Revised as of
1 July 2023
Currently, I’m all out of currants, and I reckon I’ll substitute raisins instead for my hot cross buns.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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Currant | Current |
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Part of Grammar: | |
Noun
Plural: currants |
Adjective; Noun
Plural for the noun: currents |
Small dried fruit made from a seedless variety of grape originally grown in the eastern Mediterranean region, now widely produced in California, and much used in cooking
Eurasian shrub that produces small edible black, red, or white berries
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Adjective: Belonging to the present time Happening or being used or done now
Noun:
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Examples: | |
My recipe calls for currants.
Currants are a fresh bush-grown berry that is tart rather than sweet. Gooseberries, buffalo currants, and jostaberries are related to currants. |
Adjective: I keep abreast of current events. I started my current job last year. The other meaning of the word is still current. Noun: Be careful! The current is very strong. The student movement formed a distinct current of protest. |
Derivatives: | |
Adjective: noncurrent, precurrent, uncurrent, Adverb: currently, noncurrently |
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History of the Word: | |
Originally, it was the Middle English raisons of Corauntz, from the Anglo-Norman French raisins de Corauntz which means grapes of Corinth. Amazing how language evolves . . . | Middle English meaning running, flowing from the Old French corant, meaning running, from courre meaning run, which is from the Latin currere, which means run. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Currant versus Current
Apple Dictionary.com
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Preparing Redcurrant Jelly by Amanda Slater is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons.