Every week I will demonstrate an example of poor English where a different word is used from the one intended. Sometimes this creates a grammatically incorrect sentence. Unfortunately, the mistake is usually so pervasive that we all do it and such errors are usually made by those who should know better – journalists working for national or global media outlets such as newspapers and television.

Insight / Incite

Two words pronounced the same way but with very different meanings. To be honest, it is not one I see very often but it has occurred often enough that I’ve been asked which is which and in some cases, websites have used one rather than the other.

Insight – (noun) The capacity to understand, or the actual an explanation, of a person or thing.

There has been a lot of insight from the media over the last week about the new royal baby – Prince George.

Incite – (Verb) Encourage or to stir up, to persuade a person to carry out an action (usually violent)

They’re angry enough already. Don’t incite them further!