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English spelling lessons for Dummies (I is one!)


J.I.A.H.N

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Well, considering that I was put in Phonics when I was in grade 3, I am well qualified to teach this subject. Please add, to this subject, when you feel the need.

 

Here are my 2 notable words, that are commonly misspelled 

 

#1. They're, their and there

 

- "They're" is the short form for "they are", as in: They are not very good tonight

- "Their" denotes an ownership, as in: It is their puck and stick

- "There" is used in the sentence: They are going over there. As in that way!

 

#2. To, Two, and Too

 

- "To" used in the sentence: I am going to the store

- "Two" as in one(1), two(2), three(3), aka Numbers

- "Too" is a word used instead of "also", or "as well"

 

Now, any third grader could cut me to ribbons in just about any of my threads or comments, so I am not one to talk, but there are a lot of words that sound the same, but are spelled differently, and I am not sure, exactly why we as a 1st word country, have such a hard time teaching our language...............

 

If you have words that you have noticed being misspelled, please add.............

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in my defence, sometimes I'm not wearing my reading glasses so I often don't notice when the automatic spell check makes a decision for me when using my phone. Thank god for the edit function. 

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14 minutes ago, Jimmy McGill said:

in my defence, sometimes I'm not wearing my reading glasses so I often don't notice when the automatic spell check makes a decision for me when using my phone. Thank god for the edit function. 

LOL.......my phone kills me.

 

I type something out, knowing it is right, only to see spell check has given another word, as I send it out..............

 

Sometimes, I even have to correct the corrections, lol

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Interesting topic, and based on it I just realized something...

How come it's "receive"/ "conceive"/ "perceive" but it's "sieve"?  I get that the rule is "I before E except after C", but in this case, the "S" sounds as a "C" does in the previous 3 words, so it's weird as to why its spelling changed when it literally sounds the same.

Also, back on topic, its (possessive, something belonging to "it")/ it's (it is).

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16 minutes ago, Phil_314 said:

Also, back on topic, its (possessive, something belonging to "it")/ it's (it is).

Fully agree on that one.  Misused apostrophes are everywhere.

 

The problem hasn't been as bad around here since Daniel and Henrik retired, but up until then, almost every day, someone would use "The Sedin's" and it's so wrong.

 

I found a website dedicated to poorly used apostrophes.  http://www.apostrophecatastrophes.com/

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I can relate to a challenge with spelling pretty much most words in the English language. I mentioned that in an interview once in response to a question about a weakness. My answer brought a laugh from the panel and I am glad to say I was ultimately hired. 

 

Speaking of the English language, my pet peeve remains the grossly over-use of the word "obviously" by hockey players. Perhaps these guys could use a little coaching.

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3 hours ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

How about the same character strings that sound different with different leading letters when read out?

 

Like:
rough, trough, and through?

 

Definitely doesn't make it easy for the first-timer.

And you can add bough, dough and borough for 3 more different pronunciations of the ough combination (and if you are Scottish, add lough which has the same 'awe' sound as in cough, but a different ending)

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Grammar/punc are pretty important too. Consider this (seemingly) ill-fated letter a guy received from the gal of his dreams:

 

Dear John,

 

I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless & inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can forever be happy. Will you let me be?

Yours,   Harriet

 

****************

 

Harriet's friend discovered her friend's gaffes, (after no reply from her beau)& they promptly sent a revised version:

 

Dear John,

 

I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless & inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can forever be happy. Will you let me be yours?

Harriet

 

Alas, it was too late. John(absolutely disconsolate) had already run off to remote mtns in South-East Asia, immersing his grief in some exotic, meditative, spiritual pursuit. He would never return !

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The one that really annoys me and is found everywhere is when THAT is used instead of WHO, like: it was a boy that threw the ball. The media and musicians are especially guilty with that one.

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I remember one exercise at school when the English teacher asked us to draw a phyti

 

Stumped us all

 

ph = f as in philosophy 

y = i as in cynical

ti = sh as in fiction

 

Fish, ofc, was the answer

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34 minutes ago, Googlie said:

The one I always have fun with when I see it is complimentary instead of complementary

 

As in ....

 

Hoglander is a great complimentary player for Horvat  ...... to which I reply  "yes, I have noticed that he praises Bo a lot in these interviews" 

 

Rush to post (without reading first) imo is the #1 reason

Spellcheck won't pick up the word-completion mistakes, only reading before hitting "submit" can pick many up

Also, speech to text can distort things (I have seen some gibberish after I have tried that)

 

(The other one is reigns instead of reins ...as in: "Hughes is taking the reigns this season". Really? Does Green know?)

I've got to say, I wasn't aware of that one, a subtle distinction to be sure

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