topic Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words? in Community Chat

Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 19:54:37 GMT

I'm 70 this year. I had amazing teachers throughout school. How do I know this? Well because somehow I know when to spell the word "boar" , bore, boor" or their, they're, there?

I could go on, but I'm wondering if other's here think (or wonder) how you just know the difference. Perhaps you struggle on which word to use or how to spell it.

I've often heard the English language (the correct grammar) is one of the most difficult to learn. When you delve deep into it (the language) I can see where it would be difficult. As a student of the English language, it often frustrates me when I hear "ain't" used.

What are some of the words you mix up or have to think about (spelling especially) before you type it? I'm curious. Thanks ahead of time.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

software — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 19:56:35 GMT

I've seen accept for except & vice versa

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

I am still oxox — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 19:59:50 GMT

Wait don't you mean accept and expect not except wow now I am really confused

software wrote:
I've seen accept for except & vice versa

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Preds — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:04:16 GMT

My mind tells me one thing and my fingers "see" the other. I believe with all my heart that I have forgotten more than I learned.

At least I knew it once. I do have proof ... somewhere in the attic and my brain.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

meallen616 — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:08:27 GMT

affect and effect, affect to influence and effect means results

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Marienkaefer2 — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:08:58 GMT

Well, I grew up speaking two languages. I studied two more in college.

Actually, I think that knowing another language helped me with my English grammar.

When you grow up speaking a language, you just "know" things, because it's the way you've heard it or read it.

When you study another language, you have to actually learn the reason "why."

Thinking about things in those terms carries over to your native language.

When I took ESL courses (to be a teacher), I remember that the students who did the best in the classes were the international students, whose native language was not English.

The native English speakers struggled more. I think that's because we weren't used to thinking of why we conjugated a verb a certain way, etc. Although, as I've written, having studied other languages helped me to have this mindset.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

2blonde — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:15:04 GMT

You know, grammar and spelling have always come easily to me (I can't say that for math, though). I attribute a lot of that to a solid education in English, beginning in grade school, and continuing through college. Also, working for an educational institution exposes me to it on a daily basis. On occasion, when I type a word and I'm not sure about the spelling, I look it up and see that I was already correct.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Patriot3 — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:18:24 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
I'm 70 this year. I had amazing teachers throughout school. How do I know this? Well because somehow I know when to spell the word "boar" , bore, boor" or their, they're, there?

I could go on, but I'm wondering if other's here think (or wonder) how you just know the difference. Perhaps you struggle on which word to use or how to spell it.

I've often heard the English language (the correct grammar) is one of the most difficult to learn. When you delve deep into it (the language) I can see where it would be difficult. As a student of the English language, it often frustrates me when I hear "ain't" used.

What are some of the words you mix up or have to think about (spelling especially) before you type it? I'm curious. Thanks ahead of time.

I'm a few years older than you, but I know exactly what you mean. Drives me crazy when people don't get your and you're correct. I sometimes have trouble w/affect and effect. And if I don't know the exact meaning of a word, I look it up before I use it.

Another one is when that is used instead of who when describing a person......as in "the man that went to the store" instead of the "man who went to the store". We were taught "that" modifies a thing, "who" modifies a person.

Another one is using apostrophes when they aren't supposed to be used. Oh well, I'm an English nut......got straight As. No apostrophe

Thanks for your interesting post

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Catty2 — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:33:54 GMT

I see so many words misspelled that it makes me cringe. I'm in my late 60's and went to school in Chicago, the same school K thru 8. We used to have spelling bees in school and if you spelled a word right the teacher gave you a Tootsie Roll. Most of my adult life I worked in an office where proofreading was part of my job. So glad I had such great teachers in grade school.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Imadickens — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:38:55 GMT

Well, the older I get I find myself actually having to think about my usage of some words like access and excess, affect and effect for a few! I used to use them correctly without giving them a thought! Funny, the one word I never could remember is across! I always think it should have two "c"'s in it!

I was a language major. Yes, English is by far the most difficult to learn! It really has no rules like Romance languages do. Think about trying to learn how to pronounce these words...

through, tough, trough, enough...

See? It would be nearly impossible to figure these out without years of study!

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

chickenbutt — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:39:01 GMT

Wow, Annabelle! You might just think more than I do. hehe

I don't. I just feel like they were engrained to such an extent early on that they just stuck. Now that I'm losing my memory (and to some degree my mind), I wonder if I will stop remembering how to spell words. Sometimes I do get confused now and things elude me but spelling hasn't been one of them (yet).

Plus, if I feel like I'm not sure I generally will just Google the word. That works great because if you aren't right, and are close, it will offer you the correct spelling. Love da Google!

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

151949 — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:39:38 GMT

Try as I may I can not convince my college educated husband the difference between Their and there . I've given up.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Imadickens — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:40:15 GMT

@Preds Mine's in the attic but my brain can't find it!

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

DJP — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:42:08 GMT

Loose instead of lose.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

magicmoodz — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:41:00 GMT

@meallen616 wrote:
affect and effect, affect to influence and effect means results

These are two words that are often interchanged incorrectly. It is an error I can overlook.

But when someone says "I seen" or "she done", well, that just makes my skin crawl.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Kachina624 — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:45:05 GMT

I think 98% of the people who use the word "literally", use it incorrectly. The should be using "virtually" instead.

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Zhills — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:46:03 GMT

@Patriot3 wrote:
@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
I'm 70 this year. I had amazing teachers throughout school. How do I know this? Well because somehow I know when to spell the word "boar" , bore, boor" or their, they're, there?

I could go on, but I'm wondering if other's here think (or wonder) how you just know the difference. Perhaps you struggle on which word to use or how to spell it.

I've often heard the English language (the correct grammar) is one of the most difficult to learn. When you delve deep into it (the language) I can see where it would be difficult. As a student of the English language, it often frustrates me when I hear "ain't" used.

What are some of the words you mix up or have to think about (spelling especially) before you type it? I'm curious. Thanks ahead of time.
I'm a few years older than you, but I know exactly what you mean. Drives me crazy when people don't get your and you're correct. I sometimes have trouble w/affect and effect. And if I don't know the exact meaning of a word, I look it up before I use it.

Another one is when that is used instead of who when describing a person......as in "the man that went to the store" instead of the "man who went to the store". We were taught "that" modifies a thing, "who" modifies a person.

Another one is using apostrophes when they aren't supposed to be used. Oh well, I'm an English nut......got straight As. No apostrophe

Thanks for your interesting post

I'm in my 70s also but I usually do not have a problem using English correctly. Sometimes my typing or auto-correct does not agree, but I spot errors fairly easily.

One of my jobs was writing letters that had to be correctly written and correctly typed. I would sweat blood on those last paragraphs because typing was not my best job. Most of my typing was in columns or I had to add or substract and then type the answer.

P.S. Don't check this for errors because "I never make misteaks."

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Susan Louise — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:58:07 GMT

These are a few words I spell wrong all the time initially and I have to double check myself...

occasions...for example, I don't know why, I always want to spell it occassions

equipment

outrageous

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

Zhills — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 21:06:27 GMT

If it is a big word that I don't use often, and I am not really certain it is correct, I will open a browser and type it in Google.

Google spells correctly every time!

Re: Do You Ever Wonder How You Know How to Spell Some Words?

happycat — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 21:20:58 GMT

I use to be wonderful at spelling...Honestly, I have a friend who would call me and ask me how to spell words all the time. Made me feel sooo smart.

Then, I had some trouble...2 brain surgeries....My husband still asks me how to things occaisonally, but I just don't have what I use to. Its ok though, I am here.