On Route or En Route?

This is another one of those cases that’s not a classic troublesome pair. Meaning one is correct and the other incorrect. The stems from people writing down what they think they have heard. Similar problems come up with Here! Here! versus Hear! Hear! and would of versus would have. I have started noticing these common errors a lot on social media. It might be that people simply just pen or type what they think it might be hearing.

Incorrect: on route. 
Correct: en route

An incorrect usage does make sense in a funny kind of way, and it sounds the same too, but, it in reality it isn’t!

So, as we probably know, it means “on the way” to or from somewhere. It comes from the French – 18th Century French, so it’s been around for long enough that it’s stuck and isn’t likely to be that pliable. You can use on route, but only in a very specific sense, when talking about named roads in places like America. And then there’ll be a capital in the middle, and you’re not using it in precisely the same way. So, “On Route 66 I found a lovely motel” – fine.  But in all other cases: “I was en route to Chicago when I happened upon a charming hotel” – also fine.

This also applies to phrases like en masse. If there’s an “on” sound and the other word looks like it might be French, check it!

Idioms and Clichés

Many people struggle with grasping these two concepts. Idioms and clichés are two different things. While idioms can be clichés and clichés can be idioms, they must be kept separate.

So, what is the difference between an idiom and a cliché?

An idiom is an expression. Its meaning is not predictable from the usual grammatical rules of a language or from the usual meanings of the expression's constituent elements. Example, the expression kick the bucket meaning “to die” has nothing to do with kicking or buckets. However, the entire expression has a set meaning that is familiar to most people. Idioms can be analysed with regards to how idiomatic they are, and there is not necessarily agreement about whether or not something is an idiom. The word “idiom” is usually positive, and people use “idiom” to refer to expressions that they approve of but that are otherwise problematic.

A cliché is a word or phrase that has been overused to the point of having lost its freshness or vigour. It can be a fashionable phrase (“at the end of the day...”), a proverb (“don't count your chickens...”), a simile (“strong as an ox”), or a single word (“Whatever.”). The word cliché is almost always pejorative, and people are told to avoid them (“Avoid clichés like the plague,” as one self-referential joke has it).

An idiom can be a cliché. In fact, it’s likely that many idioms will be somewhat clichéd. However, it does not have to be; and clichés are by no means always idioms.

For clichés, on the one hand, to overuse that expression, one should try to avoid hackneyed language.

Idioms that are not clichés will rarely bother anyone, as long as the meaning of the idiom is not ambiguous.

Sloppy Speech Habits

You may look good on paper or in a suit but if you're looking to nail your big interview, looks aren't everything. How you sound is often more important. Countless job seekers let careless speech habits kill their chances of landing a job.

Here are six common language mistakes and how to keep them from ruining your interview:

1. Nonwords

Filler words such as "um," "ah," "you know," "OK" or "like" tell the interviewer you're not prepared. A better strategy is to think before you speak, taking pauses and breaths when you lose your train of thought.

2. Up-Talk

A singsong or rising inflection at the end of every sentence creates a tentative impression and makes it sound as though you're asking a question instead of making a definitive statement. You need to speak with conviction when selling yourself in an interview.

3. Grammatical Errors

The interviewer may question your education when you use incorrect grammar/slang. Expressions such as “ain't,” “she don't,” and “me & my friend” aren't appropriate. Be sure you speak in complete sentences and that tenses agree.

4. Sloppy Speech

Slurring words together or dropping their endings impairs the clarity of your message. To avoid slurring and increase understanding, speak slowly during an interview. Some common incorrect pronunciations include "aks" for "ask," "ath-a-lete" for "athlete," "wif" for "with" and "dree" for "three."

5. Speed Talking

While everybody is a bit anxious during an interview, you don't want your information to fly by like a speeding bullet. A rapid speaking rate is difficult to follow, and speed talkers are seen as nervous. Slow down your racing heart by doing some breathing exercises before the interview. Avoid rushing, listen to the question, and then count two beats in your head before answering. When you finish a sentence, count two beats again before continuing. Don't be afraid of silence. Pausing is an effective communication technique.

6. Weak Speak

Wimpy words modify or water down your conviction and in the end your position. When you pepper a conversation with "hopefully," "perhaps," "I feel," "kind of" and "sort of," the message you convey is a lack of confidence. Use power words such as "I'm confident that," "my track record shows," "I take the position that," "I recommend" or "my goal is."

You don't have to study elocution to speak well. Simply slow down, take time to pronounce all the syllables and leave slang at home.