Tag Archives: spelling
Mar 6th , 2013
5 More Foreign Words that Should Be Added to English
There are so many awkward, funny and gut wrenching situations that deserve a dedicated word, yet no such word exists. Well…in English at least. Luckily, we found some more great words to add to our original list of unique words that … Continue reading
Posted in Archive | Tagged english, English Writing, Grammar, improve english, spelling
Feb 18th , 2013
Monday Mistake: Waiting Will Be Prosecuted!
If the act of waiting was not a bad enough, this hilarious sign that we found at Engrish Funny tells us that we will actually be punished just for waiting. This humorous typo from Hong Kong is TRYING to tell … Continue reading
Posted in Archive | Tagged english, Grammar, mondaymistake, spelling, typos
Feb 4th , 2013
Monday Mistake: ABC Chilren’s Academy
Ouch! This sign is painful just to look at. This is the largest typo that we have seen… yet! Another massive Monday Mistake, makes you wonder how many sets of eyes looked at this gigantic billboard, and overlooked its glaring … Continue reading
Posted in Archive | Tagged English Writing, Funny English Mistakes, spelling
Jan 28th , 2013
Monday Mistake: Let’s All Get On the Shool Bus!
What does it tell you about a city and education system when the sign for the school is spelled wrong? English grammar and spelling can often be confusing, but there is no excuse for incorrect spelling of a sign. Think … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, English writing, Funny English Mistakes | Tagged english spelling, spelling
Dec 31st , 2012
Monday Mistakes – Famous Spelling Fails of 2012!
2012 is almost over! We’ve taken the time to check some very funny spelling fails this year. 1. A Better AMERCIA Our runner-up in this list features the runner-up in the American presidential elections Mitt Romney. During his campaign, Romney had … Continue reading
Posted in Archive | Tagged english spelling, spell checker, spelling
Nov 21st , 2012
Ginger Goes Mobile!
We are VERY proud to present our newest addition to the Ginger platforms: Ginger’s grammar and spell checker for Android! Adapted to the most updated Google OS- Jelly Bean – Ginger now supports texts that are written on any mobile … Continue reading
Posted in Archive | Tagged android, google, Grammar, mobile, spelling
Nov 7th , 2012
Wednesday word: You’re vs. your !
Many of our users get confused when using you’re or your. Of course, the example above shows mistakes both in spelling and grammar. So let’s explain: You’re is a contraction for “you are”. For example, “you’re amazing”, “you’re smart”, “You’re not really wearing … Continue reading
Posted in Archive | Tagged english spelling, Grammar, spelling, your, youre
Oct 3rd , 2012
Will phonetic spelling replace the current English spelling?
An article published in the New Zealand Herald suggested that the English language should try a new way of spelling… Phonetic spelling! This suggestion is based on the fact that some words have already been accepted to the The Oxford Dictionary such … Continue reading
Posted in Archive | Tagged english spelling, English Writing, phonetic, spelling
Jan 17th , 2011
Why is it Spelled that Way?
The invention of the automatic spell checker was no accident. Learning how to spell correctly in English can be a challenging process. Whereas in other languages, words are often spelled more or less like they sound, in English words are often spelled in ways that seem to have little in common with how they are pronounced.
Instead of learning a set of basic rules and applying them universally, students must deal with a variety of exceptions and linguistic idiosyncrasies which can often seem daunting.
Why, for example, are “hare” and “hair” spelled differently but pronounced the same? How is it that “food” and “good” are both spelled with a double “o,” yet are pronounced differently? What is the difference between “thorough” and “through,” and why do neither sound anything like “tough”? Why do words like “diaphragm” and “psychologist” contain letters that are not pronounced at all? And what about the spelling of words which were adopted from foreign languages, and do not obey any of the familiar rules of English spelling?
Fortunately, there are many online resources available to help students spell correctly. For those who learn through memorization, there are several different lists of the most commonly misspelled words in the English language. For kids and those who seek fun ways to learn, there are many games, online and otherwise, that are designed to help students improve their spelling.
When it comes to writing, the spell corrector is an invaluable tool. By allowing the student to write freely, focusing on content without being overly concerned about how he or she spells each and every word, automatic spell checkers facilitate easier writing for native and non-native speakers alike. As a tool for learning, spell correctors also offer advantages, such as immediate feedback and instant self-correction.
One educational tool for learning and improving spelling abilities is dictation. By transcribing a dictated text, a student’s listening comprehension can be evaluated, as well as his ability to understand grammar constructs. The old fashioned technique of sounding out words – breaking down words into individual syllables – can help, along with the teaching of prefixes and suffixes.
For any student of the English language, spelling is an essential part of mastering the new tongue. While it can be challenging, spelling is easy to learn if you know how, and many tools are available to help students out.
Posted in Spelling | Tagged spell, spell checker, spelling
Jan 10th , 2011
The Importance of Spelling Difficulties
Spelling, loosely defined, refers to the activity of forming words from letters, or, conversely, the process of naming the letters that form a word. Every conventional word in an alphabetical language has an acceptable, some say standard, way (or ways) of being spelled (or spelt). In linguistic terms, this means that it is a part of a specific orthography – a dynamic system of signs and rules that represent a language. So when we write, or generally engage in spelling words, what we are most often expected to answer to is the task of presenting their acceptable form.
Spelling is a personal ability, and accomplishing the task of correct spelling depends on the person performing it. Let's consider the basic case of writing something down, perhaps a small exercise in English spelling. First, spellers face the difficulty of developing an ear for the way words sound in a language. In developing a phonological awareness, they should be sensitive to the way spoken sounds are represented in a language's alphabet, and acquire the skill of translating them to the page. Second, spellers face the challenge of having to master the structural aspects of a language. Through this morphological awareness, they should become familiar with a language's grammar, with its punctuation, and, naturally, with the proper spelling of words. Third, spellers must acquire a semantic awareness. This enables to recognize the context in which words appear, and know how their senses can change in accordance. In the end, a speller must develop skills to overcome all of these difficulties and others, in order to make it possible to express a single thought graphically in signs.
One crucial reason for the importance of correct spelling is based on our expectations and reactions to texts. Now, we react to texts in more ways than one. As we read, a text sets our thought and imagination in motion. Many factors influence this process, but one is closely connected to spelling of words. In reading, the reader usually senses, or sketches for herself, a voice and a figure of the author of the text. A text written with spelling mistakes raises doubts in the reader about the identity of the author and his or her writing expertise. The more errors the reader's eye meets, the less tolerant is his or her judgment of the author, and of the written work. At times, this is true without any regard to the content or the meaning of what is written.
Posted in Spelling | Tagged english spelling, spelling