Tip: We have programmed our free online editor to check for some of the most commonly misused idioms and phrases. For serious writers, download the plain English editor StyleWriter by Editor Software for $150. If $150 is too much for you right now, then an excellent middle range option is RightWriter for just $29.95.
| Wrong | Right |
| picks fun at | pokes fun at |
| in the mist of | in the midst of |
| principle argument | principal argument |
| trespassers will be persecuted | trespassers will be prosecuted |
| gave me flack | gave me flak |
| in the throws of | in the throes of |
| hair-brained | hare-brained |
| straight-laced | strait-laced |
| less then | less than |
| an antipathy for | an antipathy to |
| escape goat | scapegoat |
| I seen | I saw or I have seen |
| better had | should or ought to or had better |
| tortuous death | torturous death |
| beckon call | beck and call |
| further my nest | feather my nest |
| in it's | in its |
| eyes pealed | eyes peeled |
| stick in my crawl | stick in my craw |
| wet my appetite | whet my appetite |
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We have agreed to receive a commission from some sales of StyleWriter and RightWriter because we are happy to endorse these editing programs.
