A gorilla is a great ape native to the forests of equatorial Africa. A guerrilla (sometimes spelled guerilla) is a member of an irregular paramilitary unit operating in occupied territory. Guerrilla is often used figuratively to describe secret or backchannel projects—for example, guerrilla marketing or guerrilla filmmaking.
Examples
The misuse of gorilla in place of guerrilla creates some strange images—for example:
Or show off the latest new bike in a bit of gorilla marketing by announcing its location on twitter. [One Wheel Drive]
… these people have a skill to make bombs and also to do gorilla warfare. [Radio Australia]
Gorilla tactics worked very well during the liberation war, but to adopt the same tactics against Robert Mugabe is just like committing political suicide. [Zim Eye]
These writers use guerrilla correctly:
Osama bin Laden was the millionaire guerrilla fighter who became the world’s most notorious terrorist. [Scottish Daily Record]
FARC guerrillas have been waging war against the Colombian government for decades. [CNN]
The money was allegedly sent overseas to the PKK to help finance its decades-long guerrilla war against Turkish security forces. [Herald Sun]
