Part 5 Commonly Misused Words Dangers of Spellcheckers

Part 5: Commonly Misused Words

Dangers of Spellcheckers � Every Spellchecker is Different � They Skip Commonly Misused Words ◦ Example: “I here your going to the store. I hope you by more eggs then last time. ” ◦ Example: It sounds like a complement, but its against my principals. �Spell Check Would Find Nothing Wrong

Commonly Misused Words � Accept: To Receive � Except: To Take or Leave Out � Than: Used with Comparisons � Then: At That Time; Next � To: Toward � Too: Also, or Excessively � Two: A Number

Colloquialisms and Slang � Ain’t ◦ Standard English does not recognize this commonly used negative verb � Fixin/Fittin ◦ Used as dialect to mean “about to do something” �I’m fixin to eat in a minute. �You fittin to leave? � Gonna/ Wanna ◦ May reflect speech, but is not accepted in formal writing

Misuse by Overuse � Very, Really, and A Lot � Like, Um, Well-as colloquial ◦ These intensifiers lose meaning when overused ◦ Although common in some speech, these should be eliminated in formal writing

Empty Adjectives � Good, Nice, Interesting ◦ These are necessary words ◦ Though they are often overused and thusly lose their strength ◦ Try a synonym

Text-Message Speech � Abbreviations ◦ LOL, BTW �These have no place in academic and formal writing � Using Letters or Numbers Instead of Words ◦ Example: U know what 2 do. ◦ Example: 2 nite UR coming 2 my house, right?