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Eggcorn vs Pun - What's the difference?

eggcorn | pun |

As nouns the difference between eggcorn and pun

is that eggcorn is deformation of character instead of defamation of characterpun is a joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused.

As a verb pun is

to beat; strike with force; ram; pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder.

eggcorn

English

(wikipedia eggcorn)

Noun

{{examples-right, examples=*deep-seeded'' instead of ''deep-seated *deformation of character'' instead of ''defamation of character *for all intensive purposes'' instead of ''for all intents and purposes *free reign'' instead of ''free rein *oldtimer's disease'' instead of ''Alzheimer's disease *on tender hooks'' instead of ''on tenterhooks }} (en noun)
  • (linguistics) An idiosyncratic but semantically motivated substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound identical, or nearly so, at least in the dialect the speaker uses.
  • *2005 , Ben Zimmer, "Eggcorn Database", at alt.usage.english , 2005
  • *:The Language Loggers have argued that it's useful to distinguish eggcorns' from classic malapropisms (e.g., "allegory" for "alligator", "oracular" for "vernacular", "fortuitous" for "fortunate"), in which a word is replaced by one with a vague similarity of sound. An ' eggcorn relies on a substitution that is phonologically very similar (even homophonous), and the result is one that is semantically justifiable (even if the justification is far-fetched).
  • *2005 , Chris Waigl, "The Eggcornin' Bob Dylan", at alt.usage.english, November 5, 2005
  • *:What is also required of eggcorns is phonetic closeness -- they should do better than "electrocution" for "elocution" or "allegory" for "alligator". This is something they have in common with mondegreens, but the similarity ends there. Mondegreens are errors of perception, not of production, and they are related to specific auditory material:
  • *2006 , "Lend me your ear.(WORD WATCH; amusing speech errors known as eggcorns)", in Psychology Today , Mar 1, 2006
  • *:Far from being simple goofs, an eggcorn' provides a glimpse into everyday thought processes. ' Eggcorns do not signify ignorance but rather the opposite,
  • *2006 , K Webb, "Lost? Misquoted? We want better communication!", in Incite , Volume 27 Issue 10 (Oct 2006)
  • *:... An eggcorn is a term that is misunderstood and mangled, like ‘give up the goat’ or ‘hone in on’.
  • *2006 , "Feedback", New Scientist , 18 November 2006
  • *:OUR report of a relative who, as a child, thought the classic version of the Lord's Prayer began "Our father, a chart in heaven, Harold be thy name" stated that this type of mistake is known as an eggcorn'. A number of readers have suggested that instances like this in which a whole phrase rather than just a word is misheard, should be called mondegreens rather than ' eggcorns .
  • *2007 , Michael Erard, Um...: Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean , page 211
  • *:But most eggcorns remain individual idiosyncrasies ...
  • *:But something like "pus jewel" (for "pustule") — which is an eggcorn
  • *2007', Martin Toseland, ''The Ants Are My Friends: Misheard Lyrics, Malapropisms, '''Eggcorns and Other Linguistic Gaffes
  • *2007', "WORDPLAY: Mighty mistakes from little '''eggcorns grow...", in ''Pharmacy News Jul 19, 2007
  • *:Characteristic of the eggcorn is that the new phrase makes sense on some level ('old-timer's disease' for 'Alzheimer's disease').

    • See also

    * folk etymology * malapropism * mondegreen

    References

    * Eggcorn database * Michael Quinion on the eggcorn on Centrifical Discussion of an eggcorn and the definition * Metaforix@ A discussion of the phenomenon and some examples. English autological terms

    pun

    English

    (wikipedia pun)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

  • To beat; strike with force; ram; pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder.
  • * Shakespeare
    • He would pun thee into shivers with his fist.

    Etymology 2

    From a special use of Etymology 1 .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , title=(Mansfield Park) , last=Austen , first=Jane , authorlink=Jane Austen , year=1814 citation , volume=one, chapter VI , publisher= }}
    "Certainly, my home at my uncle's brought me acquainted with a circle of admirals. Of Rears'' and ''Vices I saw enough. Now do not be suspecting me of a pun , I entreat."
  • *:Comment : Austen was likely referring to spanking/flogging, then common naval punishments, known as (le vice Anglais) .
    • Usage notes
    * Because some puns are based on pronunciation, puns are more obvious when spoken aloud. For example: “This rock is gneiss, but don’t take it for granite.” This reads (with a US accent) similarly to “This rock is nice, but don’t take it for granted.” (Both “gneiss” and “granite” are types of rock.)
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Verb

  • To make or tell a pun; make a play on words.
    • We punned about the topic until all around us groaned.
    See also
    * antanaclasis * paronomasia

    Anagrams

    * ----