Grammar Fun: Common Usage Errors, Part VI

Words have inherent connections--that's how we get sentences that actually make sense. Some have stronger connections than others, however, which means it's easier to get words switched around incorrectly. It's important to know when to pull a Willy Wonka and say, "Scratch that, reverse it." For example:

Imply/Infer: These two can be troublemakers. The speaker or writer will imply (suggest subtly) something, while the listener or reader will infer (deduce) a conclusion from what was implied. They are not synonymous.

• Easy examples: "Jerry's wife implied that he was too skinny by shoving food down his throat violently." (In this case, the wife's act is not subtle, but she didn't tell her husband why she was doing it, so it still works). "Yancy inferred that the world was about to end when the news station claimed most of the population had been overrun by robots."
• Scary example: "I implied that you smell bad by giving you deodorant for your birthday, but you inferred incorrectly that I am attracted to you."

Inculcate/Indoctrinate: These two are a bit more tricky, because they are so closely connected. They are practically the same thing but are used differently. Inculcate means to "implant by repeated admonition, influence," and it always uses a specific value as its object; it is also followed by a preposition (upon, in, into). Indoctrinate means "to imbue with learning"; it usually has negative connotations like "brainwash, propagandize," and it takes a person as its object.

• Easy examples: "The parents inculcated love for role-playing games into their child, Paolo." The object of inculcate here is "love." "Paolo's parents indoctrinated him from an early age; he is now addicted to Dungeons & Dragons." Here, the object of indoctrinate is "him."
• Scary example: "While my battle-master inculcated a hard work ethic in me, this indoctrination could not overcome the laziness of my battle-mates, who were Dwarfish noobs."

Inflict/Afflict: The difference here is all about the prepositions, baby. Inflict means "to impose (something unwelcome)" on someone or something. People are afflicted with or by this unwelcome event.

• Easy examples: "Darth Vader inflicted pain on his son by cutting off his hand." "Luke was afflicted with terrible disgust when he realized he had kissed his sister."
• Scary example: "Hal's rabbit was afflicted by a horrible intestinal infection, inflicting an infectious depression on him and his roommates."