July 10, 2008
-
Thirteen Words
I CAN’T SPELLThere are words I use frequently and (just as frequently) I must look up their spelling each and every time. I know the “which witch is which” rule, but here is a list of words that always stump me. Out of fear of spelling these words incorrectly, I always pause and then (90% of the time) choose the wrong spelling.
The Pollyanna in me is VERY glad there is spell check on my computer. Although, I use my paperback dictionary (circa 1980) more frequently.
The Cherylyn in me is frustrated that after ALL of these years, I still stumble when spelling the same words. I see no hope in my future and must learn to live with my consistent inconsistency!
So, here goes:
1. Isaiah – I know (no, I “think”) it has two “i’s” and two “a’s”, but I’m never sure where they go. Two sets of friends have children they’ve named Isaiah and I make an effort to spell the boys’ names correctly, but always stumble.
2. Sheriff – Oops! There you go! I just typed that one sherrif!!!
3. Whippoorwill, 3 sets of double letters. If I could only remember that rule! It’s just like bookkeeping.
4. Occur, occurred, occurring/commit, committed, committed. Two sets of double letters AFTER spelling the root word with only one set of double letters (scratching my head???).
5. I found out this week, I have no idea how to spell camouflage. I knew it had a “u” in it, but wasn’t sure where it went. Yes, I chose the wrong place! I had to look it up in my trusty old paperback dictionary!
6. Definitely, is definitely not definately. I’ve spelled this wrong since grade school!!!!
7. Fettuccine – I always want to spell it fettucine. Mostaciolli – I have no clue how to correctly spell mostaciolli because it’s not in my dictionary, not in the computer’s spell check, nor do I have (at the moment) said pasta in my pantry. If I did, I’d go to the pantry to find the correct spelling! Who in the world goes to their pantry to find out how to spell a word???? Only me, I guess! I suppose I’ll just cook with elbow macaroni and bow tie pasta if I want to write about my recipes that deviate from the familiar pasta – spaghetti! (unless there’s an Italian out there who wants to help me out!)
8. If psychotic starts with a “p” why doesn’t schizophrenic??? And “pneumonia” has no business starting with a “p,” does it?? Furthermore, why does “schizophrenic” starts with an “sk” sound instead of the “sh” sound found in the word “schnauzer”??? Was it named and pronounced by two different people!
ROFLOL!!! That was a joke . . . of sorts!
9. Desperate is never desparate, no matter how desperate I am to remember the correct spelling!
10. I’m never sure of the plural form of “tomato,” “potato,” “tornado,” and “jalapeno.” Do you always use the “add an ‘es’” rule? I’ve spelled it with and without an “e” and sometimes the spell check allows it either way.
11. Prophecy (power, a statement – a noun) – or prophesy (foretell things as if by divine inspiration – a verb). I NEVER get this one right – 100% wrong each and every time! But, I DO know what they mean (weird, I know).
12. Sight – something seen; or, site – a place. I suppose you can sight your site. (???)
13. So, here I am at the last word and I need to know . . . is it weekend, week-end, or week end???? Or . . . are they ALL correct?
I know one thing for sure . . .
I NEED HELP!!!
Get the Thursday Thirteen
code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a
little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is
encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in
others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links
accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Comments (12)
What? I can only choose 13?!
There are SO many words I can’t spell.. but I’ve think you’ve listed a bunch of mine here. Another word I simply canNOT spell is privlege priveladge priveledge privaledge.. privilige.. see.. can’t get it.. I have NO idea how to spell that word!! I purposefully didn’t look it up so you could see how many times I try to spell it!!
@flipperiferous -
Okey, dokey! We’re little Twinkies, then! I do the very same thing. Even write it correctly and still doubt myself!
Dear Cherylyn, This was so funny because it is so true, I guess. I was in my team from grade school that went to spelling contest. But I would never know it now. I, too, find myself writing words and looking at them thinking they don’t look right — changing them, and they still don’t look right. I don’t know what has happened to my brain over the years. Hope you have a good day! Love, Judy
I rarely find a word I can’t spell…. Sometimes, all I have to do is write it down & look at it to figure out if it’s right or not. Definitely comes in handy….. Those that don’t look right no matter how I spell it get the benefit of spell-check!
Usually, the first way I tried is the correct one. Have a great day! ~Lori
We have something on our computer that as you write it will underline all the misspelled words in red. Then all you have to do is go back and right click and a list will pop up and you can choose the correct spelling from the list!
Handy!
Tina
@InnerJoy -
You don’t happen to have mostaciolli on your list, do you??? (GRIN)
@cherylyn_p -
No it isn’t on our list correction thingy either! What is it a kind of pasta?
Tina
@InnerJoy -
Yes. It’s a tube, but much smaller than manicotti. It’s similar to penne, but larger.
Ha! I just looked it up on cooks.com and I AM spelling it correctly. For ONCE, I’m right!
What a great list – I’m pretty good with spelling typically, but I have some glitches that always seem to catch me. Two of them are frapacchino and capacchino…. I seriously have no idea from one time to the next how either of them is spelled! I can relate to the Fettuccine also!
Have a lovely day, my friend~
Girlfriend, you crack me up! Not that you have difficulty spelling some things (I think everyone does) but the way you write just makes me smile.
I thought I was a pretty good speller but Sarah beats me, hands down, every time. She spells words that I’m sure that Doug can’t spell.
How true! My husband can’t spell “receive” no matter what. I keep reminding him, “I before E, except after C, or when sounding as A, as in Neighbor and Weigh.” But he can’t remember. I went to Catholic school, and the nuns taught us to spell the brain-dead-rote-memory way, since English is not phonetic. Worked for me. I’m not as good a speller as I used to be, though. I was a German and Spanish major in college, and that really messed me up, since both of those languages spell things phonetically according to their alphabets. Now I don’t know what to do.