Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (Part 62)

And still more frequently misused or misspelled words:

Tortuous vs. Torturous

Right: We undertook a tortuous journey.

Right: We undertook a torturous journey.

Tortuous means winding, twisting, or convoluted, while torturous refers to causing pain and suffering (torture). Sometimes there can be overlap in meaning. For example, describing a tortuous road as torturous imparts the added nuance of danger or mental anguish. Still, it’s important to understand the difference in meaning, to ensure that you always use the correct word.

Jist vs. Gist

Wrong: That’s the jist of the situation.

Right: That’s the gist of the situation.

Jist is a simple misspelling of gist, which is the central meaning or essence of an idea, discussion, or legal argument.

Come back soon for more words.

Mark