As Josie grapples with the English language and its many non-intuitive spellings, I applaud her determination--and tell her that, apart from memorizing everything, a great way to be a good speller is to read a lot so that you will recognize when a word isn't spelled correctly.
I think of this when I see numerous posts on FB about stray dogs described as skiddish. Or when someone is described as giving free reign to something. Or, to take another horsey mistake, using Woah instead of the time-honored Whoa.
It's hard to get over being an English teacher. I read a novel the other day in which a bird was pruning its feathers. And a wall was described as being made of waddle-and-daub.
Arrgh! I think I need a cup of covefe.
6 comments:
And spell correct doesn't really care whether you're using the term in the correct usage for which it's spelled!
If those misspellings made it into print, we have a serious problem with editors.
The one that irritates me, and I see it more and more, is the improper use of than and then.
And then, over time, the errors become so frequent they enter the dictionary, eventually eclipsing and replacing the correct forms. (Dictionaries reflect language as it is used, after all, not as it "oughta be".) It's a losing battle in the long run. Frustrating, ain't it?
Since English is my third language, after French my native one, and Italian the one I learnt as a second (but now am not so fluent anymore) I try to be careful about my spelling when I write my post. I did learn English in England, too, so sometimes I spell the way the British do, or use words that sound archaic here. My problem is finding the spelling of sounds, like the sound a cat makes, a dog, a donkey, etc. I know how to write this in French but am never sure about the English as the sounds here are different. In French you say the miaou of a cat, but here? Meow maybe?
Reticent is one of those that's strayed from its meaning of reluctant to talk to just plain reluctant. It still annoys me though. And suddenly gifted is used to mean gave or given, not talented.
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