I was sitting in Relief Society today and we had just been handed a flyer for a work project coming up. I don't want to belittle the project itself because the boys who work on their Eagle projects do amazing amounts of service. BUT, I almost busted out laughing when I looked next to me and saw a woman with a pencil correcting the multitude of spelling errors on the flyer. I'm sure she wished she had a red pencil. I know I was wishing I had one.
I laughed with her because that is something I always want to do. I feel a need to correct my family's shopping lists and notes that I see laying on the counter. It makes me crazy when my kids just hit spell check when working on their school papers and think they are good to go.
I used to do some substitute teaching at my kids' school and I would get a set of instructions that would say something like: After the students get back from there recess, have them put there folders in the basket. Look on the calendar to see who's turn it is to be the flag holder. OH MY GOODNESS! You are a second grade teacher!! You are supposed to be teaching these children about there/their/they're and who's/whose!!! It would take all the self control I could muster up not to take a red pencil to those instructions. It happened more often than you would think.
I just saw this spelling quiz on Rachel's blog so I thought I'd better take it. I got 2 out of 10 wrong. Yikes! Now that I've written this and got an 80% on a spelling test, I'm nervous that I will have spelled or punctuated incorrectly. Oh well, I'll take my chances with the critics.
I laughed with her because that is something I always want to do. I feel a need to correct my family's shopping lists and notes that I see laying on the counter. It makes me crazy when my kids just hit spell check when working on their school papers and think they are good to go.
I used to do some substitute teaching at my kids' school and I would get a set of instructions that would say something like: After the students get back from there recess, have them put there folders in the basket. Look on the calendar to see who's turn it is to be the flag holder. OH MY GOODNESS! You are a second grade teacher!! You are supposed to be teaching these children about there/their/they're and who's/whose!!! It would take all the self control I could muster up not to take a red pencil to those instructions. It happened more often than you would think.
I just saw this spelling quiz on Rachel's blog so I thought I'd better take it. I got 2 out of 10 wrong. Yikes! Now that I've written this and got an 80% on a spelling test, I'm nervous that I will have spelled or punctuated incorrectly. Oh well, I'll take my chances with the critics.
10 comments:
I got 8 out of 10, too. I wish it showed which answers you got wrong. I tend to be quick to point out other people's spelling mistakes (though I'm not good with punctuation). Having said that, I frequently leave comments with mistakes and I know I have had some doozies on my blog. Please don't hold it against me.
I love that your friend was correcting the handout. And if a teacher leaves instructions with spelling mistakes, he/she deserves to have it corrected with a red pen.
Maybe WHERE all missing the same TO. I also got ATE out of ten and am curious to know WHITCH ones.
I also like to correct spelling errors and tend to do so even when I shouldn't. But like Katie, I always am embarrassed when I look at a comment I've posted and there is a huge spelling error.
Ha Ha gotta love that marquee. The demise of the English language is at a thrilling pace right now. For years our family has jotted down ridiculous non-words we have heard or seen on a paper/wall poster; like "conversate" or this one from a wife-swap husband, "demeanering" (which actually is very imaginative). Obama said "honestfully" last month, which was also well-put under the circumstances.
There is a book by a delightful Brit woman I heard on NPR ONLY about the illegal use of the apostrophe 's'. It's hilarious. Any day any time anywhere you know what I'm talkin' about - even educated people abuse this usage.
I used to work with a girl who as the receptionist wrote and sent out letters for the boss. She said things like, "I had went..." One day she gave me a really important letter (to the Insurance co.)for my approval on the clinical description of what treatment was prescribed. In the process, I pointed out the stingingly bad grammar and shockingly bad no way associated with a typo-esque spelling: she said, "Oh that doesn't matter. No one cares about that anymore."
Apparently, not many people do care about that anymore. I think instant messaging and texting add to the problem too.
Katie, there should be a spell check on the comment section. I hate it when I've made a mistake on a friend's blog and I can't go back and correct it.
Cindi, the book is "Eats Shoots and Leaves" by Lynne Truss. It's kind of hilarious that an entire book can be written about punctuation. She's also got one call "Talk to the Hand". I think it is about manners.
And Laurie - Thx four you're commint. I apreshiate you're veuwing my blog.
I too am a spelling corrector, or is that correcter! Anyway, I also use to help in the class, and I always ended up correcting Math! Funny, I am no particular star in any category!
10 out of 10 baby!!! I guess being an English major is good for SOMETHING, if only looking smart on my aunts blog.
9 out of 10 and I knew which one I was getting wrong but in spite of nagging doubt, I chose it anyone - I am positive it was Harass/Harrass. I am not sure why I want to spell it wrong, but it seems it's some sort of compulsion.
Grammar and spelling errors bug me but I'm okay with it when they have slipped so far into the mainstream that they've become a usage on their own.
see - so annoying, that comment should say anyway not anyone, but we can't edit the comments!
Well well well...lookee here. http://www.blogthings.com/howsyourspellingquiz/results/?result=Perfect&n=10
10/10 right! According to this website, "your spelling is excellent. You also have a great memory and eye for detail."
Sorry ladies.
9 out of 10. Disappointed with myself!
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