I find myself often winging it with “themself/themselves” and it seems to be like themselves is always colloquially correct when there are multiple preceding nouns you’re referring to…

Otherwise if there’s only one antecedent or whatever, its themself

Be gentle haha

  • ContrarianTrail@lemm.eeEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    I’m not sure if I understood the question correctly, but ‘factoid’ is the most commonly misused word that I know of. It’s not a synonym for ‘fact’; it actually means the exact opposite. A factoid is a misconception so widely believed that people take it as a fact. You could even say that the word ‘factoid’ itself has become a factoid.

    Example of a factoid: The great wall of China can be seen from space. No it can’t.

    • JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world
      2·
      2 months ago

      Might have been an idea to factoid-check that claim in a dictionary before posting because it’s not really correct.

      Factoid (noun)

      (1) an insignificant or trivial fact.

      (2) something fictitious or unsubstantiated that is presented as fact, devised especially to gain publicity and accepted because of constant repetition.

      Factoids are to facts what humanoids are to humans. It does not mean the “exact opposite” at all.

      • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 months ago

        The second definition in your quote confirms that factoid can mean a widely-accepted false fact.

        (2) something fictitious or unsubstantiated that is presented as fact, devised especially to gain publicity and accepted because of constant repetition.