Boredom and Confusion

Posted by Neil Keefe on September 28, 2009

“I am boring” and “I am confusing” are grammatically correct, but probably not what you want to say. Probably what you want to say is “I am bored” or “I am confused”.
You can say that someone or something else is boring or confusing, but avoid saying that about yourself.

	Meaning
I am boring.	People think that I am not interesting.
I am bored.	My situation right now is not interesting. (Kids say this.)
I am confusing.	People think that I am not making any sense.
I am confused.	I do not understand.

Examples:

	Meaning
The book is boring.	The book is not interesting.
I am bored by the book.	same
The book bores me.	same
The book is bored.	Wrong—a thing can’t be bored.
Angry teacher, to sleeping student: Am I boring you?	Do you think I am not interesting?
I‘m bored, mommy!	I can’t think of anything interesting to do. (Kids say this.)
Only boring people are bored!	(Mother’s response to kid.)
The book is confusing.	I do not understand the book.
I am confused by the book.	same
The book confuses me.	same
I am confused.	I do not understand.
The book is confused.	Wrong—a thing can’t be confused.

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