Anecdote / Antidote–“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain
Check this category every week for a new set of ceaselessly confused, misused or misspelled words to master. Break the cycle of language abuse!
This is one of my favorites because it sounds so silly when people get it wrong! These two words have nothing to do with each other—except that they share a first and last syllable.
You’d use an antidote to counteract a poison or to right a wrong. Antidotes are remedies—cures for what ails you.
Anecdotes are true stories, short, complete and often humorous. They relay stories about personal experiences, observations and opinions.
Perhaps an amusing anecdote might be an antidote for a bad mood, but the two words are not interchangeable in any way.
Here’s everything you need to know:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/anecdote
Your Turn
- Write an anecdote about something funny that happened to you or someone you know. Keep it short, but be sure that it tells a whole story or makes a specific point.
- Research an antidote for a bee sting, a sprained ankle or a boring party. Record your findings.