin other words
junk startjump start
just deservesjust deserts
labtoplaptop
lapkinnapkin
last stitch effortlast ditch effort
lesser of two equalslesser of two evils
magnaphonemegaphone
mist of thingsmidst of things
mute pointmoot point
nerve-wreckingnerve-wracking
nerve wreckingnerve-wracking
nip it in the buttnip it in the bud
nip in the buttnip in the bud
nip this in the buttnip this in the bud
old timers diseaseAlzheimer’s disease
old-timers diseaseAlzheimer’s disease
old wise taleold wives tale
on the lambon the lam
optical delusionoptical illusion
out of bounceout of bounds
overfloatingoverflowing
pass mustardpass muster
platematsplacemats
rebel rouserrabble rouser
real goal-getterreal go-getter
rot iron fenceswrought-iron fences
scandally cladscantily clad
self of steamself esteem
skyscratcherskyscraper
stand at a tensionstand at attention
take it for granitetake it for granted
took it for granitetook it for granted
takes two to tangletakes two to tango
towing the linetoeing the line
tremblortemblor
very close veinsVaricose veins
vim and vinegarvim and vigor
wet your appetitewhet your appetite
wet my appetitewhet my appetite
wet the appetitewhet the appetite
wheelbarrelwheelbarrow
wild varietywide variety
wind charmswind chimes
windshield factorwindchill factor
wonderlustwanderlust
world wind romancewhirlwind romance
world wind tourwhirlwind tour
worth ethicwork ethic

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