Common Mistakes : Destroy

verb

.BAD: This unpleasant man with his endless complaints destroyed my journey
.GOOD: This unpleasant man with his endless complaints spoilt my journey

When you mean ‘remove the pleasure or enjoyment from’, use spoil or ruin (= spoil completely
.The trip was spoilt by bad weather
I’ve spent weeks planning this surprise party for Dad, and now you’ve ruined it by telling him

.BAD: The water had been much too hot and most of the clothes were destroyed
.GOOD: The water had been much too hot and most of the clothes were ruined

When you mean ‘make something less attractive, effective or useful’, use spoil or ruin
(spoil completely=)
.I didn’t join them on their walk because I didn’t want to spoil my new shoes
.If you open the camera, you’ll ruin the film

.BAD: The bus wasn’t badly damaged, but the car was completely destroyed
.GOOD: The bus wasn’t badly damaged, but the car was a write-off

A vehicle that cannot be used again after being damaged in a road accident is wrecked or (especially in spoken English) is a write-off
.I was stupid enough to lend him my car, and now it’s a write-off
.Wrecked vehicles lay abandoned along the roadside