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What leads to the belief that back peddle is correct?
Reviewed and edited by 
Lloyd Cooper 28/09/2024, 18:39
Lloyd Cooper 28/09/2024, 18:39English.me team member
What kind of error is it?
Back peddle is a phonetic error and a malapropism. It occurs when a word or phrase is mistakenly used in place of one that sounds similar.
Why do people make this mistake?
People make this error because "pedal" and "peddle" are homophones—they sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. "Pedal" relates to pushing with the foot (such as on a bicycle), while "peddle" means selling goods.
What is correct?
The correct term is "backpedal", which implies moving backward or retreating from an earlier position or opinion.
Examples of correct usage
- The politician began to backpedal on his earlier statements.
- After reviewing the data, the scientist decided to backpedal on her initial conclusion.
- The company had to backpedal on its policy after public outcry.
Grammar
