Word Confusion: Circumcision vs Circumspect vs Circumstance

Posted April 25, 2024 by kddidit in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

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Be warned. One of the images is graphic.

It was the restaurant sign that said “Due to unforeseen circumcisions, the dining room will be closed”.

What can I say? I cracked up. The visuals were simply too much for me.

In this word confusion, it was rather obvious that the writer meant circumstances — an event that caused something to happen — but I highly doubt it was circumcisions.

Sure, I realize a circumcision requires a knife, which is always found in a kitchen, but, ahem. I’ve never heard of it being an “edible” event. Before or after maybe, but definitely not during.

As for circumspect, this word cropped up in my research, so naturally it had to be added. I was unwilling to take the risk to not include it.

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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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Circumcision	Circumspect	Circumstance
Foreskin and Circumcised by Miguelmf is under the CC BY-SA 2.5 license, via Wikimedia Commons. The image was retouched by Jamessharp1997. — I’m glad I never experienced a circumcision. For several reasons.	Flying Through the Air is in the public domain, via PxHere. — Not exactly a circumspect activity.	Pomp and Circumstance by Colin Smith is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons and courtesy of Geograph.org.uk. — It’s because of the circumstances, that there are all these impressive formal activities.
Part of Grammar:
Noun Plural: circumcisions	Adjective	Noun Plural: circumstances
Noun: The action or practice of cutting off the foreskin of a baby, young boy, or man for religious, cultural, or medical reasons [In church use] The feast of the Circumcision of Jesus, January 1 [As a practice traditional in some cultures; female circumcision] The partial or total removal of the external genitalia of a girl or young woman for nonmedical reasons	Adjective: Wary and unwilling to take risks	Noun: [Usually circumstances] A fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action An event or fact that causes or helps to cause something to happen, typically something undesirable One’s state of financial or material welfare
Examples:
Noun: In circumcision, the foreskin (the hood of skin that covers the head, or glans, of the penis) is surgically removed, exposing the end of the penis. There are several reasons why circumcision is performed, from easier hygiene to a decreased risk of various infections or cancer. The Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Circumcision with an all-night vigil. When I lived in Sierra Leone, girls were circumcised to reduce the “risk” of their enjoying coitus.	Adjective: The officials were very circumspect in their statements. Politicians are usually circumspect in their statements, hoping to keep their constituents believing in them. Doctors are circumspect when speaking to their patients. Trump is not circumspect in any of his statements.	Noun: We wanted to marry but circumstances didn’t permit. He was found dead but there were no suspicious circumstances. They were thrown together by circumstance. The artists are living in reduced circumstances.
Derivatives:
Noun: circumciser Verb: circumcise	Adverb: circumspectly	Adjective: circumstanced
History of the Word:
Middle English from the late Latin circumcisio(n-), from the verb circumcidere, from circum (around, about) + caedere (to cut).	Late Middle English from the Latin circumspectus, from circumspicere meaning look around, from circum (around, about) + specere (look).	Middle English from the Old French circonstance or the Latin circumstantia, from circumstare meaning encircle, encompass, from circum (around) + stare (stand).

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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!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.

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