I am the typo queen, but… there is a difference between a typo and just plain spelling something incorrectly. I know that grammar, spelling, and all of that good stuff were only last discussed in elementary school, but there really is no excuse for not being able to write correctly. After all, that word was created with specific meaning and purpose for its use in the intricate English language- we certainly don’t have any right to mess with that! This isn’t a rant I go off on everyday; however, with the recent completion of the 2011 National Spelling Bee, I thought I would use this opportunity to compile a list of some commonly mispelled misspelled words in the English language.
I MUST make special note of three little words: there, their, and they’re. I’ve never found these words very difficult to differentiate, but, apparently, I’m in the minority.
There refers to a place. It could be used in a sentence such as, “She is over there.” Their implies possession. It could be used in a sentence such as, “Their dog is so sweet.” They’re means they are. It could be used in a sentence such as, “They’re such nice people.” I’m so glad that that’s cleared up. Here goes my list:
A lot Gauge
Absence Guarantee
Acceptable Hierarchy
Accidentally Independent
Accommodate Leisure
All right Loose
Amateur Lose
Atheist Maneuver
Broccoli Misspell
Bureau Neighbor
Candidate Pastime
Category Principal
Ceiling Principle
Collectible Questionnaire
Colonel Receive
Column Rhyme
Conscience Rhythm
Conscientious Vacuum
Conscious Wednesday
Deceive
Definitely
Dumbbell
Embarrassment
Exercise
February
Fluorescent
Foreign
Like I said, this isn’t a rant I go off on frequently, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make note of how the English language is so often taken for granted. Of course, I don’t mean any harm or disrespect, but learn to speak and write properly! I assure you that it will serve you well!
The B.A.G. Lady Says... 
Amen!
I’m afraid with the onset of texting, we may never see properly spelled words again, especially with the ‘younger’ generations. One can only hope they’ll learn to differentiate the use of this new shorhand when it’s time to compose a letter or in the workplace where, until further notice, proper spelling and grammar are still required…I think!
I sincerely hope that the English language does not become a victim of our new technologies and the shorthands that have become so commonplace alongside them!
This is a pet peeve of mine, as well. Thank you for performing a little “William Safire!”
We often talk about this in our house too!
I also would like to add the word ” restaurant” to that list.
That’s a great addition to the list!
Does this mean you will read the paper I am working on? Im having red squiggly line issues everwyhere, oooops. I mean everywhere! 🙂
Yes, it does!
Well said, my dear niece. And let’s not forget “its” and “it’s” and “your” and “you’re.” We can’t even count how many invitations came into our house from kids in honors classes this year saying, “YOUR invited”!!! (It’s nice to get the invites but PLEASE learn to use our language properly!)
At least it didn’t say, “UR INVITED!”