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.
Heroin / Heroine
Now you have to make sure you get this right because one is a highly dangerous opium-based drug and the other is a female protagonist.
Heroin – The drug
Heroine – The protagonist
Is there an easy way to remember? All I can think of is that the drug is a shorter word so the heroine is less than she was when she takes an illegal and addictive drive. Sorry, it’s the best I have right now!
